<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:ns1="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=black vlink=black> <div class=Section1> Michelle,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I find myself doing both extremes of the spectrum.  I have one gentleman that had me do a purchase consultation for an old Waters upright he was interested in.  Though mechanically sound, I gave him a list of things the piano would probably need.  He ended up getting the piano for free and I got quite a bit of work through new keytops, key bushings, bass string cleaning, hammer filing and damper alignment.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> At the other extreme (just yesterday) I had to tell a new customer that his 100 yo Decker and Bros. was untunable and, in my opinion, wasn’t even worth fixing.  He already had a pretty good idea that the piano was going to be a problem and I think he appreciated that I was straightforward with him.  None the less, it is hard telling a customer that I’m not going to be able to help them.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Rob<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Mitchell Piano Service<o:p></o:p> <a href="http://www.mitchellpianoservice.com">www.mitchellpianoservice.com</a> <o:p></o:p> (415) 994-1030<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: Michelle Smith [mailto:<st1:PersonName w:st="on">michelle@smithpianoservice.com</st1:PersonName>] Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 6:09 AM To: '<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName>' Subject: RE: Clunker pianos - what do you do?<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> Thanks to everyone who has responded to my e-mail.  You’re really helping me sort out my thoughts on this issue.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> As Paul stated, sometimes there is still life in these pianos but very often the owner is expecting a miracle.  I guess it comes from our society of instant gratification.  The piano tuner is supposed to make the piano work again just like the appliance repairman makes the dishwasher work again.  Instead I sometimes have to be the bearer of bad news.  Repairs are costly and many people here just can’t afford it.  I want people to be happy and instead we both get frustrated.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Concerning passing these pianos off to less experienced techs….I’m it!   Ha Ha Ha!  The older gentleman who owns the local music shop and tunes pianos can’t see well enough to do the repairs so he’s passing ALL of his repair work to me.  Most <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Austin</st1:place></st1:City> techs are unwilling to make the drive so if I don’t fix them they won’t get fixed.  Ironically, this is why I got into this business in the first place.  I saw a need in our community and I jumped in.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Thanks to everyone for listening to my mental wanderings.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Have a super Thursday!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Michelle<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> This is a perfect opportunity to involve less experienced technicians, associates, those who are just beginning, to take on some of these jobs in order to learn the craft. As well, in some instances, as we have here in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:City>, some of these pianos are marginally enough useful to pass on by donation to those who can't afford a piano. We started A Gift of PIanos about 9 years ago, and now the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:City> chapter of the PTG runs the program. Paul<o:p></o:p> </div> <div id=u8CA68EB00AEFDE6-1248-258A>  <o:p></o:p> </div> </div> </body> </html>