Junk Pianos

[Z! Reinhardt]

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Notice that the complaining is not directed at the customer.  It is an =
attempt to understand how certain people can be so willing to spend so =
much money on all kinds of expensive state-of-the-art stuff for =
themselves yet cheap out in the worst way when it comes to their kids' =
interests.  The incongruity of the situation is enough to annoy most =
readers on this list, especially when the cheap-out involves what we =
love working on the most.

I personally think this is yet another case of an owner who understands =
and knows what to expect from the other material goods listed in the =
post, but hasn't a clue about how a piano should function and is not =
willing to spend the money to find out.  It's the same scenerio as the =
fancy exclusive club (or some other wealthy establishment) that buys =
only the cheapest piano available and expects the various pianists it =
hires to play the thing without complaint ... because the manager in =
charge of the thing knows nothing about and probably doesn't care about =
knowing anything concerning pianos.  The pianists can all be children =
for all they care.

Now the challenge is to convince the customer to upgrade to a better =
instrument for the kids, and some customers in this position can be =
incredibly stubborn for reasons we technicians have trouble =
understanding.  There's also the question of how best to keep the =
junkers out of circulation unless they were rebuilt into serviceable =
instruments.

Z! Reinhardt  RPT
Ann Arbor  MI
diskladame@provide.net


----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Billbrpt@AOL.COM=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2002 12:16 AM
  Subject: Re: Junk Pianos




    End of rant..............for now.=20

    Terry Farrell
  =20
  Terry, it doesn't do any good to complain about this kind of situation =
here.  We've all seen it and we've all dealt with it.  If you have =
enough work to do, then just tell them the facts, the piano is not =
suitable because it is unserviceable.  Yes, you'll often get the look of =
great disappointment and disbelief and also not get any money either (or =
perhaps only a small service call fee).=20

  You can more easily get a service call fee in such a situation if you =
spend less time fuming over and condemning the piano and the last tuner =
if you take the time to spell out, illustrate and demonstrate the facts =
and talk to them seriously about the benefits of new piano ownership.  =
(You may also get a healthy commission from a dealer if they buy based =
on your recomendation). It will outlast the SUVs and all the other =
expensive consumer goods.  It can go to a grandchild when that time =
comes.  It is salable and sometimes at a gain rather than loss if the =
kids just don't take to it.=20

  On the other hand, there is very little which can't be fixed, =
including all of the items you mentioned.  During my rebuilding days, I =
got an Aeolian piano for free that was deemed worthless from smoke and =
moisture damage.  I refinished it, cleaned it out, repainted the plate =
and restrung it including a rescaling job.  I sold it to a dealer for a =
price that suited me and the dealer sold it to a customer as a "good =
deal".  That was in the mid 1080's and I still tune that piano every =
year.  It is in a nice, suburban home where they also have expensive =
stuff.=20

  I don't like Aeolian pianos any more than you do and very rarely, =
you'll find one that is really too far gone to be worth repair.  You can =
practice restringing skills, hammer and action replacement skills, key =
leveling and other regulation on a piano such as this and when you get =
to do the same with some really fine instruments, you'll have good =
skills.  But just complaining about all the "junk" pianos out there =
won't get you anything.=20

  Bill Bremmer RPT=20
  Madison, Wisconsin=20
  Click here: -=3Dw w w . b i l l b r e m m e r . c o m =3D-=20

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