> Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 07:32:25 -0500 (EST) > From: pianobiz@juno.com (Dave Sanderson) > Subject: Re: Ethical quandary > To: pianotech@byu.edu > Reply-to: pianotech@byu.edu David, I have about the same philosophy in my work. I don't work for dealers, such as in store tunings etc., so I suppose it might be a little easier for me. Typically, someone will want me to check out a piano they are looking at. It could be in a home or in a store. I am working for that person only. I let them know my fees in advance and explain that we will talk about the piano after my inspection either by phone or outside the house/store. I try not to give my opinions on site. Many times the piano's owner wants me to tell them what I am finding. Working out referrals directly to a store in advance is a good idea. I would certainly want the "free tuning" and that customer for my own not the store tuner. David ilvedson, RPT > Well for some reason earning money this way never set well with me. I > never like being asked for the fee and I never want to be given a fee, so > at least I am consistent. When I send a customer to a dealer to look for > a new piano, I call up the dealer and let them know I have referred them > this person. The standing agreement is, don't try to steal this client > away from me (by badmouthing independent technicians) and let me do the > "free" tuning for you. This keeps my relationship with the dealer in > high regard (some stories that a dealer can tell you about referral fees > will really raise your ethical quandary) and if the customer does buy a > piano it enhances my relationship with the new owner as well. All the > while I remain a piano technician doing my job, for both customer and > dealer, with a consistent focus of working on pianos. > Perhaps the underlying assumptions about the taking of referral fees are > what get my goat. For what am I getting paid? Do I think that my advice > is for sale? If so then the wrong person is paying because I give my > advice to the buyer. Or is it a service I am providing for the dealer > for which I am justified in charging? These are some of the questions > with which I am unclear. > > David Sanderson > Littleton, MA > Pianobiz@juno.com > >
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