[pianotech] Reversing Crown

[David Love]

Write the estimate and specify the work to be performed in detail.  Explain that an examination of the pin block and soundboard will have to be done  after teardown and if they need to be replaced the cost will be x and why this is so.  You don't need a disclaimer just include that the estimate does not include pinblock or soundboard replacement.  Up front communication is the name of the game.  You only get in trouble when you make estimates in fear of losing the job to a lower "bid".  

Merry Christmas all, I think I hear the kids starting to stir.

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com




-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of William Truitt
Sent: Friday, December 25, 2009 3:04 AM
To: 'David Ilvedson'; pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Reversing Crown

I appreciate what you are trying to say here David, but I think such an inclusive disclaimer would have to be very artfully written if we did not want to have the effect of scaring our potential customers off before they say yes. ("The estimate is for 10K, but it could be another 10 or 15....") Another way to approach it is to write estimates that are already quite inclusive.  For example, I always replace pinblocks when restringing, with very rare exception (such as when the piano itself is still quite youthful).  And examine the soundboard thoroughly when doing the estimate for bearing and crown, so that you are more likely to make that recommendation in the original estimate.  

The situation I described has happened to me once in 37 years of rebuilding.  Much of that time has been as a one person rebuilding shop, so I have not had as many pianos passing through my shop as a larger shop would, so other's mileage may vary.  I have only recently started installing new soundboards, which has deepened my knowledge base dramatically.  Fair to say I know a heck of a lot more than I did 25 years ago.  Rebuilders like Ron and Dale and Del, who have a few hundred boards under their belt, could speak to how to look for the warning signs better than I can.  Accurate assessment, coupled with their experience with how the boards behave after teardown, gives them a knowledge and experience base that allows them to better predict the need for a new board.

Still, it would be my guess that the surprises can happen to the best of us.  If that is the case, then there is probably a limit to the accuracy of our predictability - nobody is going to be right 100% of the time, even the best among us.  If it is not humanly possible for even our very best to hit the nail on the head all the time, then that would seem to limit the liability we rebuilders should reasonably assume when the occasional board behaves in a manner we could not predict.  

This is a tough business that is very hard to make money at.  So we should not rush to give away a whole lot of our time for free.  Lord knows, there are enough things in rebuilding that seem to do that already.  It's hard enough to get paid for every hour you work if you are going to do good work as it is.  

Merry Christmas to all.

Will Truitt