<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=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 11"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C66F6B.413B7FC0"> <link rel=Edit-Time-Data href="cid:editdata.mso"> <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=purple style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> Hi Phil:<o:p></o:p> The fact that you’re uneasy with this situation speaks well of your character.  It also answers your question:  Yes, it was wrong.  At least, that’s how I would feel if I were your buyer.  There may be extenuating circumstances that you haven’t told us…is there some factor that would make this piano worth more to you than to a “normal” buyer?  The last one I bought wasn’t worth the price of hauling to the dump to anyone but me.  If that’s the case, you may be in the right, but it’s still going to smell like three-day-old fish or houseguests to anyone who gets wind of it.  As someone else said, what’s your reputation worth?  With that wonderful 20/20 hindsight, it’s easy to say that you should have been upfront with the lady, told her that you were also interested, and that you were advising her to “lowball” the seller to try to get a better deal—but that you thought it was worth the asking price.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> What should you do now?  The deed is done.  If she ever asks, come clean.  If not, just let that sleeping dog lie.  There’s no reason to make her feel bad in her present situation to assuage your feelings of guilt.  But you have learned the lesson.  And, as a “newbie”, so have I, without having to experience it personally—and for that, I thank you.<o:p></o:p> John<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 PJR Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 7:35 PM To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">ilvey@sbcglobal.net</st1:PersonName>; <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName> Subject: Ethics question<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> 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> <![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p> </div> </body> </html>