I think the main thing that clients need to understand when accepting any bid for substantial work on their piano is to not just know what they are getting but to ***KNOW WHAT THEY ARE NOT GETTING**. *Like others have mentioned, there are many piano owners who think their piano has been completely "rebuilt" (the other great term is completely "gone through") because it received a new set of bridle tapes, keytops, a quick hammer reshaping, and a ballpark regulation. It might of even had all the "pads" replaced. Clients don't have a clue to all the details involved in our work. I think when talking about a project its always best to start out with the complete job: if its a grand probably in the neighborhood of $30,000 and maybe $25,000 for an upright. Explain that this is what it cost to make it like new. This brings the client down to earth, and often puts a look of awe on their face. When they understand that rebuilding/remanufacturing a piano is NOT easier than (the factory) building a fine piano from scratch it makes it seem (more) reasonable. I then let the client know that there is a huge area between the complete job and doing nothing, and that we can try to help them find a package that makes sense for them. But again, at least they know what they are giving up. -- Ryan Sowers, RPT Puget Sound Chapter Olympia, WA www.pianova.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20101019/2fae9d51/attachment.htm>
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