Not home...two more cents

[Mike Kurta]

    I follow Tyler's (and others) line of thinking.  No first-time house
empty calls:  you don't know the folks, they don't know you, there may be a
dog, or worse yet a child coming home from school.  I flatly refuse to go
inside a home alone with a young child.  However, if during several previous
visits, a trust has been built between customer and technician, I see
nothing wrong with entering an empty house.  To reciprocate, I usually tell
the customer "I'll leave a bill on the piano, send me a check."  Now its a
two-way trust.  I've never been burned.  Many homes have both husband and
wife working during the day, and there are only so many 5-6 pm tunings in a
day, so its a convenience for everyone, however both tech and piano owner
must be comfortable with the arrangement.  All viewpoints on this have
merit, you just have to find the one that works for you.....    Mike Kurta
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tyler Punky Smith" <macman@pathfinder.dnsalias.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2002 8:18 AM
Subject: Re: Not home


> >That's for repeat calls.  For first-time calls I inform them that I
> >really prefer
> >they be present, so I can show them why extra work might be
> >necessary, if it is.
> >At the very least they must be available by phone.  But I make an
> >exception to
> >even that now and then, as long as we have a very clear understanding in
> >advance.  (Now please don't go into heart failure, anyone!  <G>  )
>
> What part of the country is this? Sounds like my kind of place.
>
> -Tyler