<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:st1 = = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2722" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; = FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bottomMargin=7 bgColor=#ffffff leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 = rightMargin=7> <DIV>Golly, where does one start? This information has been a real = eye-opener, to say the least.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><EM>"I'm not a regular on = here, and am always surprised when I log on and see the lack of information on this = forum that is readily available."</EM></FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>First of all, that is what this forum is for - sharing information. = Sometimes (often) something that is common knowledge to one is = unknown to another. Sometimes, regular folk, like many on this forum, simply forget = (let's not get into our college years....) Sharing, as you've done, is = what it is all about. What is so surprising about all that?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><EM>"Renner = <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">USA</st1:place></st1:country-region> = has always had these tuning pins available for their better = customers."</EM></FONT></DIV> <DIV><EM></EM> </DIV> <DIV>I would be interested in purchasing these tuning pins. How does one = become a "better customer" of Renner USA? Does Renner USA provide notification of "better customer" status attainment? These are not available = until "better customer" status attainment?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><EM>"...Renner <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">USA</st1:place></st1:country-region> provides their regular = customers who deal in the high end of the business."</EM></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>How does one become a "regular customer"? Do they not sell to = non-regulars? Seems to me one would have to be a first-time customer before being a = regular customer. Do they ask what kind of piano the parts are going into? Do = you have to tell them the parts are destined for a Fazioli when in reality they = are for a 1948 Gulbranson spinet?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><EM>"The good techs know = about them and order them regularly."</EM></FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Ahh, well that explains why no-one on this list knows about Renner = tuning pins.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><EM>"...something I know = Lloyd is not likely to mess with if you’re not a regular = customer."</EM></FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So, like, does he just say no?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><EM>"Lloyd is not a typical = supply house."</EM></FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If your characterization of Renner USA is correct, and it actually = does discriminate the way you suggest, and because he is still in business, = I'd have to agree with you. I've made a number of purchases from Renner USA and = not observed any of the attitudes you describe.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><EM>"He only deals in the = high end, and that can be frustrating for some technicians."</EM></FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>How would that be frustrating? You either want to buy it or not. Am = I missing something? There are several supply houses to choose from if one = does not have what you are looking for.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>And I thought Renner USA was just a regular piano supply house that = specialized in unique, high quality tools and supplies, and good = service.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Terry Farrell</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=Pianotek2000@aol.com href="mailto:Pianotek2000@aol.com">Pianotek2000@aol.com</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"> </DIV><FONT id=role_document = face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times = New Roman" size=3>I'm not a regular on here, and am always surprised when I log = on and see the lack of information on this forum that is readily available.</FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times = New Roman" size=3>Renner <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">USA</st1:place></st1:country-region> has always had these = tuning pins available for their better customers.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>I've been purchasing them = for at least 15 years.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>The common = <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region = w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> vernacular is "fly brand"<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  = </SPAN>They don't promote or advertise them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: = yes">  </SPAN>They are expensive to handle, because of the weight and price, = and one of the many services Renner <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place = w:st="on">USA</st1:place></st1:country-region> provides their = regular customers who deal in the high end of the business.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Since Renner sells direct = and doesn’t go through distributors, the prices are not that much above the knock = offs like Diamond, and others.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  = </SPAN>The good techs know about them and order them regularly.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Sometimes, they do have to = be special ordered, and that’s something I know Lloyd is not likely to = mess with if you’re not a regular customer.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: = yes">  </SPAN>Lloyd is not a typical supply house.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>He only deals in the high = end, and that can be frustrating for some technicians.</FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times = New Roman" = size=3>John</FONT></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HT= ML>