Opinions of Working For Dealers (Arnold's question)

[Frederick G Scoles]

I would like to mention some additional factors which have worked for
me.  Around ten years ago I found it difficult to schedule any
school, church, store, or concert tunings because this area already had
some excellent, established technicians, some specializing in tuning.
Instead of trying to schedule these tunings and possibly antagonizing
others, I concentrated on providing the best possible action
reconditiong, regulations,and rebuildings.  After several years of
tuning home (usually older uprights) pianos and concentrating on the
mechanical work (regulations, reconditiongs, etc.) I found out that many
tuners, teachers and store owners were referring the much needed repairs,
reconditiongs, and rebuildings to me.  Some of the more
established tuners preferred having me provide the "nit-picky" action
work.  This helped free their schedules to do the work they preferred.  I
now have a schedule which includes some rebuilding/regulation work, but
also has as much tuning (schools, churches,store referrals) as we
prefer.  For me, this took some years to establish, as most of the new
jobs were by referral.  Guild membership also has helped, as local
chapters and conventions provide information on both technical and
business practices.  The method we have used requires some years to
develop the business;and great patience is required at times.

Fred Scoles, RPT