Penalizing: Was "Betsy Ross pianos"

[Clyde Hollinger]

Terry,

I am under the impression that there are a few piano technicians who really do
think it is okay to add a penalty charge because the piano was more neglected
than they thought it should be.  My guess is they obscure that charge somehow on
the invoice.  I can't see it;  I just can't see how this can be fair at all.
And I suspect that if *they* were ever penalized by the painter, or plumber, or
barber, they would look at things altogether differently.  I don't know if you
are wierd or not, but I agree with you on this.

Regards, Clyde

Farrell wrote:

> "....I didn't feel like penalizing (a piano owner)......"
>
> Is this just an arguably poor choice of words, or is such a thing practiced?
>
> Please tell me that no techs around here "penalize" a piano owner for having
> a piano that is off pitch - whether it was last tuned last week or in 1962.
> Please tell me we simply charge for our labor and expertise.
>
> Am I weird that this would grind me in a bad way?
>
> Terry Farrell
>
> P.S.  Sorry for using your post as an example Rozan - not trying to pick on
> you - but we see this reference in so many posts and I wonder why.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rozan Brown" <rbrown@chorus.net>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2001 6:46 PM
> Subject: Re: Betsy Ross pianos
>
> > I figured it would be higher due to the radically different season.  I
> > decided to go ahead and tune it anyway (because she asked me to do it
> > now), but I floated the pitch high so that it will settle back for the
> > fall and winter.
> >
> > This piano gets played only by the visiting little granddaughter, and I
> > don't think she'd spend the $$ for a D-C system.  BTW, I didn't charge
> > anything extra for the pitch-lower, mainly because I didn't feel like
> > penalizing an acquaintance for actually tuning her piano more than
> > once/year (instead of the usual once/5-10 years), plus she's an
> > acquaintance.  When she calls again, depending on the season, I'll
> > suggest tunings in the spring and/or fall.
> >
> > Rozan Brown
> > Madison, WI
> >
> > John Ross wrote:
> > > It is higher because of the higher humidity.
> > > Those that use a cents per $ figure would make a fortune around here.
> > > Just tune it each season. In Sept it can be 30c sharp, and in Jan it
> > will be
> > > 30c low. (Just above the break)
> > > That is why I tell my customers, (rural) just once a year, when the
> > heat is
> > > on.
> >