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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=352085602-26092006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>"A person gains a high reputation for the work he does
<EM>and for the work he chooses not to do." </EM>Don't even know where I heard
that, but I have passed on several jobs because I could not in good conscience
take hundreds of dollars to do band-aid work, and was not willing to ask them
for the many thousands of dollars necessary to completely rebuild the
piano. There comes a time when the old things really do have to be called
what they are and be respectfully buried like all machines which finally just
wear out....... JMO</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=352085602-26092006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>les bartlett</FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org
[mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Dave
Smith<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, September 25, 2006 9:14 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
Pianotech<BR><B>Subject:</B> Old upright-Honesty-Lost business=
ok?<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I spent almost an hour with a family with an 1917
old upright of questionable worth. They had spent 200$ for it and had
already developed a family heimloom type attachment. "Fix it - make
it sing again - dont worry about the cost - as long as we can pay for it
in installments." I believe the previous technician was maybe more
salesman than tech. He had told them that once he was done, they would
need a rider on their home owners insurance policy. for the piano. The
previous tech had replaced a few broken strings, fixed a few broken hammer
shanks and "TUNED" the piano He also had suddenly left town, and they
called me. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>These were really nice people and I wanted to help
them, but.......The piano was over one and a half notes flat, most hammers
bobbled, blow distance was at least a half inch too much, etc. Hammers
hard as rocks, and dampers shot. The sustain indicated that the sb was ok
but marginal. I tried to explain that the piano was old and tired, and
that although I could certainly improve it, that it wasn t a good
investment. Needs hammers, dampers, regulation, key bushings,
and probably numerous yet undiagnosed action parts
fixed. They asked me why I was so negative, and I said that I
just wanted to be realistic about the outcome after they spent all this
money. Recommended they consider a new or at least newer
piano. But their zeal won me over. I agreed to do an
estimate and come back later this week to to multiple pitch raises and a tuning,
hopefully not breaking multiple strings in the process. I received a
call late this evening from the mother, saying that they had talked it over and
decided that they thought I might be too negative on their piano. I said I
understood, and recommended that they call other techs in the area, including Mr
Bondi for a second opinion.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I would have liked to try to make this piano
better, but I didnt want to disappoint. Reputation over
$$? Can anyone out there make me feel either better or worse
for "losing this business"?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dave Smith</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>SW FL</FONT></DIV><BR>
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