What would YOU do? reply

[pianoman]

Hi Clyde,
It sounds like so far you have convinced him that you are credible.  Have
you told him you do not have a shop operation but he would be welcome to
meet you at your next tuning/appointment at a institution or school and he
could observe your methods and you would have time to demonstrate your
abilities while you performed your service.  Of course volunteering to
refer him to a few exacting clients you have serviced so he could check
with them.
	On the other hand, how exacting is he if he hasn't had his new piano
serviced for 10-15 years.  He may be the type that even though he hasn't
kept his piano up properly he expects you to service it and make it all
right with one simple tuning.  They are hard to figure.  Trust your
instincts.
James Grebe
R.P.T. of the P.T.G. from St. Louis, MO. USA, Earth
Piano Service and Piano Periperals
pianoman@inlink.com            May I listen as well as I hear.

----------
> From: Clyde Hollinger <cedel@redrose.net>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: What would YOU do?
> Date: Monday, June 15, 1998 7:12 AM
> 
> 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