<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif"
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:o =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word"><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; =
charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content=Word.Document name=ProgId>
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2722" name=GENERATOR>
<META content="Microsoft Word 10" name=Originator>
<STYLE>@page Section1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.25in 1.0in =
1.25in; mso-header-margin: .5in; mso-footer-margin: .5in; =
mso-paper-source: 0; }
P.MsoNormal {
FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; =
mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; =
mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"
}
LI.MsoNormal {
FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; =
mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; =
mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"
}
DIV.MsoNormal {
FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; =
mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; =
mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"
}
A:link {
COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single
}
SPAN.MsoHyperlink {
COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single
}
A:visited {
COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single
}
SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {
COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single
}
P.MsoAutoSig {
FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; =
mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"
}
LI.MsoAutoSig {
FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; =
mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"
}
DIV.MsoAutoSig {
FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; =
mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"
}
SPAN.EmailStyle17 {
COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-style-type: personal-reply; =
mso-style-noshow: yes; mso-ansi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: =
10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; =
mso-bidi-font-family: Arial
}
SPAN.GramE {
mso-style-name: ""; mso-gram-e: yes
}
DIV.Section1 {
page: Section1
}
</STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY lang=EN-US
style="BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; =
BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none; tab-interval: .5in"
vLink=purple link=blue bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>To all =
mercenaries,</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>When it comes to pricing it is usually =
better to
ask oneself; "would I pay that amount to have a job done?". In most =
cases the
answer would be No!</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>I liaise with "businessmen" in the used =
piano
market and am disgusted in the way they actually brag about their =
ripping off
customers. One shop even had a sign outside with the name "Haddam and =
Howe".
(Had them and how!)</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>AF</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=tune4u@earthlink.net =
href="mailto:tune4u@earthlink.net">Alan
Barnard</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, September 24, =
2005 7:14
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> What's Fair? was RE: =
Lesson
learned.....</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>This is business, so I think it's on topic =
...</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>All this chatter about fairness, gouging, =
etc.,
strikes me as so much unnecessary angst.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG><FONT
size=3><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>If the customer can afford it, is willing =
to pay it,
and is happy with the results, then it doesn't matter WHAT you charge. =
You may
price yourself out of business; and that's the ultimate =
punishment for
greediness or stupidity in an open, competitive free market.
</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>Is a new Steinway M really WORTH $47,400? =
It
absolutely doesn't matter: They have a market, the customer is =
delighted
(okay, willing) to pay it and can afford it, and the rest of us =
buy used
Wurlitzers. So what? </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>I DO have an obligation to be fair with my =
customers
by stating fees up front, getting agreement on the work and the fees, =
doing
quality work, backing up my work, etc., but ...</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>I have NO obligation, ever, whatsoever, to =
determine
what is a "fair" amount to charge!</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>I am NOT being unfair if I am the most =
expensive
tech in the market, which I will ALWAYS be. I am not being unfair if I =
refuse
to work cheap for people who are cheap (especially!) or even people =
who can
only afford cheap. In the latter case, I can and DO, often, "fix up" a =
piano
at substantially less than normal rates--if I think it will help =
somebody out,
i.e., for charitable reasons (MY choice), and if I believe I will get =
a loyal,
regular tuning customer out of the deal. I have done this often. But
...</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>I am NOT being unfair if I charge someone =
else more!
I don't have to decide what "fair" rates and prices are or agonize =
over the
issue. The MARKET will take care of that, just =
fine.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>As long as you don't lie, cheat, steal, or =
otherwise
break the commandments, it is PERFECTLY ethical, honest, Christian,
whatevertermyouwant, to make a buck. And the more, the
merrier.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>Keep the economy FREE. If prices rise, =
competition
comes in and prices fall. If resources are scarce, the price goes up. =
If we
get greedy, we lose customers to competitors and keyboards. So
what?</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>I understand how thinking can take another =
road ...
my wife, for example, thinks it's outrageous that nice hotels charge =
twice as
much, or more, for rooms on New Year's Eve. Supply and demand. There =
it
is!</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>I don't have or make a great deal. But =
happiness, it
seems to me, is not found in holding myself back because I'm ahead of =
a few.
Happiness comes in NOT envying those who have more while helping those =
who
have less (NOT through any government)--and mostly by helping them do =
better,
not stealing their dignity and hope by making them long term welfare
cases.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Here's a lot of wisdom in a simple
formula:</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Income of $25,000 with Expenses =
&
Debts of $24,000 = Happiness</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Income of $50,000 with Expenses & =
Debts of $51,000 = Misery</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG>I believe I might have climbed on a =
soapbox or
pulpit there, sorry. G'night.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Alan Barnard</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>Salem, Missouri</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=ilvey@sbcglobal.net =
href="mailto:ilvey@sbcglobal.net">David
Ilvedson</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To: </B><A
title=deanmay@pianorebuilders.com
=
href="mailto:deanmay@pianorebuilders.com">deanmay@pianorebuilders.com</=
A>;<A
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> 09/24/2005 12:06:26 AM =
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: Lesson =
learned.....</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2>
<P>List,</P>
<P>First of all we have to disqualify Susan because she is tends to =
give
away her work...(no smiley)...</P>
<P>It sounds like Dean is selling an insurance policy =
for adequate
tuning pin torque. He has made the assumption that most =
of the
time he will not have to come back do more CA =
application. He
made a high price to cover the occasional costs of coming back to do =
redo
the work...</P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">(Dean =
says:
Actually, I didnt say I could do it with no problem. I could do =
it but
often it was a huge problem. CA helps to make it no problem.
)</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">If he =
never has to
come back to redo the work, i.e "no problem", then we "MAY" have =
some qualms
about the cost....</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">So Dean, =
are you
charging them $250 to do the CA work and then charging them for the =
tuning
& whatever else is needed? If you were doing the CA =
work and
then tuning the piano...hey $250 is reasonable...especially witht =
the
quarantee...$250 + the tuning charges seems a little extreme seeing =
as you
don't have to come back. Insurance companies DO have to put =
out money
towards claims...</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">my
take...</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">David
Ilvedson</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 3px solid; PADDING-TOP: 5px"> </DIV>
<DIV
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 3px solid; PADDING-TOP: 5px"> </DIV>
<DIV
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 3px solid; PADDING-TOP: 5px"> </DIV>
<DIV
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 3px solid; PADDING-TOP: 5px">
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT =
face="Times New Roman"
color=navy size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
navy"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT =
face="Times New Roman"
color=navy size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
navy"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT =
face="Times New Roman"
color=blue size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT
color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy">>></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
face=Arial
color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Consider =
the cost
to me that it took to develop the expertise to do this job.
<BR><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=blue><SPAN style="COLOR: =
blue">Okay, I
will. What costs? Your computer time? I certainly paid nothing to =
<BR>learn
this job, except some extra time for that first Zimmerman, to do =
<BR>the
work more laboriously than necessary. Did you travel to a distant
<BR>convention, or pay somebody a bundle to teach you to put CA glue =
on
<BR>pinblocks? </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy">>><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT =
face="Times New Roman"
color=navy size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
navy"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Lets =
see, I spent
many hours learning the craft, many hours and dollars practicing and =
correcting mistakes. I spent many years using CA glue in other =
applications
learning its idiosyncrasies particularly how wood responds to it. I =
spend an
annual fee to the PTG. I took the time to attend meetings and =
network with
other techs. I took the time to attend seminars. And yes, I take =
time here
at the computer culling these posts for nuggets. Those are all real =
costs.
</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=blue><SPAN style="COLOR: blue"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"></SPAN></FONT><FONT
color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: =
navy"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=blue =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT
color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy">>></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
face=Arial
color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Consider =
how much
money I am saving the customer. <BR><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
color=blue><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue">I'm afraid I'm more likely to consider the =
money you are
<SPAN class=GramE>taking <BR>from</SPAN> your customer. If you can =
keep the
piano playable and tunable <BR>for pennies and minutes per tuning, =
what are
they paying the $250 for? </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy">>><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
navy"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">I could get a job at Wal-Mart =
for $5
per hour as well. How can I sleep at night charging $85 for a =
tuning? How
can David Love charge $150? (Sorry to bring you into this, David. I
certainly in no way begrudge you your rates. You earn every penny) =
<SPAN
class=GramE>What</SPAN> do you charge for a tuning, Susan, and how =
can you
justify that knowing that comparatively most of the world only makes =
pennies
on the dollar on a per hour basis? </SPAN></FONT><FONT =
color=blue><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"><BR><BR style="mso-special-character: =
line-break"><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"></SPAN></FONT><FONT
color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: =
navy"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">>></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
face=Arial
color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Consider =
that <SPAN
class=GramE>everyone</SPAN> of these jobs that I've sold my =
customers have
been very happy to pay such an amount for all of those benefits.
<BR><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=blue><SPAN style="COLOR: =
blue">Would they
still be happy if they knew you how little it cost you to do it? =
Have you
really thought through whether your fees should reflect whatever you =
can
get, versus whether they should be based on how much effort and =
expense you
have to shell out? If they spend money on their pianos which they =
didn't
need to spend, they don't have it for everything else. =
</SPAN></FONT><FONT
color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: =
navy">>><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
navy"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Well, they watch real close. =
They see
me tip the piano, they see my get out a little bottle of glue, they =
look at
how it is applied and they watch the clock. I dont do any =
trickery, no
incantations, <SPAN class=GramE>nothing</SPAN> up the sleeve. If =
they cant
figure out my actual costs in a ballpark range I should be charging =
them
triple. They arent paying for the actual costs and they know it. =
They are
paying for my expertise and the peace of mind of an 8 year warranty. =
Less
than $30 a year is making their piano usable where it previously =
wasnt. I
am giving my customers a warranty. You arent. Tell me who is =
giving their
customer a better value? <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
navy"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
navy"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=blue =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT
color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy">>></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
color=blue><SPAN style="COLOR: blue">Just my take on it -- we =
all have to
figure out business ethics for ourselves. </SPAN></FONT><FONT
color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: =
navy"><<<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
navy"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">I have no problem defending =
my charges.
In fact I appreciate the challenge. But here is where it gets a =
little
dicey. You have been pretty strongly implying that I am unethical in =
my
charges. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
navy"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">I consider myself a =
professional. I
have 25 years experience and a degree in mechanical engineering. I =
have a
strong base of satisfied customers who trust me with the care of =
their
piano. I am not the cheapest tuner in the area and most of them know =
it. In
fact, I always try to be the most expensive tuner in the area. If =
people
dont want to pay my rates they are free to use someone else and =
Ive even
given out the names and numbers of my competitors to such people.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
navy"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">My newest car is 7 years old. =
I live in
a 100 year old house. I am not materially rich- I have too many =
kids. ;-)
But maybe someday Ill be able to get $300/minute like the =
proctologist.
Better yet, Ill just be happy with the real wealth that I do =
have.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
navy"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy =
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
navy">Blessings,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Dean<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><=
/BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>