<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content=text/html;charset=iso-8859-1 = http-equiv=Content-Type><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 = Transitional//EN"> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.2314.1000" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT size=2>Brian,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>"guys like you"?  By my count, in this = morning's mail all commentary about Baldwin, except this one, was positive and = supportive.  Don't label all of us based on one individual's comments.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>"be <STRONG>happy for any North American product that puts money in = your pocket" ?    </STRONG><FONT size=2>Wasn't his = basic complaint about Baldwin the fact that his bill to them was 90 days past due?</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>On the other hand, an organization like Baldwin has = as many different faces as the members of this list.  Our opinion of the = company is determined by the particulars of our individual experience with = them.  It is as unfair to condemn the competent and loyal production and service = employees (or retailers), due to the behavior of the CEO or accounts payables = clerk, as it would be to accuse all techs of being ungrateful anti-americans based on = one individual's post about a past-due bill.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>What I like most about this list is the way folks = share their knowledge about the characteristics, quirks, strengths, and weaknesses = of many brands of piano, including Baldwin.  Pretending the weaknesses = don't exist doesn't help anyone, but it should be (and normally is) done in a = constructive spirit, not kicking a sick company when it's down.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Mike Spalding</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Hoping Baldwin can make some kind of = recovery.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: = 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A href="mailto:baldwin.piano@home.com" = title=baldwin.piano@home.com>BRIAN SCHMIDT</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" title=pianotech@ptg.org>pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, May 31, 2001 = 11:37 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Fw: It gets worse = "ONLY BECAUSE OF ASSHOLES LIKE YOU!!!</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Where are guys like you coming from. I have been a = "BALDWIN" dealer since 1973. I have also handled other import products. Come = hell or high water, through the years Baldwin has always stood behind us good = or bad. If you are an AMERICAN you should be ashamed of yourself for these = comments. Sit down and just think for a minute.....how many Baldwin pianos have = you tuned, worked on and it has contributed to you lifestyle and family = income. Take those away and give the business to the offshore companies with = all their plastic, aluminum and synthetic parts and see how long you stay in = business as a tuner. Maybe your fellow technicians should get together and by you = a one-way ticket to the orient where you can run for days tuning as many = garbage pianos as you want....and see if they will listen to your sick = complaints. Yes, the board made a mistake with her majesty Hendricks. Steinway has = floundered several times only to have a wealthy company bail them out. = Tell me their quality control is there for the price they charge. Look at the = crap the Japanese piano manufactures put in the products, charge huge prices = and call it quality. Wake up American and Canadian technicians you talking on = here a downgrading a great product only shows how selfish and narrow minded = (maybe SMALL MINDED you really are). If we as dealers aren't selling pianos = you won't have a job. (Don't forget you are "where the rubber meets the road") = Just in case you don't understand the saying....you are the last in the chain = of the piano world and without good manufactures "staying in business" you = will be and probably with your attitude be digging ditches. = <STRONG>Shut</STRONG> <STRONG>your mouth get out there tune, repair and be = </STRONG><STRONG>happy for any North American product that puts money in your pocket or get = out of the business</STRONG>....<STRONG>we don't need whiners and crybabies = like you in the industry</STRONG>. I hope you don't have kids because with your = attitude and example they are going to grow up with a rotten attitude. = We never heard from you when Baldwin paid you and things were good did = we.. It is easy to step on someone when they are down instead of lending a = helping had to them and keeping a good North American company going. Question? Who = would you support if a war broke out tomorrow? Don't forget about where your = bread is buttered. This is a good wake -up call for all of us especially you technicians. Instead of being happy there are pianos out there to tune = and repair you have to go a run them down... Well if you are so smart why = aren't you in the factories designing them if you think you know better? If = you think the other companies aren't in financial trouble as well, you had = better think again.. Yamaha, Kawai have been for years.. Their companies are smart = and cover it up and you aren't made aware of all the problems. Believe me = they are in no better shape over there than we are... Note!!! the piano market = is shrinking thanks to the high-tech world and you had better clean up = your attitude along with all your other technician friends or start looking = for a new vocation. <STRONG>WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT AND GOOD TECHNICAL SERVICE = NOT YOUR CHILDISH WHINING.</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2><STRONG></STRONG><STRONG>"GO BOB JONES AND BALDWIN = PIANO".   </STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2><BR> </DIV></FONT> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A href="mailto:tompiano@gate.net" title=tompiano@gate.net>Tom = Servinsky</A> </DIV> <DIV><B>To:</B> <A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" title=pianotech@ptg.org>pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, May 31, 2001 5:04 AM</DIV> <DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: It gets worse</DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Does this mean I won't get the $280 they owed me = to install a new warranty set of hammers on their infamous Baldwin Hamilton piano.  I've been patient though now I'm ready to right this one off.  It's only been 3 months since the work was completed and = invoice sent.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>From the bottom of my heart....good riddance = Baldwin- you got everything you deserved.  Take a good product and run it into = the ground and ignore all the warning signs. Is any talking sabotage?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Tom Servinsky, RPT</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A href="mailto:rrg@nevada.edu" title=rrg@nevada.edu>Robert = Goodale</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" title=pianotech@ptg.org>pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, May 31, 2001 = 12:53 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: It gets = worse</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><A = href="mailto:Billbrpt@AOL.COM">Billbrpt@AOL.COM</A> wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE="CITE">Baldwin Piano & Organ Co. Announces = Intent to Reorganize Under Chapter 11 of <BR>The United States Bankruptcy Code</BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>No suprises here. I think the writing is on the wall, the = company is obviously out of operating cash.  I heard a rumor recently, = (just a rumor, no confirmation), that Baldwin was unable to complete one of = their payrolls.  Unless there is a huge turn around, (and I mean = huge), I don't see much to be enthusiastic about.  Farewell Baldwin and = thank you for a great 140 years.  Rest in peace, you will be missed. <P>Thank you Bill for the update. <P>Rob Goodale, RPT <BR>Las Vegas, NV </P></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>