Clunker pianos - what do you do?

[mccleskey112 at bellsouth.net]

Kerry; I like what you say. I amen that whole-heartedly.
It's up to the technician to know when to call a halt and advise the client to not go any further. It up to the client to accept that advice.
Gerald McCleskey RPT
-- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kerry 
  To: 'Pianotech List' 
  Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 1:15 PM
  Subject: RE: Clunker pianos - what do you do?


  My take on this is that it's easier to feel satisfied with the results of your labor when you're working on a fine grand piano, so if you have the kind of clientele that allows you to turn down anything else, more power to ya. For most of us, there's a balance involved and I find that satisfaction (for both me and the customer) comes from setting realistic expectations and goals and then communicating them effectively. If a piano is beyond reasonable repair, or is not suitable for the task at hand (I'm kind of hard on parents who expect their kids to learn on a piece of junk), I'm not shy about declaring it beyond fixing. Beyond that, I think the most important thing is to find the point of diminishing return for any old piano at which the customers get tangible results for their money (and understand what they're NOT getting) and I can feel happy that I've given them good value.

   

  (Maybe part of this comes from working at a university for so long, where I faced the same instruments, good and bad, year after year. Back in private business now, it's a relief to at least confront different clunkers every day ;-) 

   

  Kerry Kean



------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: Michelle Smith [mailto:michelle at smithpianoservice.com] 
  Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:25 PM
  To: 'Pianotech List'
  Subject: Clunker pianos - what do you do?

   

  Hi all.  I have to admit that I'm pretty tired of old clunker pianos.  Hammers are shot, strings are beginning to break, parts are failing left and right, and the pinblock was done quite a while ago.  The problem is that many people in my area can't afford anything better and there's no one else in my county to work on these old pianos.  

   

  I'm curious how many of you refuse to work on clunkers anymore.  Every time I work on one I tell myself it is my last!  =)

   

  Best wishes,

  Michelle Smith

  Smith Piano Service

  Bastrop, Texas

   
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