No Subject

[Jon Page]

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Yesterday I went to check out a 'hard to pump' player. Everything visible 
had been
restored neatly. The guy had spent a few weeks trying to figure it out and 
diagnose the
problem. A few governor screw adjustments and wind motor timing increased 
the pressure
but there was still too much air to move. After removing the stack 
(fortunately he couldn't
figure that one out), I pointed out the holes in the pneumatic cloth which 
was not replaced
at the time the rest was done.

He did figure that recovering the pneumatics was not out of the scope of 
his talent and
would tackle the job. I agreed to sell him the cloth. Then I described the 
recovering process
and his ambition waned. "Hot glue? How many spring clamps? Belt and disc 
sanders?
He boasted on his ability to preform meticulous tasks but shrank away from 
a job of this
magnitude. I suggested that if he really wanted to get involved I would let 
him come to my
shop to work under supervision. He suddenly became too busy.

I doubt they'll get the job done but his wife mentioned about some other 
friends who hooked up
a vacuum. This is his kind of project.

Another time while replacing a bass bridge cap on an upright for a church, 
I recruited the
ladies guild to clean and reglue the jacks on the wippens. They very 
efficiently had a production
line going for removal, dusting, jack support removal/cleaning, reglueing 
and reinstallation.

By the time I got the cap done and the strings back on, the action was 
done. I liked that.

I do like subbung-out the tedious work.

regards,

Jon Page

At 11:30 PM 09/09/2000 -0700, you wrote:
>DGPEAKE@AOL.COM wrote:
> >
> > My policy is to never sell parts to non technicians in order for them 
> to work
> > on their own piano. Why? I am in business to make money, and this takes 
> money
> > away from me. Think about this way: Some calls you, a technician, to buy
> > parts from you to do his or her own work which you are quite capable of 
> doing
> > and earn your living this way. That does not sit well with me.
>
>Dave,
>
>To give you another view, this piano owner wants to improve the quality
>of her instrument and also wants the experience and pride that will come
>of doing the work herself. I don't see how that takes anything away from
>you. You can choose to sell her the parts or not, that's your business.
>But it's her piano and she has the right to rebuild it, tune it or
>launch it into a lake with a trebuchet. Why begrudge her the courage to
>tackle a new challenge?
>
>I sell parts to owners occasionally and gladly offer advice on how to
>achieve a successful repair, pitfalls to avoid, etc. Sometimes they'll
>call me back for work that requires expertise beyond their capability.
>Sometimes not. But I feel better for having been of service. I'm not
>just in the business to make money but to provide a service. Giving away
>a few freebies now and then is part of the cost of doing business. It
>develops good will and attracts future business.
>
>What got me barking is your second paragraph:
> >
> > I had a piano owner cuss me out for not selling the parts and he even 
> said he
> > would bad mouth me to other piano owners. That was years ago and I am still
> > alive and well in this business.
>
>I'm sure you are doing very well professionally but I don't see how
>being cussed out by a piano owner can sit well with you (I notice you
>still remember it after some years). You can't please everyone, that's
>true, but by not accommodating this man, you lost his business and any
>referrals he might have made and that takes money away from you.
>
>So, the logic of your policy escapes me.
>
>Sorry for the rant. Time to head for the old doghouse.
>
>Tom Cole

Jon Page,   piano technician
Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass.
mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net
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