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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>An interesting point has been made that many of us
have "done the dealer work". Most of us have probably seen the myriad of
problems with dealer-customer-independent tech relations. In that light, I offer
the following.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Most of you know that I service (and rebuild)
player pianos. From my warped perspective, there is a very real joy in
hearing and seeing an old player performing as new. Anyway, because of my
player piano knowledge I was often called upon to do the "initial free call" on
sales of used players from the 60's - 80's. Mind you, with the exception
of one, none of these dealers wanted me to evaluate or service any of these
instruments before they were sold. I was being hired to make sure the sale
stuck. Rule number one was - NEVER try a test roll if the customer
was within hearing distance. If a song roll sounded okay to the customer
then don't let them find out some notes may not work. After all
it was the dealer that was paying me.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>You know what? I didn't like it. I
didn't feel good at the end of the day. The customer knew nothing and was
happy, but I wasn't. In very short order, I quit doing those calls and
generally a "new" store tech would be sent out to take care of a free
tuning. Sometimes the tech would phone me with problems/questions. I
would do my best to talk them through over the phone.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From that point and for many years until I moved
from the area, I only did warranty work for the tech that I had apprenticed
with. I knew that we shared the same values and that he would stand by the
pianos he sold. That I have never regretted.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Debbie</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>