>t's the piano buyer that needs education. If any of my customers suggest >they might soon be looking for a piano replacement or if I suggest that >it >is time they replace their piano, I often offer to help them in their >decision so they don't hop out of the frying pan and into the fire. This >doesn't happen that often, and I have never set up a price structure to >get reimbursed for the time it takes, although I wish I could. Anyone >have a way that works? Greetings, Good education is expensive, but not nearly so much as ignorance. When customers tell me they are looking for a piano, I suggest that they check out potential instruments first. I give them a basic idea of what to look for, ie, reasonably level keys, consistant feel,( tell them to play each key individually), look at the hammers if possible, etc. I tell them to listen and decide if they like the sound and look of the piano. I then tell them that if they decide the piano is one they like, THEN call me and spend the $75 to have me examine it and give them an oral appraisal of the pianos condition. If I need to write, mail, etc. I add $25. To reasonable people, this is cheap insurance. Those are the kinds of customers I want. To short-sighted cheapskates, paying me to "just look" at a piano seems exorbitant, and thankfully, they go elsewhere to be some other techs problem. Regards, Ed Foote RPT www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/ www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
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