Old upright-Honesty-Lost business= ok?

[gordon stelter]

Tell 'em what it would really cost to restore
properly, without you endangering your health or
sanity, be it $10,000 or $25,000, and then honestly
tell them if you feel this would be a  good candidsate
for this level of investment, or another piano would
be better.  I would have no qualms charging that much
for a fine upright, because that's what  fine uprights
 similar inherent quality cost today. If it has been
infested by mice, refuse to work on it. Almost no
amountof toil will eliminate the smell, anad  better
piano to start with could easily enough be found.
     Thump

--- Dave Smith <dsmith941 at comcast.net> wrote:

> I spent almost an hour with a family with an 1917
> old upright of questionable worth.  They had spent
> 200$ for it and had already developed a family
> heimloom type attachment.  "Fix it -  make it sing
> again - dont worry about the cost -  as long as we
> can pay for it in installments."  I believe the
> previous technician was maybe more salesman than
> tech.  He had told them that once he was done, they
> would need a rider on their home owners insurance
> policy. for the piano.  The previous tech had
> replaced a few broken strings, fixed a few broken
> hammer shanks and "TUNED" the piano  He also had
> suddenly left town, and they called me.  
> 
> These were really nice people and I wanted to help
> them, but.......The piano was over one and a half
> notes flat, most hammers bobbled, blow distance was
> at least a half inch too much, etc.  Hammers hard as
> rocks, and dampers shot.  The sustain indicated that
> the sb was ok but marginal.  I tried to explain that
> the piano was old and tired, and that although I
> could certainly improve it, that it wasn t a good
> investment.    Needs hammers, dampers, regulation,
> key bushings, and probably  numerous yet undiagnosed
> action parts fixed.    They asked me why I was so
> negative, and I said that I just wanted to be
> realistic about the outcome after they spent all
> this money.  Recommended they consider a new or at
> least newer piano.    But their zeal won me over.  I
> agreed to do an estimate and come back later this
> week to to multiple pitch raises and a tuning,
> hopefully not breaking multiple strings in the
> process.   I received a call late this evening from
> the mother, saying that they had talked it over and
> decided that they thought I might be too negative on
> their piano.  I said I understood, and recommended
> that they call other techs in the area, including Mr
> Bondi for a second opinion.
> 
> I would have liked to try to make this piano better,
> but I didnt want to disappoint.  Reputation over $$?
>    Can anyone out there make me feel either better
> or worse for "losing this business"?
> 
> Dave Smith
> SW FL



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