<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1> Ditto to what Ken said.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Something that helps me in this type situation is to remember the Golden Rule (paraphrased): whatever way you want others to treat you, treat them in the same manner.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Another thing that might help…how would you feel about a technician who gave your exact advice to, say, your wife or your mother? Sometimes makes it clearer to us when we put someone we love in a “what-if” scenario instead of a stranger or business associate.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> John Formsma<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Ken Knapp Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 8:30 PM To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName> Subject: Re: Ethics question<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Phil,<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> I think it would hinge on if you told the buyer the piano was worth the asking price. Since you were willing to pay it then it obviously was.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> From where I sit I see a couple situations. Which yours actually falls into only you can answer.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> 1. Buyer retains you to evaluate piano. You go see piano and want it for yourself. You write positive evaluation but give the buyer a low ball estimate of its worth without telling that it is worth the asking price and you collect the fee. I'd have to say this WAS unethical.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> 2. Buyer retains you to evaluate the piano. You see it and want it for yourself. You write positive evaluation and advise buyer the piano is worth asking price but also advise to try a lower offer and collect your fee. In this case I would say you did nothing wrong.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Ken<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> <div> ----- Original Message ----- <o:p></o:p> </div> <div style='font-color:black'> From: <a href="mailto:pryan2@the-beach.net" title="pryan2@the-beach.net">PJR</a> <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> To: <a href="mailto:ilvey@sbcglobal.net" title="ilvey@sbcglobal.net">ilvey@sbcglobal.net</a> ; <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" title="pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</a> <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 8:34 PM<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Subject: Ethics question<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> I was asked to evaluate the condition of a used piano for a customer (buyer)  for a nominal fee.  It was a private sale.  When I went to see the piano, it was one that I had been wanting for some time.  I wanted to buy it from the seller.  Question: How, when and/or what must I do, ethically, to buy it  from the seller seeing that now I had a fiduciary relationship with the customer who paid my fee? What actually happened: I wrote a positive report of the piano and recommended the buyer offer several hundred dollars below the asking price.  She did so, but, the seller rejected her offer.  The buyer  left the deal and bought another piano elsewhere.  When I heard she bought another piano, without telling her,  I offered the original seller his price and bought the piano.  Did I do wrong?  Should I have asked her permission?  Should I tell her now, especially since she plans to  hire me to tune her new piano?  I have a queasy feeling about the deal. Should I?    It could be a future, awkward situation. Phil Ryan <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Miami Beach</st1:place></st1:City> <o:p></o:p> </blockquote> </div> </body> </html>