[pianotech] very old pianos

[wimblees at aol.com]

There is a difference between doing $500 worth of work on a piano that is still in decent condition, (even if it's only worth $200,) and doing $500 worth of work on a piano that will still not be playable after the work is done. 

This is what I say in my book; "As it states in the PTG Code of Ethics, we have to keep the best interest of the client in mind. In other words, we need to look at a piano for what it can do for the customer. We need to look beyond our supposed capabilities, thinking we can fix anything, and ask, “is this piano really worth fixing?” We need to be able to say to our customers, “this piano is dead,” regardless of what the customer thinks of the piano. The customer might not like what you said, but it is more ethical to tell the truth, than let the customer continue to believe the instrument is worth restoring."
 


Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT
Piano Tuner/Technician
Mililani, Oahu, HI
808-349-2943
Author of: 
The Business of Piano Tuning
available from Potter Press
www.pianotuning.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Farrell <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 3:29 am
Subject: Re: [pianotech] very old pianos



"I never refuse to work on a piano unless the cost of repair is way beyond the worth of the instrument..."

 

So if a customer has an old upright with a beat-up plain case but the mechanics of the piano are in surprisingly good condition, you'd refuse to do a pitch rais
e, tuning, and a basic regulation - easily $500 worth of work on a $200 piano - family heirloom and all that....?

 

I'm not trying to pick your post apart Marc, but a lot of piano owners and newbie techs read this forum and I think sometimes they can take what appears in this forum a little too verbatim. I do agree that your statement has merit - just that there can be numerous exceptions.

 

Terry Farrell

 

----- Original Message ----- 
> Here in Montreal, a very large quantity of pianos are 100 years old. I never
> refuse to work on a piano unless the cost of repair is way beyond the worth
> of the instrument or the budget is too limited.
> 
> I don't get it, we're piano technicians - why would you refuse to do your
> job? Sure some pianos are a charm to work on and some are hell, but that's
> what makes it challenging. Also, you get a good reputation and decent money
> if you do good work. Just charge accordingly.
>     
> Marc Lanthier

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