AMEN, BROTHER, AMEN Duaine William Benjamin wrote: >William R. > >When I was teaching at the Piano Hospital we had a customer want to have her >Wurlitzer spinet: restrung, refinished and rebuilt. We wrote on the >receipt, "work exceeds the value of the piano." This was a keepsake and >our opinion didn't matter. What mattered is that her mother had given her >that piano when she was a child and she wanted it saved. > >William, who doesn't out guess the next person in line. > >PIANO BOUTIQUE >William Benjamin >Piano Tuner Extraordinaire >www.pianoboutique.biz >The tuner alone, >preserves the tone. > > >-----Original Message----- >From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf >Of William R. Monroe >Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 8:09 PM >To: Pianotech >Subject: Re: acrosonic wippens, anyone? > >Duane, > >I agree with all your sentiments. However, I still cannot get past the >results of the labor. What do you do when a client wants to spend $1500 to >get their piano back in shape, and the results will be a crappy piano? Do >you educate them on the possiblity of a newer instrument - one that has the >potential, or is, a much more musical, satisfying instrument to play? That >is the question for me. I recently had a client spend $800 to refurbish a >sentimental old upright. When it was done, it was hardly mediocre. I >clearly explained what she would have when the work was done - not much of a >piano. Sentimentality won out. I have no problem with that, but I do think >that if the client is really better served by an upgrade, we should be >keeping them informed on both sides of the issue, rather than just selling >work. > >More than once I have given up good money for repair jobs because the >clients interests really were not best served by that approach. All I'm >saying is give them all the options clearly, and if they still want to pay >big bucks for a mediocre instrument, I'm happy to oblige. > >Respectfully, >William R. Monroe > > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Hechler Family" <dahechler@charter.net> >To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org> >Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 3:58 PM >Subject: Re: acrosonic wippens, anyone? > > > > >>Gads, I can't believe this list is that biased. >> >>Sure most of the pianos I service are most likely candidates for the >>landfill - BUT - if the customer is willing to pay my normal rate (which >>is what I go by) then I'll do the work. Besides most of them also have >>sentimental value or they just want a piano to plunk around on. >> >>There are a lot of churches in my area that have spinets (for choir >>practice, etc) even for church performances, and, yes, they even have, >>as you the list term POS's Acrosonic pianos. >> >>Not everyone can afford - or - even want grand pianos. >> >>I had a customer once, a church, that had several spinets because they >>were easy to move around. The church happened to be a gospel church and >>kept breaking strings on the pianos - did I care - NO - because they >>needed them fixed and they paid me. >> >>Bottom line, unless the pianos are darn near falling apart and the >>customer is willing to pay me my normal rate - I'll fix them - and >>gladly collect my - well earned - money. >> >>AND, REMEMBER, THOSE "UPRIGHTS" SOMEONE HAS TO FIX THEM. >> >>ANOTHER BIAS THAT IRRITATES ME IS PLAYERS. SURE PLAYERS ARE A PAIN TO >>TUNE. THAT IS WHY I CHARGE MORE FOR TUNING A PLAYER. THERE SEEMS TO BE A >>SHORTAGE OF TECHS WILLING TO TUNE AND SERVICE THE PIANO ACTIONS OF A >>PLAYER - GREAT, FANTASTIC, STUPENDOUS - MORE MONEY IN MY POCKET ! >> >>-- >>Duaine Hechler >>Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ >>Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding >>Associate Member of the Piano Technicians Guild >>Reed Organ Society Member >>St. Louis, MO 63034 >>(314) 838-5587 >>dahechler@charter.net >>www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com >>_______________________________________________ >>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives >> >> >> >> > > >_______________________________________________ >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > >_______________________________________________ >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > > -- Duaine Hechler Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding Associate Member of the Piano Technicians Guild Reed Organ Society Member St. Louis, MO 63034 (314) 838-5587 dahechler@charter.net www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com
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