acrosonic wippens, anyone?

[William R. Monroe]

William, who just outguessed the next person in line (me),

Or perhaps more appropriately, who did not read what I wrote very well.

Um, yes.  This is precisely what I was referring to when I wrote that, "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."

I repeat, I feel strongly that we should give the the customer all the
information available, educate them on the work and the results, and in the
end if they choose to rebuild a wurlitzer spinet, great.

And I should clarify that I mean musical interests when I refer to a clients
interests.  None of us have any way to judge all the variables that enter
into the decision to invest in a piano POS or not.

Respectfully,
William R. Monroe



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "William Benjamin" <pianoboutique@comcast.net>
To: "'Pianotech'" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 11:39 AM
Subject: RE: acrosonic wippens, anyone?


> 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
> >
> >
>
>
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