See, that's where creative truth-telling comes in. You could have said: "I see you have a very desirable piano ma'am!" I often try to at least give one compliment during a service call. You can usually find something good about the piano - even if its the nicely faded off-white keytops. Lacking anything at all good to say about their piano (not all that uncommon) you can point out what a nice back porch they have, or lovely pictures of the family, or maybe that really "unusual" purple shag rug in their living room...... Terry Farrell ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Grebe" <pianoman@accessus.net> To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 8:54 AM Subject: Re: Creative Truth-telling > I once informed a well to do lady that her piano had evidence of mice in it > at one time or another, (poop) and she told me to leave summarily before I > was able to begin tuning. She said her home would never have had mice. > Lose 1 > James Grebe > Piano Tuner-Technician > Wood Artisan > Established 1962 > Creator of Wooden Artifacts such as: > Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups > Handsome Hardwood Piano Benches > 314 845-8282 > 1526 Raspberry Lane > Arnold, MO 63010 > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Harry Pickett" <hjpickett@cablenet-va.com> > To: "'Pianotech'" <pianotech@ptg.org> > Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 7:21 AM > Subject: RE: Creative Truth-telling > > > > I really don't know about this. I would be inclined to tell the customer > > (victim) it's not so bad for a Chinese "instrument". For future > > reference call a registered technician before laying down your hard > > earned cash. Dealers are in the business of selling instruments so it's > > always wise to get another objective opinion before purchase. > > > > Call a spade a spade, people respect you for your honesty and candor. > > Cheers > > Harry > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On > > Behalf Of Clyde Hollinger > > Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 6:55 AM > > To: Pianotech > > Subject: Re: Creative Truth-telling > > > > Alan, > > Good joke! :-) But you know that the customer will mangle the comment > > and tell all their friends, "My tuner said this piano is just like a > > Steinway!" > > Alan wrote: > > Well you never want to put people down or trash talk the things they are > > proud of . but you don't want to speak outright falsehoods either. The > > answer is Creative Truth-telling. > > An example: I was having a tough time tuning a recently imported > > Chinese-made grand piano. You know the trouble . you pull it up to pitch > > . you're almost there . one more tweak . and bwooop it jumps up 15 cents > > . grrr . so you put a little back pressure on it and pound it down . it > > almost gets there . a little more pressure and ... beeooop it drops 15 > > cents. > > Anyhow, it was reminding me of tuning a certain classic line of > > American-made pianos. Just as I formed that thought, the proud owner > > walks in and asks "So, how do you like my piano? I got a terrific deal > > on it." > > "Well," says I, "It tunes just like a Steinway!" > > Alan R. Barnard > > Salem, MO > > --- > > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > > Version: 6.0.495 / Virus Database: 294 - Release Date: 6/30/2003 > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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