[pianotech] Satisfied but persistent customer question

David Andersen david at davidandersenpianos.com
Sun Dec 28 11:08:39 PST 2008


Ya think? Whew.
DA

> Merry Christmas ? <g>
> Joe Goss RPT
> Mother Goose Tools
> imatunr at srvinet.com
> www.mothergoosetools.com
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Keith McGavern
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 3:04 AM
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Satisfied but persistent customer question
>
> David,
>
> I am a little confused by this part of your post. Surely you are not  
> attempting to convey what I should do? If so, I don't have a problem  
> with the manner in which I am handling this particular account. This  
> church and I have a terrific relationship. And gee, David, any  
> problem this church has is ultimately my responsibility, unless you  
> intend to come to my neck of the woods and explain to these folks  
> they need the services of which you speak, that I have set a poor  
> precedent and that from now on you will be their technician.
>
> Slightly amused as I am certain you meant well, it just appeared  
> kind of odd to me since I didn't ask for any help or opinions in the  
> first place. My comments were solely addressed to Geoff as a  
> possible route other than the one he indicated he was experiencing.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Keith
>
> On Dec 27, 2008, at 11:15 PM, David Love wrote:
>
>> First order of business would be to make sure that the piano  
>> doesn’t move off pitch very far between tunings.  Stability on  
>> pianos that have rendering problems and extreme bearing angles or  
>> string to felt friction issues (like the Kawai) requires that the  
>> piano stays as close to pitch as possible.  Churches are notorious  
>> for poor control of conditions that contribute to instability.  A  
>> full DC system with bottom cover and upper string cover is called  
>> for and if that’s not the issue then you need to address the  
>> problems that are creating poor rendering (at their expense) such  
>> as restringing, dressing capo bars, changing agraffes, modifiying  
>> counterbearing angles or areas if necessary.  If every tuning  
>> requires you to make two trips at the price of one then I wonder  
>> how much value this customer really has under the present  
>> arrangement.  If the problem isn’t the quality and stability of  
>> your tuning (and I’m assuming it’s not), don’t make their problem  
>> yours.  Help them solve their problem with some well thought out  
>> analysis and proposals and don’t apologize that they will have to  
>> pay for it—of course, it may be a bit late for that as you’ve set a  
>> poor precedent.  ...
>> David Love
>> www.davidlovepianos.com
>> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org]  
>> On Behalf Of Keith McGavern
>> Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2008 8:10 PM
>> To: pianotech at ptg.org
>> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Satisfied but persistent customer question
>> Geoff,
>> I have a situation that might be somewhat similar to yours.
>> I have a sister pair of M&H BBs in a church. These pianos  
>> absolutely defy rendering with certainty.
>> Once I accepted this reality, I initiated making two courtesy  
>> visits: The first, one week after the tuning, the second two weeks  
>> after the tuning. The first courtesy visit I invariably find  
>> numerous unions significantly out and make the necessary  
>> corrections. The second week I find fewer unisons out and correct  
>> those. This is the only way I am able to be satisfied that the  
>> customer has a piano that is actually in tune. Fortunately for me  
>> though, the client is close enough that these courtesy visits far  
>> outweigh having to be concerned with charging additional fees.
>> However, I see no reason on this particular piano you mention that  
>> you couldn't incorporate an additional charge for that type of  
>> service. This would eliminate call backs per se, and you would be  
>> professionally accepting this as one beast that can't be dealt with  
>> in one visit.  If the customer is not amenable to some additional  
>> charges for what appears to be a very justifiable circumstance,  
>> then you will have to decide if you want to remain uncomfortable  
>> for the rest of your service days with this customer and this piano.
>> It seems an easy call to me. Some things in life require greater  
>> effort and cost to arrive at desired results.
>> Sincerely,
>> Keith
>> On Dec 27, 2008, at 8:48 PM, Geoff Sykes wrote:
>>
>>
>>  I have a customer with a 1982 Kawai KG-C6 grand. She's a musician.  
>> She has ears. This piano is a nightmare to tune. Getting the  
>> strings to render through the bearing points so that it is stable  
>> enough that I even feel comfortable leaving requires far more  
>> pounding than I think any piano should endure. -- Geoff
>
>

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