A strange and unpleasant experience

[William Benjamin]

The bearer of this gift certificate is entitled to 
> one piano tuning.  

That is what I see and I don't have 20 20.

William

PIANO BOUTIQUE
William Benjamin
Piano Tuner Extraordinaire
www.pianoboutique.biz
The tuner alone,
preserves the tone.
 
-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Ron Nossaman
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 12:41 AM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: A strange and unpleasant experience


> List,
>  
> This might be considered a cautionary tale about what we all put out 
> there on the WWW.
>  
> I tuned my first piano of the week on Monday.  It was a pretty typical 
> job--Yamaha upright, not tuned for several years.  30 cent pitch raise, 
> but it tuned up nicely.
>  
> I yak away with the customer, explain a few things, finish up, present 
> bill. 
>  
> The lady,whose English is not very good, says "I was referred by Joseph, 
> my tenant.  He says I just give paper and tuning free." 
>  
> I say "WHAT!  What piece of paper is that?  I don't work for free!."
>  
> She pulls out a piece of paper, which is the "gift certificate" page of 
> my website printed out on a sheet of copy paper.  Below is the text.
>  
>  
> Dear ____________________________ ,
> _______________________________ has chosen to help you promote harmony 
> in the universe!  The bearer of this gift certificate is entitled to one 
> piano tuning.  Please call 650-224-3560, or E-mail me at 
> Velopresto at aol.com to arrange the time and date of your service.
>  
>  
>  
> I don't see where it says "coupon for free piano tuning."  I can see 
> where there might be some confusion as to the way the gift certificate 
> works, but I don't understand how anyone can be oblivious enough to 
> expect that this entitles them to my services for free.  And I think if 
> I was going to redeem this "coupon" I might first ask the person who 
> would be doing the work if this was indeed a "free" tuning.
>  
> I got very angy with her, and with the person who suggested that this 
> might be a free tuning, and with the fact that she waited until I had 
> done the work before she presented the "coupon."
>  
> Needless to say, I've put a disclaimer on the gift certificate on my 
> website. 
>  
> I told her I'd take some responsibility for the confusion, and that she 
> could send me half my fee.  I anticipate getting nothing from her. 
>  
> Thanks for letting me vent,
>  
> Dave

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Dear Diary,

Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with those 
expensive double pane energy-efficient kind.  But this week I 
got a call from the contractor who installed them.  He was 
complaining that the work had been completed a whole year ago 
and I hadn't paid for them.

Now just because I'm blond doesn't mean that I am 
automatically stupid. So, I told him just what his fast 
talking sales guy had told ME last year....namely, that in ONE 
YEAR these windows would pay for themselves!

Helllooooo? It's been a year! I told him.  There was only 
silence at the other end of the line, so I finally just hung 
up. . .  He didn't call back.

Guess I won that stupid argument!
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Reality is usually a matter of where you're standing when you 
click the shutter.
Ron N