What would you do? Ethical questions.

[Pianoman]

My own recommendation on new pianos is:
tune after one month
tune after 2 months
tune after 3 months
tune after 4 months and then every six
Strings are new and they stretch.  Just normal.
The closer it is kept to A-440 the better it holds in the future.

This is just physics, not anyone's fault.  I give them my piano care 
brochure which states this in black and white as a new customer.
Jim
James Grebe   Piano Tuning & Repair   Member of M.P.T.
R.P.T. of the P.T.G. for over 30 years.   "Member of the Year" in 1989
Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups, Piano Benches, Writing 
Instruments,Table Timepieces
 (314) 845-8282   1526 Raspberry Lane   Arnold, MO 63010
Researcher of St. Louis Theatre History
BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE!
pianoman at accessus.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <piannaman at aol.com>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 9:09 AM
Subject: What would you do? Ethical questions.


> Hi All,
>
> Yesterday I got a call from a lady whose piano I tuned 2 months ago.  That 
> appointment was the store-paid-for tuning on a nice new small upright 
> piano.  Prior to that appointment, I'd misplaced her on my schedule and 
> was a no-show...embarassing, something I never do, and we all hate it when 
> it happens to us.
>
> She said that the piano was already out of tune after two months--not 
> surprising given the recent weather changes and the fact that it's a new 
> piano that was 10c # at the first appointment.  We set up an appointment, 
> then she asked if this was paid for by the dealer.  I said no, tunings are 
> not a warranty problem, pianos go out of tune, yada, yada, yada.  She 
> asked how much.  I quoted her my normal price.
>
> She didn't exactly blow, but she was not a happy camper.  I explained to 
> her that I am an independent tech, and that I couldn't be responsible for 
> factors beyond my control, such as the newness of the piano and the change 
> of weather (from cold and wet to warm and dry).  In the end she said, 
> "I'll find someone else!"  End of conversation.
>
> I thought about it, and tried to see it from her perspective.  I called 
> her back and offered her a discounted rate--trying to placate her and 
> smooth things over.  NO go.  She still intended to call someone else.  End 
> of conversation.
>
> So I'm tuning along on the morning's piano when the fact that I'd missed 
> our first appointment slapped me in the face.  While not responsible for 
> the aforementioned factors, I WAS responsible for wasting a couple of 
> hours of her day on a prior occasion.    I called back and left her a 
> message to the effect that I would be happy to come and make up the time 
> that I'd cost her that day.
>
> I don't expect a call back from her--ever.  The bridge is burned, whatever 
> trust there was is gone.
>
> What would you have done when faced with a phone call like the first one? 
> Stuck to your guns for the full price, offered a discount, or come back 
> for free?
>
> IN the end, I'm somewhere between feeling better because I did everything 
> I could to remedy things, and feeling like I caved in a big way.
>
>
> Thanks in advance for any input
>
> Dave Stahl
>
>
> Dave Stahl Piano Service
> 650-224-3560
> dstahlpiano at sbcglobal.net
> http://dstahlpiano.net/
>