What would YOU do?

[Delwin D Fandrich]

Clyde,

This experience rings a bell with me. You're situation may entirely different,
but I did try to work with a client who, on the phone, at least, sounded much
like the man you describe in your post. Without going into the sordid details,
let me just say that there may be a very good reason why he was not able to have
the piano serviced in the past 10 to 15 years. And it may not have been because
he was just too cheap to hire a piano tuner. I will only say that no amount of
my guys money would have been sufficient to get me back into his home again.
And, no, he would not have been welcome in either my home or my shop. Under any
circumstances.

Regards,

Del

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Clyde Hollinger wrote:

> 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