<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Marshall,  When you run into a piano like this, tell the owner up front that this piano needs more than just a regular tuning. "It needs a pitch raise and the sluggish key action fixed. I can do part one today in your allotted 1 1/2 hours, and charge my regular fee for today's work.<div><br></div><div>"Then I will be more acquainted with the piano, and we can talk about how to handle the remaining work."</div><div><br></div><div>This way you don't lose out on 1/3 of your days work by re-scheduling the job to some other day, or canceling someone else's appointment.</div><div><br></div><div>But, be careful about how you present yourself.  The woman hired you thru a discount coupon.  It could be looked upon as a bait and switch deal.</div><div><br></div><div>Plan out exactly how you will word these kinds of situations.  And have a response ready if you are accused of a bait and switch.</div><div><br></div><div>Finally, have you considered telling her that she would be better off by getting another piano?  You can give her ideas on how to find something that fits her budget.  In the end you can charge her for showing up, examining and assessing the piano, and offering advice on what would work best for her.</div><div><br></div><div>And then show up for your next appointment on time.</div><div><br></div><div>Tom Gorley</div><div><br></div><div> <br><div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><blockquote type="cite"><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 20px/normal 'Book Antiqua'; color: rgb(34, 58, 168); "><span style="font: normal normal normal 20px/normal 'Corsiva Hebrew'; "><b>   </b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; ">Tom Gorley</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Kokonor; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#910f08">Registered Piano Technician    </font></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Book Antiqua'; color: rgb(62, 0, 147); "><span><b>      </b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; ">(650) 948-9522</span></div></span></div></div></blockquote></div><div><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Book Antiqua'; color: rgb(62, 0, 147); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><br></span></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"> </div> <br></div></div></body></html>