Buying a PT bizz

[Larry Fisher]

YO Dudes and Dudettes,

Wally wrote:

>Has anyone had the experience of buying another piano technician's
>business? I would like to discuss it.
>
>Wally Scherer
>E-mail: WallyTS@iName.com (Please use this new address now!)

Well, sir, I've had the opportunity to acquire a fellow technicians
clientelle.  I got it for no money out of pocket.  I also acquired some nice
additions to my shop ...... an air compressor, collapsable piano tilter,
some assorted tools, a huge bunch of parts .... new and used, and a
Disklavier customer ... the tuner's widow.  All this for a few tunings
including the Yamaha service bond proceedure.  I sent out special post cards
to his clientelle list (about 150 customers or so) that was no older than 4
years.    Uh, the list, not the customer, BOZO!!  Granted he was only in
bizz in the area for a short time before he went to the big piano bench in
the sky, and granted he gathered his clientelle by calling everyone in the
phone book asking if they owned a piano. (crude but to the point)  All this
was considered before I agreed to exchange anything for all his index cards.  

He charged less than I do for tunings.
He attracted a different kind of clientelle than I'm used to working with.  
Out of the roughly 100 post cards I sent out, that I know of, I only got
about 5 responses.  

I could have persued this market with more zeal and enthusiasm, however, I
haven't really needed the extra work, and have enjoyed the "au naturelle"
method of business enhancement.  With some phone work and some serious gum
flapping, I would imagine I could have turned quite a few more customers of
his my way.  The price I paid and the level of service clientelle I was
seeing didn't dictate that kind of effort.

Good luck on your venture.

Lar

                                    Larry Fisher RPT
   specialist in players, retrofits, and other complicated stuff
      phone 360-256-2999 or email larryf@pacifier.com
         http://www.pacifier.com/~larryf/ (revised 10/96)
           Beau Dahnker pianos work best under water