Service Refusal

[Ted Simmons]

A couple of years ago I was called to tune a piano that the lady bought from
a neighbor.  When I entered the house there was a nice black, early '70's
Steinway 41² upright against the wall.  A welcome sight, but when I opened
it I found that all of the tuning pins and strings were rusty.  Many strings
were broken and their ends sticking out.  I told the lady that this piano
couldn¹t be tuned and explained to her why.  She asked how much it would
cost for new strings and when I gave her my quote she said that she couldn¹t
afford that and would have her husband roll the piano out to the curb for
the trash collectors.  I put my hands together to make a time-out signal and
asked her how much she paid for the piano.  She said $200.00.  I told her
I¹d give her $200.00 for it and take it off her hands.  She was elated.

A year or so later, I had replaced the strings and tuning pins, tuned and
regulated the piano and hauled it into my office where it sits today.  It
looks really nice and plays very well.

Ted Simmons
Viera, Florida

From: Farrell <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com>
Reply-To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 18:38:47 -0400
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Service Refusal


I had a first today. I went to an appointment and refused to tune a piano.
 
1908 Cable upright. The piano had the tubbiest/deadest bass strings I have
ever heard, bass bridge was cracked and forward pins were migrating, dampers
missing, half the hammers were bobbling, extremely rusty strings (home was
subject to Hurricane Charlie damage), loose tuning pins, etc., etc. (need I
say more?).
 
I've never had to do it, but I refused to tune her piano. I've certainly
seen similar and worse pianos, but the owner's have understood that the
piano was toast (even when it was a family heirloom). This lady wanted the
damn thing tuned. Amazing.
 
I told her: "Sorry, call somebody else."   :-(
 
What a bummer appointment. I don't have very many of those...... :-)
 
Terry Farrell



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