Rebuilt piano warranty

[Tom Servinsky]

Good advise Ric...
I too offer a limited 5 yr. warranty but mine is limited to defective parts. 
In all of the years I have been a rebuilder I've only had one occasion where 
I had to swallow the cost of a new set of hammers.  I had put a set on a 
rather nice Steinway grand I was restoring and low and behold, they popped 
apart.  I noticed the problem during one of my tuning visits and figured 
that I had sold them the job and promised the warranty, therefore I had the 
obligation to inform them of the defective hammers and follow through on my 
word. I purchased a new set of hammers, did the installation, and had to do 
a considerable amt. of voicing to support my warranty. All told, it was an 
expensive experience for me to back up, but I did the right thing, and 
provided the service I had promised. The bad part was that I couldn't get 
Lloyd from Renner to back up the set of defective hammers and I was out the 
$300 dollars for a new set of hammers. Of course, that was last time I 
purchased Renner USA hammers for my projects.
Was Ric said is very true. Don't make promises you can't keep. Be careful on 
how you word your warranty and be clear with what you will and CAN back up. 
It only takes one very savvy customer who is looking for a free lunch, who 
knows how to "work" a warranty to his or her favor and you'll be eating a 
big piece of their pie. In my neck of the woods,  some of the wealthy have 
rooms full of lawyers on retainer with nothing better to do than to go after 
little guys with little or no recourses and have a field day.
Tom Servinsky

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Brekne" <ricb at pianostemmer.no>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:40 AM
Subject: Rebuilt piano warranty


> Just one piece of advice to offer here.... Don't make any promises you 
> cant keep.
>
> Cheers
> RicB
>
>
>    Hi all.  I'm interested in what kind a warranty (if any) you offer
>    with your rebuilt pianos.  Is it for a particular period of time,
>    types of service, etc.
>
>    Thanks!
>
>    Michelle Smith
>    Smith Piano Service
>
>
>