<DIV>Hi David,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I wouldn't bother judging these folks.  I'd just go and do the work and get paid for it.  I stay away from work I don't want to do or think I may not get paid for and avoid going places where I might be in danger.  I will admit that I recently had a case of a customer being totally rude to me.  I decided I don't need to be treated that way, so I won't be going back.  My mother taught me to always be polite--I guess her mother didn't.  :-)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I did tune for someone who eventually went to jail for a scam and I ended up having to talk to the police about it.  It was a short interview because I had no idea, but then, I'm sort of naive and unsuspecting.  Everything seemed normal to me--except that I knew they had paid for their new grand piano with cash...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Best,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Barbara Richmond, RPT</DIV> <DIV>near Peoria, Illinois<BR><BR>----- Original Message -----<BR>From: David Boyce <David@piano.plus.com><BR>Date: Wednesday, July 4, 2007 21:21<BR>Subject: Ethics for parsimonious customers<BR>To: Pianotech List <pianotech@ptg.org><BR><BR>> So, yesterday I took a phone call from Mrs B, daughter of <BR>> widowed Lady M, <BR>> "landed gentry" and owner of large country estate and manor open <BR>> to the <BR>> public.<BR>> <BR>> Mrs B wants me to tune their piano as the room has been hired <BR>> for a wedding <BR>> reception.  Mrs B had been told by the pianist Mr I, that <BR>> the piano needs <BR>> tuning and Mr I recomends me. Mr. I is a noted Scottish musical <BR>> figure, and, <BR>> coincidentally, my former chemistry teacher.<BR>> <BR>> Mrs B asks me on phone "how much will it be, because the bride <BR>> is paying for <BR>> the tuning".  When I come off the phone, I think, upon <BR>> reflection, how mean! <BR>> Presumably Mrs B and Lady M don't bother getting the piano <BR>> tuned, and don't <BR>> much care about it. I;ve never been there, and I suppose if they <BR>> had a <BR>> regular tuner, that's who they'd use.  I recall during the <BR>> phone <BR>> conversation, that a former work colleague of mine used to live <BR>> in a house <BR>> of the estate, and said once that Mrs B is notoriously <BR>> parsimonious. <BR>> Evidently she hasn't the generosity to include in the room hire, <BR>> a tuned <BR>> piano, but wants the bride to pay.<BR>> <BR>> Now, my feeling is, why should Mrs B benefit?  My feeling <BR>> is that only the <BR>> bride should benefit from the tuning, since it's she who's <BR>> paying, so I <BR>> really ought to go along after the reception, and detune the piano!<BR>> <BR>> Curiously, apropos the recent thread on corroded and swollen key <BR>> leads, Mr. <BR>> I's own piano, a good old German upright, has just that <BR>> problem.  I showed <BR>> him the effect, and suggested the off-white powdery substance <BR>> adhering to <BR>> the leads could be lead oxide, and upon retired chemistry-<BR>> teacher <BR>> consideration, he agreed!<BR>> <BR>> I suppose Mrs B's arrangements with the bride who is hiring the <BR>> room and the <BR>> piano, are their business and not mine. But the meanness rather <BR>> irks me!<BR>> <BR>> </DIV>