Clunker pianos - what do you do?

[Paul T Williams]

Hi Michelle,

I, too, have had to "comdemn" some pianos.  "It was my grandmothers' 
wedding present, or some such, but some pianos just can't be "given" a new 
life.  BUT, if the pianos in your area are common, some judgement needs to 
be employed. If you can do just enough to "get it going", everyone 
benefits.  I used to live on an island in Washington state where this was 
very common.  Some were worth "fixing", (just get it to play) and some 
were just too much.  It is all up to you how much you need business, how 
much can be done to this piano, and how much the intstrument means to the 
family. It sounds like this is very common out there, so you have to take 
each piano as it happens.  I never made enough money on such dead 
instruments to try to sell the job, but I'm hoping my education to releive 
their burden and invest in a newer (or rental) instrument might be a 
better choice.  Especially, I mean, especially, if their child is starting 
in piano lessons.  This is where I would "draw the line".  Sometimes, I 
would come in and they'd already refinished it and it looked really nice, 
but then I would open the lid and "oooooooh" no good!  When I started 
piano lessons (waaaaaaay back) we had an old upright, but after 6 months 
of lessons, my folks realized that I was "gifted" enough.  They didn't get 
me a Steinway or something good, but did get a better piano that "worked". 
 Soon thereafter we were blessed with "baby-sitting" a Baldwin grand where 
I was able to really begin to play better. Now that I'm in a university 
setting, I'm realizing that I have a lot of practicing to do!!!!  These 
kids are playing stuff that I was pretty good at when I was 18, but "lost" 
a lot of my "chops"! 

The main thought of my ramble is to learn how to weigh off what the piano 
can do, what the owner wants, and what means they may have to invest in it 
or get something better.  Sometimes, you have to fish or cut bait.

Best of luck to you and I know how it goes.....just use good judgement and 
don't take advantage of any situation for profit.

Best,

Paul





Stephen Grattan <lostchordclinic at ameritech.net> 
Sent by: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org
04/10/2008 03:55 PM
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Re: Clunker pianos - what do you do?






Michelle,
 
I also have a simple rule-of-thumb.  I give the customer- in writing, a 
full assessment of the piano, its current value and its potential value - 
then let the customer decide.  I have had many cases where I have given 
the customer dozens of reasons to junk it and they will say "It was 
Grandmas - I want to do it"  The money is green, they have made an 
informed decision, I have full-filled my obligations and I like to pay my 
bills- so I do it.  Have a great day!
 
Steve Grattan
Lost Chord Clinic


----- Original Message ----
From: Andrew and Rebeca Anderson <anrebe at sbcglobal.net>
To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 4:18:32 PM
Subject: RE: Clunker pianos - what do you do?

Michelle,
I have a simple rule-of-thumb.  If the cost of my work far exceeds 
the potential value of the piano I refuse to take the job.

Andrew Anderson


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