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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> From experience I've =
found the
best policy is to objectively look at 1. Where the piano is (Carnegie =
Hall or in
a mobile home) 2. Who is playing it ( Horowitz or 6 year old =
Emily) 3. What the piano is ( Bosendorfer or Lester) =
and a
general feeling of associated items such as how serious musically the =
primary
player and family might be, finances, long term repairs and service, =
etc.
etc. When these (and probably more) items are considered, assess =
what is
needed in a impartial workmanlike manner, WITHOUT EMOTION. Too =
often I've
had my comments to a customer colored by feelings, and though that's not =
all
bad, this calls for restraint and judicious =
control. Sometimes a few
minutes of simple piano education and explanation to the customer will =
pave the
way for needed repairs. I guess the bottom line is, treat the =
piano owner
as you would want to be treated. The old, but golden
rule......</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> As for the "silly =
sap" comment,
consider for a moment that the $100 might have been a real stretch for =
these
folks. Maybe it was the best they could do under the =
circumstances, and
yes they should have had a technician look over the instrument before
purchasing, but that didn't happen. Nontheless, what a hero you =
will be to
them if you can make a few simple repairs, give it a good tuning, =
suggest some
future work they might do next year, and leave them with a piano in far =
better
shape than when you arrived. Just my thoughts......</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Mike Kurta, =
RPT</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=cedel@supernet.com href="mailto:cedel@supernet.com">Clyde =
Hollinger</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, July 18, 2002 =
7:44
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> When it's probably =
shot</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Friends,
<P>Do any of you condemn a piano without ever seeing it? There =
are times
when I feel like I probably should, but the client is looking for some =
professional input and hopefully a miracle.
<P>I got a call. A large family (eight kids) has a piano that =
was given
to them four years ago. It sounds tinny, some of the keys =
don't
work, and the former owner told them it can't be tuned to standard
pitch. The kids are taking lessons. Money may very well be =
tight;
I didn't ask. Such service calls can be an adventure, to say the =
least! Thoughts?
<P>Regards, Clyde
<P>"Alan R. Barnard" wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE="CITE"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=-1>Someone =
buys it for
$100 (silly sap) calls you to come and tune
it.</FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>