Clunker pianos - what do you do?

[John Ross]

I tell the owner that on the first trip, I will make it 'operational'.
Then they should make a list of what bothers them, and I will give them an estimate of cost to make the repair. 
I also inform them, of how much of  a difference the repair will make, toward their expectations.
Some times I will say, just to do necessary repairs, while they look for another piano.
Some owners can only afford the 'clunker's they have, so I feel I have to help them.
I have mainly a 'rural' clientele, and not the 'elite' of the playing public, as others on the list seem to have. 
In a lot of cases these people have had a struggle to come up with the $200-$500 to buy a piano in the first place.  Therefore $100s to bring it up to the optimum is not an option. 
Think minimum wage.
My whole Province/ State does not even have a million people.
 
John Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Michael Kurta 
  To: Pianotech List 
  Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 12:00 PM
  Subject: Re: Clunker pianos - what do you do?


      On older pianos needing lots of work, I'll often tell the customer, "We'll pitch raise and tune today, and maybe repair the most pressing need.  Next visit, we'll do further work and bit by bit, we'll bring this piano back to good playability."  Seems to appeal to most piano owners when faced with many costly repairs.
      Mike Kurta
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