Yes we have all expressed our envy...;-] David I. ----- Original message ----------------------------------------> From: Dean May <deanmay@pianorebuilders.com> To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> Received: Wed, 15 Dec 2004 05:36:54 -0500 Subject: RE: Subject: Helps with "bad" tuning >Not my wife. I used to own a retail store that Patty managed for me. That is >where she learned to do my scheduling and take my calls. When the store >closed, she went to work at my brother's carpet cleaning business as an >office manager/receptionist (we actually moved my service business into his >corporation). There she continues to take my calls and do my scheduling. >Seems like there was discussion on this a few months ago, on the merits of >hiring someone to do the scheduling. >Dean >Dean May cell 812.239.3359 >PianoRebuilders.com 812.235.5272 >Terre Haute IN 47802 >-----Original Message----- >From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On Behalf >Of pianolover 88 >Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 7:46 PM >To: pianotech@ptg.org >Subject: RE: Subject: Helps with "bad" tuning ><<My secretary always explains to new customers>> >Would that be your wife, or did you actually "hire" a secretary to help out >with scheduling, books, etc? Did you advertise in the local paper? What >kind of piano training (if any) did she receive in order to converse with >clients/potential clients (mostly on the phone) about pianos, especially if >she has to answer questions relating to tunings, repairs, etc.? Seems it >wouldn't be very helpful if she had to constantly say: "I don't know, you'll >have to ask Mr. May". Just curious, because I've been seriously considering >hiring one for my business as well! >Terry Peterson >----Original Message Follows---- >From: "Dean May" <deanmay@pianorebuilders.com> >Reply-To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> >To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org> >Subject: RE: Subject: Help with "bad" tuning...need help >Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 09:52:57 -0500 >I thought I was wrong once, but I made a mistake. >Seriously, I find I don't have these kinds of problems after 25 years of >doing this, so it must have something to do with experience and confidence. >But there are definitely things you can do. >First, maybe you should raise your rates. When you work for cheap, you get >clients who are cheap and hard to please. >Next, head off trouble at the pass when you are scheduling the appointment. >My secretary always explains to new customers that if the piano is real bad >and it has been awhile since it has been tuned, it might be up to double my >normal tuning rate. So when I get to the home and start working on the >piano, I don't even talk about price. It has already been discussed so there >are no surprises when it comes time to collect the money and no problems, >either. Sometimes she forgets and when she does I frequently get punished. >Then I re-emphasize the importance of this step to her and no more problems. >So I know this step works well. >You really should get RCT for pitch raises. The extra money you charge for >the PR will quickly pay for it and it does provide the quickest and most >stable PR tuning. And rarely do I break strings, maybe one every 4-6 months. >When I leave I after a PR I always say, "Now this tuning is not going to be >as stable as a normal tuning. When pianos get this bad it is impossible to >put a stable tuning on it- that is why it is so important to keep a piano >tuned regularly. It really should be retuned within 6 months, but you might >want it done in 3 to 4 months, maybe even sooner. Let your ear be your >guide." If you had said something like that to your customer you would be >set. >A big part of your problem is your uncertainty about if it is the piano's >problem or if you are just a bad tuner. Been there, done that. And that >uncertainty is somehow magically communicated to the customer. If you use >RCT you can be confident that you are using an industry wide accepted >standard of the one of the best ways to do a PR. >Merry Christmas, >Dean >Dean May cell 812.239.3359 >PianoRebuilders.com 812.235.5272 >Terre Haute IN 47802 >-----Original Message----- >From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On Behalf >Of Richard Oliver Snelson >Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 11:24 PM >To: Pianotech >Subject: Re: Subject: Help with "bad" tuning...need help >Kurt, These thing are fine if you have experience to back them up. That not >what I read in his message. It is never that simple. (You are right, they >are wrong, it's that simple, and never forget it.) This can make a hell of >a fool out of you someday! You can be wrong! Being to stubborn to admit it >is not the answer. Rich >Richard Oliver Snelson >----- Original Message ----- >From: Kurt <mailto:KurtGearheart@comcast.net> >To: pianotech@ptg.org <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org> >Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 8:17 PM >Subject: Subject: Help with "bad" tuning...need help >"So, what do I do now? " >UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ACCEPT BLAME FOR THE LAWS OF PHYSICS!!! >UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES GIVE REFUNDS FOR GOOD HONEST WORK >FAIRLY PRICED!!! >UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOW WEAKNESS, FEAR, INDECISION, OR >GUILT!!! >YOU WILL BE EATEN ALIVE IF YOU DO!!! >Be blunt when you talk next. >You know, they do not. >You understand, they do not. >Explain however much you need to, UNTIL... >It is clear they don't get it. >THEN... >Lose a customer, (not much worth having in the first place), and keep your >dignity and professional demeanor. >You are right, they are wrong, it's that simple, and never forget it. >Any experienced tuner has run across this situation in their career... until >they learn to emphatically "pre-explain" reality BEFORE the tuning >begins. >Be confident when you explain things. Your word must be law. They learn from >you. >The laws of physics as they apply to tuning is NOT UP FOR DEBATE BY THEM. >If I were a seasoned tuner in your area and heard this story, (and I was a >decent and knowledgeable chap), I'd instantly be on your side as soon as I >heard the real technical details. >You have to be absolutely firm and confident when you predict piano behavior >BEFORE YOU START TUNING. >IGNORANT CLIENTS CAN BE TRAINED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >;0) >That's the real solution for the future, which is what matters more than >surviving the current (not too desirable in the first place) client. >You are "da piano god" when in someones home, but ya gotta believe >it, act >like it, and speak like it. >My two cents after 25 years at this. >DO NOT RETUNE THIS PIANO FOR FREE!!! >(Just to make you feel better, 23 years ago or so I replaced half a set of >bass strings that broke during a tuning of a 120 year old birdcage, at my >expense... stupid thing to do (several things actually - he he...) ... the >client was livid and irrational and it seemed the easiest way out... in >retrospect I should have stuck to my guns... and had them restring the bass >at THEIR expense - or just gotten another tech to deal with them) >_______________________________________________ >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives >_______________________________________________ >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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