[pianotech] Dampp-Chaser Brochure response

Keith McGavern kam544 at allegiance.tv
Wed Dec 24 13:27:44 PST 2008


Dear Roger,

First and foremost, I want to clarify that I am convinced beyond all  
doubt that the Piano LIfe Saver System is the only product on the  
market that can actually reduce pitch drift and increase tuning  
stability by a significant margin given that the environment in which  
the piano dwells in not overly hostile to the activity for the Piano  
LIfe Saver System's purposes.

Secondly, in approaching a customer with the possibility of  
considering the purchase of this system in the world I live, I never  
begin with the brochure at all. It begins with the piano's abilities  
to stay in tune and close to pitch for a reasonable amount of time  
after establishing a track record. What is reasonable one might ask?  
Certainly an excellent topic with a multitude of possible answers.  
When I feel all other options are exhausted, I let the customer know  
Piano Life Saver System is all that's left to reduce pitch drift and  
increase tuning stability.

On Dec 23, 2008, at 11:16 AM, Roger Wheelock wrote:

> …   So what do you tell a piano owner?  Or, possibly more clearly,  
> what do you tell a piano owner in order to get his or her  
> attention?  This is where we came up with the phrase "you can keep  
> your piano on pitch constantly".  Is it a stretch?  I don't think  
> so.  You may disagree. …

You have managed to state your case and dismiss any that I might make  
on this particular subject. If you don't think saying a thing is a  
stretch, how can I possibly offer anything that might suggest it is  
definitely a stretch.

>  Now for the second phrase, "double its life".  Here technical data  
> is absent and we are relying on anecdotal information from your  
> fellow technicians.  We are a small family-owned business in western  
> North Carolina.  We do not have the resources to test 10 pianos with  
> a system and 10 pianos without watching for signs of deterioration  
> over a time frame of many years.  Is using anecdotal information to  
> make a claim wrong?  I don't think so.  You may disagree.

Once again, you have pretty much used the same thing as above, but  
this time you have including the concept of using  "anecdotal  
information" as valid. Having looked that word up, it seems to fall  
under the unbrella of "hearsay".

> The reputation of the person making the claim is certainly  
> important.  A technician who strongly agrees with this claim is  
> Arlan Harris, current President of the New York City Chapter of the  
> PTG and also President of the Technical Division of Klavierhaus in  
> New York City.  I cannot say that an equally respected and qualified  
> technician might not strongly disagree.

And here again, this position of stretch/anecdotal information has not  
changed other than now using what one individual, who has some  
credentials agrees with this approach, while allowing that another  
individual with equivalent credentials might not agree. What does this  
really prove?

> …  One of my mentors told me early in my business career that I  
> should never let bad business compromise good science.  I try to  
> live by that advice.

And this comment I understand not all all with regards to the cover of  
the brochure.

I only know at this time is that I can't, in good conscience, hand  
over that newest brochure to anyone in the territory I service with a  
statement that boldly say, "Now, You can Keep Your Piano On Pitch  
Constantly and also Double its LIfe." It just doesn't hold water in my  
30 years of tuning.

I feel I only have two options at this point, cross out that line  
entirely to utilize the brochure, or not hand them out at all. Right  
now, crossing out is what I am experimenting with, and it looks like  
that will work satisfactorily. If anyone asks why that area is crossed  
out, I only have to say, "I didn't agree with the that company's  
particular comment."

Sincerely,

Keith


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