<HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" 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"><HEAD><TITLE>credit cards</TITLE> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <META content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)" name=Generator> <STYLE> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </STYLE> <o:SmartTagType name="PersonName" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType> <STYLE> st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } </STYLE> <STYLE>  </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US style="BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none" vLink=purple link=blue> I think the secret is this: Get to know and deal exclusively with the person who controls the payments. In my case, the Installation Chaplain's Fund Manger. I think it gets a lot dicier if you are dealing with the nameless bureaucratic rabble through "channels".  I don't believe for one second that the Army is "crooked" but efficiency is another issue. An example of this is the care that the pianos get. Keeping Dampp-Chasers watered, etc., is nigh impossible, not because no one cares but just because responsibility is too diluted--no one feels they "own" the piano (they didn't pay for it and probably don't play it) and there is so much of people moving in and moving out, so even when you get someone "with the program" he/she'll be gone in 6 months! BTW: There certainly IS a reason that government toilet seats might cost $800 but it is usually NOT because of corporate greed and it is usually NOT because of corruption in any organization. It's a long story to tell but it has to do with non-standard engineering processes, ISO standards, unrealistic or pie-in-the-sky design demands, poor auditing procedures, lax oversight, and non-competitive specification writing, etc. Here's a simplistic, hypothetical example: Someone orders 100 new drug interdiction patrol boats which must be designed to meet certain (often) arbitrarily written specs for speed, fuel economy, rollover resistance, whatever. The boat is designed to meet the specs, including a clever little "head" (bathroom) that takes up very little space and recycles paper and poop. The only thing is, it isn't quite wide enough to accommodate regular toilet seats and the seat has to lock down and be mildew resistant, etc. So the job is bid, and the ACME Toilet Seat Company comes in with the low bid of $800 each to custom design and custom manufacture a small number of items for a product that has no other applications and can't be mass produced in China and sold at Wal-mart. There production cost per TSU (Toilet Seat Unit) is very high and, because they were the low bidder, their profit margin per unit is probably pretty low, too.  Alan Barnard Salem, MO Joshua 24:15 <DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 3px solid; PADDING-TOP: 5px"> <HR> Original message From: "John M. Formsma" <JOHN@FORMSMAPIANO.COM> To: "Pianotech List" <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG> Received: 07/27/2006 4:13:37 PM Subject: RE: credit cards <DIV class=Section1> You’re right – it is unpatriotic and ungrateful. It is not the entire military system at fault – just the particular bureaucracy you’re dealing with.  I’m thankful there are men who want to fight so I don’t have to. Let’s not dis ‘em!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Why not contact your congressman? <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> JF<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <DIV style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: blue 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center> <HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </DIV> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Ross White Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 3:38 PM To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">tune4u@earthlink.net</st1:PersonName>; '<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName>' Subject: RE: credit cards<o:p></o:p></DIV> <o:p> </o:p> It may seem unpatriotic and ungrateful to say it, but the military cheats.  It’s a crooked operation.  I know many businessmen in my community who absolutely refuse to sell anything to the Army.  <o:p></o:p> There’s a reason toilet seats cost the Army eight hundred bucks each!<o:p></o:p> J R W<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>