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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Looking for an opinion or =
two. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Recently I got calls from two people looking to =
buy a good
vertical piano for their children that are taking piano lessons. =
One I did
not know, and the other I had tuned their old piano several times. I =
gave them
both an earful about used pianos. Both indicated some interest in =
considering a
new vertical piano, but definately wanted to stay below $5K. Anyway, the =
bottom
line was that one of the recommendations I gave them was to check out a
particular store in the area and look at a couple of particular new =
pianos
there. They did and both bought new studio pianos from that dealer. I =
have no
relationship whatsoever with the dealer (I did a few floor tunings for =
him years
ago) - just think he is an honest guy and I like the products he =
sells. I
did not recommend any of the other several dealers in the =
area.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I don't think it is unreasonable to conclude =
that I
referred the customers to the dealer.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>The dealer called me and told me that these two =
people
requested that I provide them their one free tuning that comes with the =
new
piano. I asked what he pays for that type of tuning. He gave me a =
price
that is 50/85 of my normal tuning fee. I suppose there is every =
possibility
the pianos may also need a pitch raise, which in that case, the fee =
quoted might
be 50/125 of my normal pitch-raise-and-tuning fee.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I've done these types of tunings before for =
stores and
that type of low pay. I have to admit that I'm pretty much over that =
phase of my
tuning career. But as a matter of principle, my gut tells me that the
dealer should gladly pay me my standard tuning fee. I'm not =
asking for
any type of commission related to the sale of the pianos. In fact, I =
don't want
a comission - I enjoy the very independant nature of my business. It's =
just a
matter of priciple to me - I should think he would pay my normal bill =
with a
smile on his face.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>It is possible that he is not aware that I =
referred the
customers to him (although, I would think so).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Anyone have any experience/opinion on such a
matter?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>