<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=windows-1251"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.5659" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <P> <DIV>List:   </DIV> <DIV>    I have been offered first dibs on a piano business that has been gradually downsized over the past several years.  The owner, retiring at the end of the year, has been a technician for 60 years, most of which were spent here in San Diego.  He used to have a store location with various new and used pianos, but has given up piano sales, and does part time tuning.  What he's offering is his customer list, a few rental pianos (returned), tools and supplies, and a few odd piano benches and other accessories.  I know there has been some discussion in the past about purchasing an existing business or customer list, but I can't seem to find much in the archives.  Maybe I need a better search keyword.  </DIV> <DIV>    I'm leaning towards some kind of arrangement where I would pay for any customer on the list that actually becomes my client.  Paying for  a couple thousand names where most of them are dead, moved, or otherwise useless to me doesn't make sense.  I've got plenty of those anyway.  I'm thinking that I would pay a certain amount for any client I got from his list that actually became a customer.  I could put out a mailer that would introduce me to his clients, asking them to call me for their next service.  Someone suggested to ask if he has a list of his most recent customers, and how much business he has done in the last year with them.  That figure would tell me what I could expect to make if I did purchase his list.  I'm also keen to acqure his telephone number.  He has moved into the shop where I work, and has a corner of the room.  When I'm there, I hear his phone ring and I listen to the phone calls that come in as his answering machine takes messages.  </DIV> <DIV>    If any of you could offer advice, I'd be very glad to have it.</DIV> <DIV>    Respectfully,</DIV> <DIV>    Paul McCloud, RPT</DIV> <DIV>    San Diego, CA</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Paul McCloud</DIV> <DIV>Service Technician for PianoSD.com</DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.pianoservsd.com">www.pianoservsd.com</A> </DIV> <DIV>Created with free BlueVoda software:</DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.vodahost.com/partner/idevaffiliate.php?id=9223_1_3_9">http://www.vodahost.com/partner/idevaffiliate.php?id=9223_1_3_9</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <P></P></BODY></HTML>