False advertising, was: Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrgh!

[David Ilvedson]

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I'd call the home office and let our attorney send him a=
 letter...

David Ilvedson






Original message
From: 
To: 
Received: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 23:19:06 EDT
Subject: False advertising, was: Re: Aaaaaaaarrrrrrgh!


Alan,
 
Like you, I'd have a letter composed in my mind before I got down=
 the block.  Some of us always think it's something WE'VE done=
 when it really isn't.  She may have just gotten back from her=
 oncologist with bad news, who knows.  It's really hard NOT to=
 take these things personally, though.
 
I'd send the letter with a few minor changes.  I don't know that=
 it will do any good with her, but it will do YOU good.  
 
Don Bose's advice from past posts about customer encounters that=
 went wrong has really helped me in getting the customer's=
 expectations in line with the services I offer and the prices at=
 which I offer them.  It really keeps things tidy and unemotional=
 on both sides.
 
On a tangential note, I was reading Ray Bentley's response to=
 Alan's note.  While it is true that there is really nothing that=
 would qualify your average associate to advertise as a PTG=
 member, there are those of us with a conscience--probably all of=
 the associates who read and contribute to this list--who joined=
 fully expecting to become RPTs in the not too distant future. =
 We have and make good use of a vast bank of knowledge in the=
 PTG.  But I still refuse to advertise my affiliation until I'm=
 an RPT.
 
Then there things like I saw today.  I occasionally encounter=
 pianos tooned by Tooners like Kwang Jen--I will use his name=
 here, because he has advertised falsely.  I replaced a keytop=
 and did some other minor repairs, pitch-raised and tuned a piano=
 that he'd "TOONED" in November.  It sounded like crap, was flat=
 and all over the map tuning-wise, and he couldn't even replace a=
 keytop--or refer someone to the customer who could!  None of=
 that surprised me.  What DID surprise me was his business card,=
 which says:
 
Kwang Jen
Professional Piano Tuner
Piano Technician's Guild Member
510-438-0116 tel-fax
 
I include all of this information because I was wondering if=
 there is a way to cross-reference members by phone number, in=
 case he uses another name.  
 
After I was done with the job, I looked him up in the directory. =
 Nada.  
 
I seriously doubt that anyone who is in any way associated with=
 the PTG would do the shoddy work that I witnessed today.  So I'm=
 inclined to call Kwang, or better yet, get ahold of the Better=
 Business Bureau and discuss this matter with them.
 
Comments, suggestions, etc., would be appreciated.  
 
Dave Stahl
 
In a message dated 4/21/05 4:49:20 PM Pacific Daylight Time,=
 ray@bentley.net writes:
I doubt that sending the letter would do anything for either you=
 or her.  Her mind is already made up.  Perhaps she'll call you=
 again and act totally differently. Sometimes, the less said, the=
 better.
 
One point in your letter, however, mentions that you are the only=
 Guild technician.....
 
Anyone can pay dues and be a guild member.  It becomes meaningful=
 only after the tests to become RPT have been passed.  When=
 advertising in this manner or in an ad, it is important that=
 guild status be included.

At 05:47 PM 4/21/2005, you wrote:

Had to happen sooner or later. Visit people who don't play much,=
 tune annual. He's nice. She was okay in past. She not home. Sit=
 at piano. 20+ cents flat after period of high humidity around=
 here. Tell him it needs pitch correction. Work on piano for 2=
 1/2 hours. She's now home, comes in as I'm trying to take a=
 little Story & Clarke wine out of the unisons. Scowl. "We have=
 places to go today! How much longer is this going to take?" Oh,=
 says I, I'm just finishing up. "How much."  Well it needed pitch=
 correction, you see, blah blah blah, so it's $140 today. 
 
[Insert sound of Banshee With Bellyache here]
 
"Why, we haven't even moved that piano." (Me: chuff, hrgmff,=
 choke ...)
 
 {Caution Serious Rant Zone Ahead} 
 
WHAT THE HELL IS IT WITH THIS 'MOVING THE PIANO CRAP'? EVERYONE=
 KNOWS(!) THATS WHAT MAKES PIANOS NEED TUNING (puff puff pant)=
 DID THE GOVERNMENT USED TO PRINT THAT FACTOID(???!!!) ON CEREAL=
 BOXES OR WHAT? SEEMS MOST FOLKS DON'T KNOW A $#*%&* THING ELSE=
 ABOUT THEIR PIANO BUT IF YOU ROLL IT 3 INCHES, THAT'S WHEN YOU=
 GOTTA CALL THE TUNER (OR IF A KEY IS 'STICKING.') OTHER THAN=
 THAT, IT CAN EASILY GO ANOTHER 15 YEARS AND SOUNDS JUST BLOODY=
 GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
 
"Last time you were here you only charged me $50." No, Ma'am. It=
 was $65 a couple of years ago. Now it's $80 plus you needed the=
 pitch raise. 
 
Tried to explain. She wrote a check. I said, just pay me what you=
 think it's worth. She paid the full amount.
 
She won't be using me next time. That's okay. She will=
 undoubtedly tell everyone in her church--and it's a small=
 community here--and anyone else who'll listen that I am a rotten=
 crook and I charge $140 to tune a piano--that hasn't even been=
 moved! That's not okay. Damn.
 


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