<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=windows-1250"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2523" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><SPAN class=765023701-14012005><FONT face=Arial>Lately I've = been ducking the whole "how much do you charge thing" quite succesfully with calls = like you describe. I simply say: "I don't want to quote anything before I see a = piano for the first time. I'll examine it and then we can discuss what is needed = and agree on things before I do any work. Fair enough?"  Or something to that = effect. Seems to be accepted very well and I haven't wasted a trip yet.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=765023701-14012005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=765023701-14012005><FONT face=Arial>Then, when I = see that it's 87 cents flat with rusty coils and mouse nests, we can talk face to face = about needs, options, etc., and do the "selling" on a personal basis. To me, = that is always better than "selling" anything over the phone where you don't = really know what's what with the piano. Also, this let's me establish a rapport with = the customer so I can read their body language, estimate the family's = financial situation, find out how much the piano means to them, etc. At this time, = before starting, I say things like: </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=765023701-14012005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=765023701-14012005><FONT face=Arial>"These strings = may be rusty enough or old enough that some of them may pop while tuning."</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=765023701-14012005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=765023701-14012005><FONT face=Arial>"Though I will = be careful, metal under tension loses its elasticity, or ability to = stretch, over time and gets brittle."</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=765023701-14012005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=765023701-14012005><FONT face=Arial>"You been = taking these strings to the beach with you, or what!?! </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Alan R. Barnard</FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Salem, MO</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr = align=left><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On = Behalf Of </B>Matthew Todd<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, January 13, 2005 5:11 PM<BR><B>To:</B> Pianotech<BR><B>Subject:</B> Pitch Raise and String Breakage<BR><BR></FONT></DIV> <DIV>Hi List,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>When you're on the phone scheduling an appointment with a client, = and you ask the question "How long has it been since the piano was last = tuned", and they say "over 10 years", then you mention the pitch raise and the = extra cost involved, and that their piano may need it....do you also mention that = some strings might break over the phone, or do you wait till you're at = their home before you bring it up?</DIV><BR><BR>Matthew Todd<BR>Todd Piano Works<BR>Piano Tuner/Technician<BR>Tuning - Repairing - Regulating <P> <HR SIZE=1> Do you Yahoo!?<BR>Yahoo! Mail - Find what you need with new enhanced = search. <A = href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=29917/*http://info.mail.yahoo.com/ma= il_250">Learn more.</A><BR> <P><FONT size=2>--<BR>No virus found in this incoming = message.<BR>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.<BR>Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.6.11 - = Release Date: 01/12/2005<BR></FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML> <BR> <P><FONT SIZE=2>--<BR> No virus found in this outgoing message.<BR> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.<BR> Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.6.11 - Release Date: = 01/12/2005<BR> </FONT> </P>