<div dir="ltr">Hmmm, I think you will find there is a middle ground between, say, charging 100% markup on the most expensive/highest quality subcontracted work (plus yr. hourly rate for pickup shipping and reinstallation), and "ruin the keys and do the job myself." There are reasonably priced vendors out there, appropriate for even Poole spinets. Achieving an acceptable result takes a lot of practice and craftsmanship. <div> As it says on the back of your PTG membership card:</div><div>"2. I will render the best possible service under the circumstances, always keeping the best interests of my client in mind.</div><div>"3. I will engage only in fair trade practices in the knowledge that I am reflecting the honesty and integrity for which the Piano Technicians Guild stands."</div> <div><br></div><div>Patrick Draine RPT</div><div>sub-contracting my keytop work since my first 2-3 keytop jobs decades ago<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Aug 9, 2008 at 8:35 AM, Matthew Todd <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:toddpianoworks@att.net">toddpianoworks@att.net</a>></span> wrote:<br> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;"><div>Well, you know, there is a difference between a Steinway and a Poole spinet, am I right?</div> <div> </div> <div> Besides, most of my customers would rather have their keys gone for 3 to 4 days, rather than 3 to 4 weeks!</div> <div> </div> <div>If this were a high quality piano, then yes, I would probably contract the work.  If it is a Poole spinet, or some 100 year old junker, then yes, I would ruin the keys and do the job myself.  If someone professionally down the road wants to put sheet plastic on that same piano, I'm sure they can do it. Besides, I will be long gone.</div> <div class="Ih2E3d"> <div> </div> <div>Matthew</div></div></blockquote></div></div></div>