finding pianos/was:lessons learned

[James Grebe]

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Hi,
It is a crazy world.  I do lots of Yamaha service bond work and I have =
many times had to return the service stuff to the store because I cannot =
get the purchaser to book and accept the free work.  The hardest tunings =
to book are those that are free.
Jim
James Grebe
Piano Tuner-Technician
Wood Artisan
Established 1962
Creator  of Wooden Artifacts such as:
Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups
Handsome Hardwood Piano  Benches
314 845-8282
1526 Raspberry Lane
Arnold, MO 63010

  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Tvak@aol.com=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: Friday, July 18, 2003 9:39 AM
  Subject: finding pianos/was:lessons learned



  In a message dated 7/13/03 5:04:32 PM, tune4u@earthlink.net writes:



    When I darn a piano to heck but the people otherwise are interested
    in pianos, I do not charge them and I help them, if they desire, in
    finding another piano.



  I have found pianos for maybe a dozen clients over the past three =
years or so, and more than half the time I never hear from the client =
again.  This is not after darning a piano to heck, either.  They call =
me, asking if I know of any pianos for sale; I tell them I'll put them =
on my list.  I find out what kind of piano and price range they are =
looking for, and a month later, I find a piano which fits their =
criterion, so I call them to let them know where the piano is.  Up to =
this point, all is cordial, they are grateful, I feel like I'll be =
gaining a long-term client, and I'm doing two parties a favor.   (The =
seller and the buyer)

  At this point, one of two things happens: either they buy the piano =
and I never hear from them again, or they evidently don't buy the piano =
and I never hear from them again. =20

  I had a client whose piano I tuned for 3 years who called to ask me to =
find a piano for her daughter.  I found the perfect piano for her: she =
wanted a vertical piano with dark wood, and I found her this Acrosonic, =
and it was cheap!  I gave her the info on the piano and I never heard =
from her OR her mother again!  I called both of them several times over =
the following week.  I still don't know if she bought the piano, or not. =
 On that little deal, I not only lost a new client but an old one, too.  =


  Another woman asked me to find her a baby grand, and when I called her =
with a lead on a little Samick 3 months later, she was so grateful. She =
couldn't believe that I actually remembered her and took the time to =
call her.  Gave her the info, and never heard from her again.  She has =
since ignored my tuning reminder cards.

  I didn't even ask for a finder's fee or seller's fee on these =
transactions.  I thought it would be enough to gain a client whose piano =
I would be tuning for the next 10 years.  All these pianos I found were =
in good condition at a good price.  I could do no more for my own =
mother.

  One last story:  a man called to offer me his piano for free.  A =
Wurlitzer spinet with a nice cabinet and bench.  I picked it up and did =
some action work on it, since it wasn't playing very well.  I put about =
two hours into it, levelling the keys, adjusting the letoff, even =
reshaped the hammers.  I sold it for $350, and even included a FREE =
TUNING with it. =20

  Never heard from the client again.   He'll probably call me in 5 years =
wanting his free tuning. =20

  I know someone will suggest I've done something to alienate these =
people, but for the life of me I can't imagine what it is.  All =
relations are cordial and everything seems just fine up to the point =
that they go incommunicato.  (sic)

  So, Homey don't play that game no more.  I still tell people that I'll =
put them on a list, but I don't call them no matter what I find.  It's =
not worth it.

  Tom Sivak


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