Service Refusal

[David Love]

Sounds like the right approach to me.  I've walked away from those without
even getting $20 for a couple of six packs.  

 

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net
www.davidlovepianos.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Farrell
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 7:45 AM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: Service Refusal

 

GGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!

 

Boy, I see how these posts get kinda misinterpreted after a few rounds.

 

In my original post I did elude to the fact that I have run across other
similar pianos, and explained to the owners about why I though it might not
be worth putting any money into, and then most often they agree that we
should not service the piano. In other cases, where I didn't think it was a
smart decision to do anything with the piano, but the piano could be tuned,
and the owner wanted it tuned, I tuned it.

 

This was simply the first time someone insisted on tuning a piano that,
IMHO, could not be tuned. IMHO, to not tune a piano that can't be tuned is
productive - anything else would be unproductive.

 

Further, in no way shape or form did I "just walk away and say, "Call
someone else" without a careful explanation". I spent at least 20 minutes
explaining about regulation (bobbling hammers), rusted strings, loose tuning
pins, cracked bridges, etc., etc. And then, because she wanted it (too long
to explain why), I vacuumed out the inside of the piano for her. I was there
just short of an hour. I drove 30 minutes there and 30 minutes back. I
charged her $20.

 

She got good advice, a lesson in piano innards, a cleaner piano, a smile, an
apology for having to refuse to tune her piano (my professional ethics and
standard simply would not allow me to) - a lengthy explanation of why I
wouldn't/couldn't tune the piano - all for 20 bucks. A darn good deal IMHO.

 

Grrrrrrrr.  ;-)

 

Terry Farrell

 

PS: And Mike, I'm not trying to lecture you - these posts are easy to
misinterpret - perhaps I am even misinterpreting yours!

----- Original Message ----- 

 

    David, you had the best take on the situation, making it as easy a pill
to swallow for the owner as possible.  To just walk away and say, "Call
someone else" without a careful explanation is unproductive.  This can be a
real trauma for some folks especially non-musical ones.  Thinking back to a
former life as an auto mechanic, in this case I might say its like putting a
new paint job on a car that doesn't run.  Then go on to explain that there
are more serious problems to be corrected before tuning.

    Mike Kurta

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