[pianotech] Imagine

[tnrwim at aol.com]

Susan

In response to this, and the other comments you made, there has to come a time when we, as technicians, say "enough is enough". That doesn't mean you have to say it on every old and broken down instrument you come across. If you think you make make the piano play for a few more years, by making some quality repairs at a reasonable price, fine. But what I'm trying to say, and I think what Ron is saying, with which I agree, is that there are too many technicians out there who repair the piano because they need the money, not because the instrument is worth fixing.  

On the other side of that coin is the customer who insists on getting the piano repaired, even when it's not worth repairing, but then turns around and complains that after a few minimum repairs are made, for next to nothing, demands that you come back and make more repairs, for nothing, because the piano isn't playing like a new one. That is one of the primary reasons I turn down those jobs, even if I think I can make the repairs. In the long run, it's just not worth it on my part to get involved. 

Wim




-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Kline <skline at peak.org>
To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thu, Nov 11, 2010 8:06 pm
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Imagine


Wim I agree with some of this. Sometimes the piano requires expensive repairs, and it is just not worth doing. The customer could buy something better for less than the cost of repair. I would never do such a repair. 

Others are quite salvageable in minimal time, by thinking a little outside the box and not giving up too soon. The repairs must be effective, low-cost, and therefore to be low cost they must be fast but still work and still last. 

If the repairs can't be effective and low cost, and the piano is so cheap or far gone than another better one could be bought at less than the cost of repairs, then the customer needs to realize that nothing can be done except moving on to a different piano. I've said that plenty of times. 

Susan

On 11/11/2010 9:47 PM, tnrwim at aol.com wrote: 
This quote came from one of the articles I wrote about Appraising pianos. 
 
We have to keep, as it states in our Code of Ethics, 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 to let her continue to believe the instrument is worth restoring.  
 
Wim
 






-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Nossaman <rnossaman at cox.net>
To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thu, Nov 11, 2010 7:06 pm
Subject: [pianotech] Imagine



 wonder about the current thread on split bridge repair. Is it worth 
ixing or not? If so, wouldn't you make a new bridge? It's easier than 
ecapping in situ, and a real fix. The other options are, at best, 
esser approaches. I confess, I don't understand the attitude that the 
iano is absolute junk, but the owner wants it fixed, and has no money, 
o the tech should do the shabbiest repair possible to appease a 
ustomer who has no idea what the choices made actually mean, as long as 
he tech can make a buck doing it. Is there no line beyond which NO is 
he right answer? Can't we decline to do junk repairs on junk pianos as 
 matter of professional pride and ethics, or are these outdated 
oncepts when a check is to be had? I understand that we don't always 
ave the luxury of high level choice, but shouldn't we at least try to 
ppear to be possessed of professional standards to some degree? Or is 
t all just the chance to generate income, regardless of how? How does 
his serve either us, or our profession in the long run? I read all 
orts of whining that we aren't taken seriously as true professionals, 
nd we don't get the pay we deserve as such, followed by suggestions for 
epairs that anyone aspiring to professional status would, or at least 
hould, have nothing to do with.
Baffled, long and often,
on N



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