What would YOU do?

[Clyde Hollinger]

Friends:

Last Saturday a man called me.  He just moved into the area from a large
city and is looking for an RPT to service his Kawai console, which was
purchased new 10-15 years ago and hasn't seen a tuner or technician
since.  He's going down the phonebook listings, I gather.  He sounds
like a most exacting person.  From his descriptions I suggested the
piano may need less than $200 of work, including pitchraise, tuning,
thorough cleaning and a few minor things.

I am used to the normal questions from first-time clients, but this
gentleman suggested he may want to meet me first and perhaps come and
see my shop (I don't have any; I work out of my car).  I could
understand that if I were attempting to sell him a major rebuilding job
for megabucks.  He already told me he won't call one other person back
because the RPT made him feel uncomfortable.

I expect him to call again.  Would you take this job?  Is this type of
scrutiny common in some areas?  In my 18 years of business I never saw
anything like it.  I have visions of him watching my every move and
checking every cranny of the piano's interior with a white cloth to see
if I was thorough enough.

I will appreciate being enlightened.  I know not every place in the
world is as trusting as Lancaster County, and I am careful never to
betray that trust.  Thank you.

Clyde Hollinger, RPT
Lititz, PA, USA