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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=257353903-02112006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>My brother is in the carpet cleaning business and he got
some very good advice years ago: "it's really crowded at the bottom." Back when
he was playing the cut-throat pricing game he was struggling for business and
not making any money. Now he is near the top in pricing structure, has lots of
business, and is profitable. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 22pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Dean</SPAN></B><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 22pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><SPAN style="COLOR: navy">Dean May<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>cell 812.239.3359</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><SPAN style="COLOR: navy">PianoRebuilders.com<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>812.235.5272</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><SPAN style="COLOR: navy">Terre Haute IN<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>47802</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV> </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>Kallie
Swanepoel<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, November 01, 2006 4:04 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
'Pianotech List'<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: piano tuning- fickle church
accounts<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488384720-01112006><FONT face=Verdana color=#0000ff size=2>Hi
<FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000000 size=3>Avery and
all</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488384720-01112006><FONT face=Verdana color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488384720-01112006><FONT face=Verdana color=#0000ff size=2>This
was the best opinion on this subject to my knowledge so far.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488384720-01112006><FONT face=Verdana color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488384720-01112006><FONT face=Verdana color=#0000ff size=2>It
seems to be all about cost. This is unfortunately the best way too loose
existing clients, churches or not.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488384720-01112006><FONT face=Verdana color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488384720-01112006><FONT face=Verdana color=#0000ff
size=2>However, I'll never use the "cut throat" strategy myself, but for some
reason some of the piano technicians in our city believe that they might get
much more work if they can do the work as cheap as possible. Although I'm not
the cheapest in town, I still have enough work to feed my
family.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=488384720-01112006></SPAN><SPAN class=488384720-01112006><FONT
face=Verdana color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Kallie Swanepoel</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Verdana size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Piano
Tuner/Klavierstemmer</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Verdana size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Skype
Name:<BR>KallieSwanepoel<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Phone: +27 (0) 12 379 3762<BR>Mobile:
+27 (0) 83 261 6942<BR>Voice Link: +27 (0) 88 129 8775<BR>Fax: +27 (0) 86 633
2999<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Verdana size=2><A
href="http://www.kallieswanepoel.co.za/">http://www.kallieswanepoel.co.za</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org
[mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Avery<BR><B>Sent:</B> 01
November 2006 21:58<BR><B>To:</B> Pianotech List<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: piano
tuning- fickle church accounts<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><FONT size=3>Dean, etc.
<BR><BR>In my experience, it's usually because someone contacted them who's
cheaper than you are. It normally doesn't have much to do with the quality of
your work! :-( Thankfully, the few churches I do work for are faithful to me!
Not to the price! <BR><BR>Avery <BR><BR>At 07:20 AM 11/1/2006, you
wrote:<BR></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite"><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica"
color=#000080 size=2>I just lost a long time church account, no reason given.
It is pretty frustrating as I have supplied concert pianos to them at no cost
in years past for special events. The last time I was out their dampchaser was
unplugged. I plugged it in, reminded them how important it was to keep it
plugged in and came back in two weeks. It was unplugged again. I helped them
get set up with an extension cord to plug it in further away. Now I’m out
$170+ for two missed appointments. Next time I call the secretary tells me the
board has decided to use someone else. Sigh. Twice I’ve nearly stopped by the
church to press them for a reason, but I’ve decided to take the high
road.<BR> <BR>Whenever the pianist changes, music director or pastor, we
are in danger of losing the account. Loyalty isn’t real high. That’s why it is
important to send regular reminders to the office to let them know you are out
there. <BR> <BR>Dean<BR> <BR>
<HR>
<DIV align=center></FONT></DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B>
pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [<A href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org"
eudora="autourl"> mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</A>] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>Leslie Bartlett<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, October 31, 2006 9:24
PM<BR><B>To:</B> pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> FW: piano
tuning<BR></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman, Times"
size=3> <BR></FONT><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica" color=#0000ff
size=2>Years ago, a newbie, I tuned for this large church. About three
years in they replaced me without telling me. That has been a few.
So I wrote their organist and asked him if he could recall why they replaced
me. The reply left me somewhat amused. Thought I would share it
FWIW.<BR>les bartlett<BR></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman, Times"
size=3> <BR>
<HR>
<DIV align=center></FONT></DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B>
Scott</FONT><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica" color=#0000ff size=2> / </FONT><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2>FoundryChurch] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, October 03, 2006
9:58 AM<BR><B>To:</B> l-bartlett@sbcglobal.net<BR><B>Cc:</B>
Joleen<BR><B>Subject:</B> piano tuning<BR></FONT><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica"
size=2>Hi Les,<BR> <BR>To be honest, I cannot remember much about why we
changed tuners. We have actually had several tuners over the
years.<BR> <BR>I wish the best of luck to you in your continued
endeavors.<BR> <BR>SCOTT<BR></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman, Times"
size=3> <BR></FONT><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman, Times"
size=3> <BR></FONT><BR><FONT size=2>--<BR>No virus found in this outgoing
message.<BR>Checked by AVG Free Edition.<BR>Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database:
268.13.20/508 - Release Date: 10/31/2006</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>