Terry's irate customer

[Dave Davis]

Terry,
If I'd known beer was involved, I would have offered
that advice, too!!  Thanks for the happy ending.
Dave Davis
Renton, WA

--- Farrell <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
> And luck was with me. I visited my (formerly) irate
> customer this afternoon. A HUGE THANK YOU to Ron N.
> for stressing the likelihood of the buzz coming from
> a foreign object (I owe you several beers at the
> next convention). I trolled around under the plate
> with my soundboard steel with my irate customer
> hovering over my shoulder. After several minutes of
> finding nothing, I noticed a hard object under the
> plate where many plates will have a nosebolt - but
> this piano did not have one there. So I poked and
> prodded and then all of a sudden a cut glass bead
> from a long-gone chandelier shot out from under the
> plate. Played a little game of hockey getting it out
> from beneath the backscale strings and handed it to
> her. Played piano and the worst buzz was gone but
> there was still a minor one. A little more
> exploratory down toward the bass and another glass
> bead squirted out from under the plate. Play piano
> again and all was no-buzz except for about six bass
> strings - but those buzzes sounded more like a
> rattling bass string. Gave each of them a twist or
> two and finally the piano was buzz free!
> 
> She insisted on paying me, which I did not argue
> about. She was thrilled and asked me if I could
> clean the strings and soundboard next time I tune
> the piano.
> 
> All's well that ends well.
> 
> Terry Farrell
> 
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Robin Stevens 
>   To: pianotech@ptg.org 
>   Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 3:55 PM
>   Subject: Terry's irate customer
> 
> 
> 
>         Terry...When the customer first rang re
> having her piano tuned, did she say anything about
> buzzing notes? I ask this because a big majority of
> customers will assume that any, and every problem is
> fixed just by tuning. I too have found out the hard
> way. 
> 
>         Once you have been involved with the piano
> you immediately are guilty of the "It was all right
> before YOU touched it" scenario.
> 
>         I always make a point of asking a customer
> BEFORE I touch it are there and mechanical
> problems/noises/squeaks/rattles. And, especially if
> no one is home I ask them to put any mechanical
> problems down on paper, That way you can hopefully
> avoid that irate phone call. 
> 
>         Once the customer thinks that your work is
> not good enough it is a hard road back. I also agree
> with what the others that say....she has to be be!!!
> 
>         Best of luck
>         Regards 
> 
>          Robin Stevens
>         Convener "INTUNE SA 2004"
>         22-25 July 2004 Corus Grosvenor Adelaide SA
>         08 8633 0533 mmrr6596@bigpond.net.au 
>                
>        
> 


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