<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><SPAN style="RIGHT: auto"> <DIV><SPAN>Jer,</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN>I don't think you would apply to this as much.  Aren't you like a third or fourth generation tuner in your family?  But, back to my original statement, yes, it is true.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN>Matthew</SPAN></DIV> <div style="RIGHT: auto"><BR style="RIGHT: auto" class=yui-cursor></SPAN></div> <DIV></DIV> <DIV style="RIGHT: auto"> <VAR id=yui-ie-cursor></VAR><BR style="RIGHT: auto"></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT size=2 face=Arial> <DIV style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ccc 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 0; MARGIN: 5px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; HEIGHT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 0px; BORDER-TOP: #ccc 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #ccc 1px solid; PADDING-TOP: 0px" class=hr contentEditable=false readonly="true"></DIV><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Gerald Groot <tunerboy3@comcast.net><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> 'Matthew Todd' <toddpianoworks@att.net>; pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Thursday, September 1, 2011 5:53 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> RE: [pianotech] Is this the work of an RPT?<BR></FONT><WBR> <DIV id=yiv547892835> <STYLE></STYLE> <DIV class=yiv547892835WordSection1> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">That isn’t true at all Matthew.  That, my friend, is a frame of mind – a mindset that you and many other tuners have made for yourself that sets your prices low and keeps them low.  What you think, is not necessarily the actual way things work in business.  In any business.  Prices must be raised from time to time in order to keep up with the cost of living and in order to make a living.  I’ve heard many tuners say that “my customer won’t pay that!” That’s wrong.   I have a friend here who lives in Grand Rapids 12 minutes from where I live that says the same thing.  Yet, I have the same exact customer types as he does.  Mine pay it.  His might not though but, that is only because of his negative attitude.  </SPAN></div> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </SPAN></div> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Case in point.  As an example only…  My base fee for tuning here, is $150.  That is JUST for tuning only!  Major pitch raises are extra.  Removing the action is extra.  Repairs are extra.  Sure, I toss little things in here and there, we all do that.  But, that is besides the point.  I average well above that price for most tunings.  I tune at least 3 or 4 a day and am always booked ahead all year long.  I used to tune 6-9 a day but at age 55, I’m intentionally slowing myself down, trying to go for 3 tunings a day but, I’m far too busy to do that so, I keep tuning more and more.  </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">J</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">  For this next month, I will be tuning no less than 5 a day, 6 days a week.  I am booked solid through September.  I have most of October booked out.  I have all of November booked out.  I have all of December booked out.  I have all of January booked out.  I have all of March booked out.  By booked out, I mean NO openings at all.  I have 4 or 5 action jobs already scheduled for next summer.  So, if what you said were true about raising prices, I would have gone out of business long ago.   </SPAN></div> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </SPAN></div> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">That did not come by me “naturally.”  I worked my tail off for years to build up my business and my reputation so that I could be that busy.  The fact is, our business is built up on our own reputations.  On our honesty, our integrity, our quality of workmanship, on our dependability and much more not to mention how we treat our customers.  It’s no wonder so many tuners are complaining about a lack of work with how they treat the RPT’s in here.  If they treat their clients the same way, I would never call them and being an RPT that knows these people, I would NEVER recommend them nor would I sub contract anything to them.  That becomes their loss.  Attitude is everything.  </SPAN></div> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </SPAN></div> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Jer</SPAN></div> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </SPAN></div> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </SPAN></div> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </SPAN></div> <DIV> <DIV style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt"> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Matthew Todd<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, September 01, 2011 10:14 AM<BR><B>To:</B> pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [pianotech] Is this the work of an RPT?</SPAN></div></DIV></DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal> </div> <DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Thank you sir.</SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">That is why I said "standard tuning service".</SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">My point was that if we raised our own rates each year, after a while, no one would want to pay the money, and we would soon be out of business.  Sure, maybe it's an assumption, but I will not be the one to try it to see if it is true.</SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><B><U><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: blue; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt">TODD PIANO WORKS</SPAN></U></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: blue">Matthew Todd, Piano Technician</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: blue; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <BR></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: blue">(979) 248-9578</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: blue"><A href="http://www.toddpianoworks.com/" rel=nofollow target=_blank>http://www.toddpianoworks.com</A></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> Jim Coleman <jcpanoman@colemantools.com><BR><B>To:</B> Matthew Todd <toddpianoworks@att.net>; pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, September 1, 2011 8:28 AM<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: Re: [pianotech] Is this the work of an RPT?<BR><BR></SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: black"></SPAN></div> <DIV id=yiv547892835> <TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" class=yiv547892835MsoNormalTable border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"> <TBODY> <TR> <TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 1.2pt; PADDING-LEFT: 1.2pt; WIDTH: 100%; PADDING-RIGHT: 1.2pt; PADDING-TOP: 1.2pt" width="100%"> <DIV id=yiv547892835INCREDI_TEXT_AREA> <DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal>Matthew,</div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal> </div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal> First, you wrote, "I'd be up over $200 for a standard tuning service."  If you were doing something on the order of a full service on your visit, that is tuning, some minor voicing, regulation touch-up, etc, you would be in the ball bark.</div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal>PTG's dues are a bargain!  We provide a sort of full service.....available to almost 4,000 members around the world.  If we did not keep the dues in line with increasing costs, and improving our 'service' to the membership you would, in time, have no educational resources, no Journal (worth the dues by it's self!), no website, no adequate Home Office building or personnel, the RCOs would be on their own and eventually disappear, no Annual Convention, etc.</div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal>The teaching and learning of new and better ways to service our clients would possibly revert back 60 years or so to the way it was when my grandfather was in the business and teaching my dad. They did not want to share any secrets with an 'outsider' lest they make more money</div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal>or take away any of their customers.</div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal>I can guarantee you that my dad nor I would be who or what we are today without PTG. And where would many of today's technicians be without my dad, LaRoy Edwards, Norm Neblett, Web Phillips, Al Sanderson, and so many other giants in the world of piano technology. </div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal> </div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal>So, to you Matthew and the other members on this list, if you want to be all you can be as a piano technician, get seriously involved in</div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal>PTG.   If you haven't challenged the tests, DO IT !  Get involved in your chapter, be a delegate to council! Run for office!</div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal>Who knows you could be president of PTG some day.</div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal> </div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal>So much to say and so little time.</div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal> </div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal>Jim Coleman, Jr  </div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal>Proud to be an RPT</div></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal> </div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal> </div></DIV> <DIV id=yiv547892835IncrediOriginalFontSize> <DIV id=yiv547892835IncrediOriginalMessage> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">-------Original Message-------</SPAN></I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'"> </SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV id=yiv547892835receivestrings> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><B><I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">From:</SPAN></I></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> <A href="mailto:toddpianoworks@att.net" rel=nofollow target=_blank ymailto="mailto:toddpianoworks@att.net">Matthew Todd</A></SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><B><I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Date:</SPAN></I></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> 08/31/11 23:00:05</SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><B><I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">To:</SPAN></I></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> <A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" rel=nofollow target=_blank ymailto="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A></SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><B><I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Subject:</SPAN></I></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> [Norton AntiSpam] Re: [pianotech] Is this the work of an RPT?</SPAN></div></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'"> </SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Dues increase Patrick?  So what else is new?  If I raised my rates as much and as often as the PTG raises theirs, I'd be up over $200 for a standard tuning service.</SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><B><U><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: blue; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt">TODD PIANO WORKS</SPAN></U></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: blue">Matthew Todd, Piano Technician</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: blue; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <BR></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: blue">(979) 248-9578</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: blue"><A href="http://www.toddpianoworks.com/" rel=nofollow target=_blank>http://www.toddpianoworks.com</A></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> J Patrick Draine <jpdraine@gmail.com><BR><B>To:</B> pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, August 31, 2011 1:50 PM<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [pianotech] Is this the work of an RPT?<BR><BR></SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: black"></SPAN></div> <DIV id=yiv547892835> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black">Bill, </SPAN></div> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black">Have you spoken to this particular RPT about the piano? Have you offered to show him how the work ought to be done?</SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black">If you care enough to bring the situation forward to the public as you have, you might consider following the procedures outlined in the PTG Bylaws, Disciplinary Code. While I doubt that any action would be taken against him, getting the appropriate committees involved may be just the "wake up call" that he needs.</SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black">On another note, I suggest you read the September Journal's "Executive Outlook" column, this month written by Vice President Chris Solliday. You will see that our elected leadership is considering furthering our "continuing education and training." This of course will need a major "buy in" from the membership (and, yes, probable dues increases) before any such plan is implemented.</SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black">Check it out, and get involved!</SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black">Patrick Draine</SPAN></div></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black">On Wed, Aug 31, 2011 at 9:41 AM, Bill Fritz <<A href="mailto:pianofritz50@aol.com" rel=nofollow target=_blank ymailto="mailto:pianofritz50@aol.com">pianofritz50@aol.com</A>> wrote: </SPAN></div> <DIV> <DIV> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">As to the work being performed, I've already answered that, w/ the customer's confirmation, and more detailed info on my part.</SPAN></div></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <div class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'sans-serif'"> </SPAN></div></DIV></DIV></DIV></TD></TR> <TR> <TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 1.2pt; PADDING-LEFT: 1.2pt; WIDTH: 100%; PADDING-RIGHT: 1.2pt; PADDING-TOP: 1.2pt" id=yiv547892835INCREDIFOOTER width="100%"> <TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%" class=yiv547892835MsoNormalTable border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"> <TBODY> <TR> <TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; WIDTH: 100%; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in" width="100%"></TD> <TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in" id=yiv547892835INCREDISOUND vAlign=bottom></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <div style="BACKGROUND: white" class=yiv547892835MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><A href="http://www.incredimail.com/?id=619263&did=10500&ppd=2723,201108041216,9,1,820153269552681380&rui=119956824&sd=20110901" rel=nofollow target=_blank><SPAN style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"><IMG id=yiv547892835_x0000_i1025 border=0 alt="FREE Animations for your email - by IncrediMail! 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