<html> <body> At 06:05 PM 8/23/2007, "Brooks & Yumi" <brooksw@jps.net> wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Subject: Re: Business for sale - Napa, CA Message: 8 Leslie You said: "...non-assured hope..."   If you read what I posted, you would have seen that the "buyer" of the "business" only pays money if he makes money from my recommendation. Brooks Weisman RPT</blockquote> Brooks, Don't let it bother you. I did something similar when I moved from Boston to California about 11 years ago. I worked out a deal with a guy I knew where he paid me a small lump sum up front and a percentage of all business that he got from my client list for a specified period of time. The "up front" money was for the work that I had to do in organizing my files to transfer to him and contacting my clients to recommend him. Also for transferring my business telephone number and Yellow Pages listing to him - in a large metro area that's worth money. He approached me - and other people also approached me with other offers. So I guess some people see value in buying a client file... I had a little steady income while I was starting over in a new place - and he pretty much doubled his business, judging by what he sent me. Judging by how many people spend good money for totally speculative stuff - like pork belly futures and stock in startup corporations that haven't yet made a penny's profit - paying for a "foot in the door" opportunity to offer service to clients who are known to need the service isn't quite so farfetched, is it? Especially if the payment becomes due only if the prospects actually buy the service... Good luck in your career switch, Israel Stein <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> <dl> <dd>----- Original Message ----- <dd>From: <a href="mailto:l-bartlett@sbcglobal.net">Leslie Bartlett</a> <dd>To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">'Pianotech List'</a> <dd>Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 4:39 PM <dd>Subject: RE: Business for sale - Napa, CA <dd>An excellent tuner had to get out of the business in Houston because he couldn't make a living with kids and all. So, he ASKED me if he might recommend me to customers.  I don't get this.  No one is selling a "business". They are only selling a data base and rather non-assured "hope".    Sorry, but this kind of thing bothers me.  I guess I was born too early in the last century, and it is time to shoot me and let the moderns take over. <dd>les bartlett <dd>houston </dl></blockquote></body> </html>