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<font size="-1"><font face="Verdana">As Dean wrote, "pre-selling" the
pitch raise on the phone has worked very well for me, too.<br>
<br>
Remember to always keep the explanation as simple as possible. The
customer doesn't live and breathe piano technology like we do, so keep
it simple. They don't care about a 33% pitch drop. (I've seen the
glazed eyes from my own explanations - that's how I know <grin>.)<br>
<br>
I often will simply state (ideally, on the phone) that it's impossible
to do a fine tuning unless the piano is close to standard pitch. When
that is stated confidently, it's usually not a problem. If needed, a
fairly universal example is painting a purple wall ... white. You can't
do it with only one coat - it requires two or more. Most people
understand that if it has been "years" since the last tuning, it can't
be done with only one pass.<br>
<br>
John Formsma<br>
<br>
<br>
</font></font>Geoff Sykes wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid002d01c605a6$3912a0f0$6500a8c0@geoff2r3ofonmy"
type="cite">
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2"><span class="906542820-20122005">Greetings
all --</span></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2"><span class="906542820-20122005"></span></font> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2"><span class="906542820-20122005">Many
pianos need a pitch adjustment prior to tuning. Usually because it
hasn't been touched in five years. Therefore, like many of you I'm
sure, I frequently find myself having to explain to customers what a
pitch adjustment is, and why their piano needs one prior to tuning. I
have found that car analogies often help when explaining things but I
have not been able to come up with one that would help with a pitch
adjustment. Even after explaining, as simply as I know how, the
relationship of the incredible string tension across the plate and why
it needs to be equalized before a fine tuning will hold, I often feel
like I'm coming off trying to sell them something bogus. </span></font><font
face="Arial" size="2"><span class="906542820-20122005">How do you
people explain pitch adjustments to your customers whose piano needs
it so that they not only understand what it is but why it's important
that their piano gets one prior to tuning?</span></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2"><span class="906542820-20122005"></span></font> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2"><span class="906542820-20122005">--
Geoff Sykes</span></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2"><span class="906542820-20122005">--
Assoc. Los Angeles</span></font></div>
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