<HTML>In a message dated 12/24/01 11:30:19 PM Eastern Standard Time, Bigeartb@AOL.COM writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">With that kind of business practice you will manage to get all the "junk" tunings. I hope that I am known as the very best technician/tuner . Not that I am necessarily the cheapest and will repair anything....anyway. I only want to strive for the best I can be and I therefore must not be swayed by the customer to do inferior work just to save a little money. This is my business philosophy and its has worked pretty good. </BLOCKQUOTE> Tommy, Each of us has to work out to his own satisfaction what it means, to do what is in the best interest of the customer.  I agree that in many situations, the customer's best interests are served by uncompromising workmanship.  When no other factors are involved, this is my outlook.  I am jealous of the reputation for doing the best work.  And I have achieved it in the minds of many of my clients. But would you not agree that we need to adapt ourselves to the situation at hand?  Apparently your situation is far different from mine.  30+ years ago I began here in South Carolina while employed by a concern that would send their technician anywhere in the state believing that it would help them sell pianos.  I only worked for this dealer two years and don't sell pianos myself, but got into the syndrome of going to many localities where there is no local tuner.  I have customers all over the state.  When I am 80 miles from home and have to repair a broken bass string in a Henry F. Miller spinet, it does not even enter my mind to suggest to the customer that they wait three months for me to schedule a return call (yes, I am booked up that far ahead), pay me mileage and travel time plus service call fee, just to put in the new string--when I am well stocked with universals or can knot the old string.  (For emphasis' sake let me make it plain, I am NOT talking about a concert venue, a teacher's studio or other demanding situation.  I presently have two actions in the shop (S&S and M&H) where I am cleaning up years of sloppy maintenance performed by "the Southeast's premier rebuilders" for one of the area's university fine arts departments) I also get into situations where many of the bass strings have already been replaced and they look sloppy.  Several Kimball 4430 studios in churches and schools come to mind.  Flanges need repinning.  Hammers are worn.  It does not seem to make sense to me to do anything else than get them going.  If I put in an original equipment string, the effect or lack of it will be lost in the ensemble.  Recommending restringing the entire bass would be so much beating the air and in my estimation not practical for many of these. Finally, and this is off the topic of the repair -- I think we should strive to be professional in every way that meets the customer, in our dress, our deportment, our ethics and our speech.  You said, "This is my business philosophy and its has worked pretty good."  (Underlining mine).  I recall an incident while I was a junior in college, helping a freshman struggling with his remedial English course.  I met his professor on campus one day and said to her, "Say, I hear Charlie is doing pretty good in English now!"  She slyly looked up at me and said, "Well?" Bill Maxim, B.A., B.MUS., RPT Whose wife tells him he is too picky Maxim Piano Service 212 Newpark Place Columbia, SC 29212-8666 (803) 732-9225, FAX (803) 732-2641 wmaxim@aol.com</HTML>