Acrosonic w/ bass bridge (Ethics) question

[Alan Barnard]

Sticky situations sometimes call for sticky solutions: In this case, epoxy. This doesn't resolve the issue with the store but if Mr. Mellow is up for it, do what you can to stabilize the remains of the bridge and put on new strings.

Take pictures.

Have a very frank (not indignant or angry) chat with the store owners. Tell them you "saved" the customer but were surprised to see them risk their reputation with that sale -- and at a price way high for its condition, IMO.

You'll have to use your best judgement, based on personalities, prior experience, etc., but do remember that YOUR reputation rides, to some degree, on theirs as long as you are affiliated with them.

If this is indicitive of a new attitude or the store is hurting financially or they really don't care, then bail out fast. It may hurt a little, but with some aggressive marketing, you can come out on top--and be a lot better off in the long run.

My two centavos.

Alan Barnard
Salem, Missouri


----- Original Message ----- 
From: 
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: 04/10/2006 1:11:49 PM 
Subject: Acrosonic w/ bass bridge (Ethics) question


Greetings, 

          A Piano store that I tune for, sold a guy a dirty, scratcjhed,  Baldwin Acrosonic with 2 broken strings, its strings that are so rusty that even I broke one doing the "free" tuning. Its bass bridge is actually preforated by the bridge pins and its upper 'crust' ready to lay over splitting. A bridge pin fell out in fact.

          I informed the guy that there were 2 broken strings on the piano when he purchased it and showed him the cracking bridge. The brigde is preforated and cracking on its upper part (the part at the bridge pins) the lower part is on the apron okay and the apron is on the sound board ok. In other words no separating at the bottom of bridge or its apron. 

          The question is I feel I am put in a rough spot. This guy was sold this pioano for "alittle less than 1000.00" as he put it. and the store that I tune for sold it to him!   I am so appauled!  I would have never let this piano go out of my shop in this condition let alone ask 1000 for it! I am ready to call the store and give them my 2 cents, but they get me tunings and this creates a sticky situation.

           The guy, on the other hand is not too, too upset over it. He said he felt that they should have told him about the two broken strings, bu he was willing to over look that and that he would expect that a 50 year old piano would have some cracking wood pieces, and that he was willing to put 100 or so dollars into keeping it going, till he finds out if the piano will "stick" with the kids and lessons and all. He  thought 100 or so in repairs wasnt that bad in addition to what he paid. I see it differently. I guess my value systme is different. 

            How bad is a cracked bridge problem?  Is this bass bridge something I can dump CA glue in and keep it going, say, 5-10 more years OR do bass bridges just snap and the bass goes out/kapooey dies? Or should I advise this guy to go back to the store and get another piano from this dealer? This is a sticky situation.  

Juli
Reading, PA
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