Who gets the bill?

[Greg Newell]

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Dave,
         I've not read all of the incoming mail yet so it will be=20
interesting to see what the collective wisdom of the list has to say. What=
=20
I would have done in your shoes is to call the dealer and/or manufacturer=20
prior to even touching the piano to see who the bill goes to. Then and only=
=20
then will I agree to do the work. Been bitten before.

Greg Newell





At 12:58 AM 2/24/2005, you wrote:
>The scenario:  middle class couple buys expensive German grand --after=20
>weeks of haggling with dealer (who I happen to contract for--for a low=
 price.
>
>First tuning July 2004, paid by dealer.  No problems with piano.
>
>Second tuning 6 months later(January 2005): I notice that some weak=20
>repetition springs are causing action problems.  I increase tension on a=20
>few, but am limited by time.  Problems seem to be cured.
>
>Yesterday:  Call from customer complaining that 10 year  old son is having=
=20
>trouble with certain notes on Fur Elise not repeating.  I arrange a time=20
>to check out the piano today after my last job, which is fortunately only=
=20
>about half a mile from his house.
>
>When I arrive at the domicile, I find that rep springs are so weak, that=20
>they can't even come close to holding a hammer line.  I set about doing a=
=20
>blanket rough regulation of them when I notice that the problem still=20
>exists in some of the notes I've already done.  So I check balancier=20
>height.  Repetition levers are below the tip of the jack!  So I do a=20
>blanket regulation of the balancier height, and voila, problem is gone.  I=
=20
>reset hammer line and start to make out a bill.
>
>Here's the question:  who do I give the bill to?  I don't feel it's the=20
>customer's responsibility, as it's virtually a new piano, with no=20
>environmental factors involved that could possibly cause such changes in=20
>regulation as to render the piano virtually unplayable.  Should it be the=
=20
>dealer, who really doesn't prep the pianos particularly well?  Normally,=20
>this particular brand comes into the store in very good shape with need=20
>for only minimal tweaking.  And given the price paid by the customer, the=
=20
>store was likely even less inclined than normal to service the piano=20
>thoroughly.
>
>Should it be the manufacturer?  How far does their responsibility go?
>
>Though I generally prefer to go through the manufacturer, I'm inclined to=
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>give the bill to the dealer and let them discuss financial responsibility=
=20
>with the manufacturer.  The bottom line is, I don't really care, as long=20
>as I get paid.
>
>What think you all?  Thanks for any thoughts, ideas, revelations, and=20
>other bursts of insight!
>
>Dave Stahl
>
>

Greg Newell
Greg's piano Fort=E9
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net=20
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