Petrof keyslip

[David Ilvedson]

I don't like the word "troll" either.   That sounds like used car saleman speak.   Please keep the door to door salesmanship off the list.   
That being said, Ron,  have you ever seen a performance race care covered in grease and filth?   The first order of business is a clean machine.   That IS a priority in my book.  Nearly every new customer I see has a filthy piano that hasn't been vacuumed out in 40 years.   Usually the other tuner didn't want to carry the vacuum in or possibly preferred working in dirt or maybe, like in your case,  the work is beneath them.   Just the IDEA of the need to keep their instrument clean sets them in the right frame of mind.   Service of the piano.   Vacuuming is part of the service when I tune a piano.  The vac comes in with me.   New customers with grand pianos will, usually, need the action pulled and cleaning under the strings.   This takes extra time, maybe a 1/2 hour,  and they are billed for that.   When I've got the action out, I'll lubricate keybed, keyframe, knuckles....this is part of the full cleaning service.   I can assess the condition of the pedals etc. and bring up the next steps to take.    Am I transferring money to my pocket unnecessarily?   I don't think so.   Also, the customer  is not going to ask you to clean the piano, no more than they're going to ask you to check the let-off.   

David Ilvedson



----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
From: Ron Nossaman <rnossaman@cox.net>
To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
Received: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 15:57:47 -0500
Subject: Re: Petrof keyslip


>>  The key is to treat the client like you want to be treated: with 
>> respect, humor, and interest.

>This is precisely what I do, which is why I will bring performance and 
>longevity issues to their attention, and refrain from pushing (trolling) 
>services that will do nothing for the instrument, like cleaning and 
>polishing. When I hire work done, I'm not interested in someone running up 
>a bill on eyewash items having nothing to do with my reasons for hiring 
>them in the first place. I don't like package deals because a portion, 
>often a major portion, of what you're buying is always "filler". I tend to 
>pass on the hot wax and chrome oil pan when what it needs is spark plugs. 
>If I ask for hot wax or chrome, that's different. If they ask, I'll clean 
>it. I consider respect for my customers to include not trying to push 
>something on them that they don't need, and won't improve the performance 
>of their instrument, simply because I can transfer money from their pocket 
>to mine doing it. I expect, but rarely get, the same consideration from 
>those I deal with for service. That's probably one reason I'll never be 
>rich unless a solid platinum meteorite the size of a refrigerator lands in 
>my back yard.

>Going out to watch the sky now...

>Ron N

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