Tuning/Regulation Marketing

[Farrell]

The statement was off a web site of a tech. The reason I addressed it as
marketing is that it was just that: marketing and not practice. I agree with
your statements Clyde.

Looking further into the policies stated by the tech, it was clear that he
charged 1-1/2 hours labor for tuning and any repairs, regulation, voicing,
etc. was extra at the hourly charge. He even charged additional for travel
to the tuning appointment. I think his marketing statement was that each
service appt. should include all this other service, and that very few techs
are qualified/aware of what to do to accomplish this. The subject statement
struck me as misleading in that it comes off as you will get your piano
regulated, tuned, and voiced for just a regular tuning fee, and that other
techs that do not do that are unethical.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----
From: "Clyde Hollinger" <cedel@supernet.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2001 7:54 AM
Subject: Re: Tuning/Regulation Marketing


> Friends,
>
> Somehow I didn't see this statement in its original posting, so I don't
know
> who wrote it, but I disagree pretty strongly.  It is the result of
defining
> piano service very narrowly, not taking into consideration the needs or
desires
> of the client.  After all, whose piano is it, and who is going to pay the
bill?
>
> But it would be unethical to just tune the piano if you charge the client
for
> doing more work that you never did, and certainly if the client is willing
to
> pay for the extra service and expects you to do it, then it should be
done.
>
> Equating such statements to other service occupations often helps me to
see
> things a little more clearly, or I try to put myself in the client's
place.
> For example, suppose I took my car to the mechanic and just asked him to
change
> the oil and filter.  When I go to pick it up he did that but also flushed
the
> cooling system, steamed down the engine, and serviced the transmission
because
> he felt "it was unethical to just change the oil" when he felt other
service
> was also needed, and then handed me a much higher bill than I was prepared
to
> pay.  Believe me, I wouldn't go back.
>
> I service a lot of pianos which need more than I ever give them, but the
client
> isn't interested.  There are a few which have service needs so pronounced
that
> I will tell the client additional work should be done before or with the
next
> tuning.  In a couple instances I would refuse to tune the piano until the
work
> is done because I am just asking for more trouble for myself (for example,
> replacing bridle straps in ancient pianos).
>
> Regards,
> Clyde
>
> > "The unethical practice of just pulling the strings into tune has lead
to
> > many pianos being badly out of regulation. Your tuner should be sacked
if
> > they don't work on touch and tone at EACH tuning visit."
>
>