<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=rol= e_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV>In a message dated 8/25/2004 9:28:52 PM Pacific Standard Time, nicho@zianet.com writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><= FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>         <FONT size=3>   Mr. Nichols</FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><FONT size=3>  I would be most happy to provide you with serial = no.s as soon as I can get them.</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><= FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size= =2>:<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite"><FONT face=arial size=2> </FONT><FONT face=arial>   To All my esteemed= colleagues</FONT><FONT face=arial size=2><BR></FONT><FONT face=arial>    Probably all of you are aware of a rebui= lding outfit across the border in Juarez, Mexico.</FONT><FONT face=arial size=2><BR></FONT><FONT face=arial>  I've seen two recently "re= built" Stwys that were a disaster with one exception.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Dale,<BR><BR>    Hi. = I'm the owner of the U.S. brokerage known as SAMA. I took over ownership this spring, and before that have worked as a consultant for the company. This company operates a plant in Juarez, across the border from El Paso.<BR><BR>   First off, I'd like to ask you where the connect= ion is between these two pianos and the "outfit".</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>  <FONT size=3>>>> Booth clients confirmed these pianos= had been rebuilt in Juarez. It won't help to get hung up in the semantics. Call it what you like.</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><= FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size= =2><BR>Very seriously, Sir, as your post makes no actual connection.</FONT></BLOCKQUOT= E> <DIV>.>>. <FONT size=3>Very seriously as well,  how many piano reconditioning shops are there in Juarez. If I'm mistaken about there being = just one then please inform me and correct my misunderstanding & I'll give th= e other firm credit.</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><= FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2><BR>   Second, I'll point out that SAMA does not sell pianos.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><FONT size=3>>> I didn't say they did. Both were bought from de= alers who sent them there to Juarez.</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><= FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2><BR>   Thirdly, I'll point out that many of the over 16= 00 (yes, sixteen HUNDRED) pianos that have been remanufactured  by our "outfit" in Juarez have not come to us with actions in the first place. So= me come for just finish, and many that should be junked or have blocks or boa= rds replaced wind up getting their other belly work elsewhere.</FONT></BLOCKQU= OTE> <DIV>  <FONT size=3> >>>Guy , I did check into Sama whe= n it first came along and was told there was no ability to do anything but patch = the boards with shims. Also I doubt a piano would be shipped that far for a simp= le refinish so I will assume the boards I saw  were patched there. </FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><= FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2><BR><BR>        The SAMA plant= is directed by Salvador Ortiz, 29 year veteran of Baldwin. I've been around a= while, and am capable of making mistakes, but normally don't. The conditio= ns you describe sound like problems that wouldn't come close to being shipped= out, especially in the last couple of years. Our instruments are shipped t= o our dealers and techs and have a warranty that covers all of the condition= s you describe. The fact that these conditions exist indicate that perhaps S= AMA did not do the work in question.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>  <FONT size=3> It also indicates that maybe quality contro= l isn't what it should be & it sounds frankly like your perhaps passing th= e buck. <STRONG>If I end up being wrong you will be</STRONG> <STRONG>the first= to know with a humble apology</STRONG>.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3> In the case of the Stwy A the dealer in question h= as no facility to do the work I saw & has done other business with you I'm told.</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><= FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2><BR><BR><X-TAB>        </= X-TAB>So, Mr. Erwin, I'd like to request the chance to verify your accusations. </FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV> <FONT size=3>>> Well acusations is a bit strong & def= ensive but they are certainly the results of thourough first hand examination &observations based on 32 years of expereince The facts presented are a recititation of what very unhappy clients related to me personally.</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><= FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size= =2>Please supply me with the serial numbers of the pianos, and I can tell you whethe= r they were ever in Juarez.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV> <FONT size=3>> I'm under no obligation to do so but I would welcome the oppurtunity to do so.If can retreive them I will do so most expeditiously. I beleive I can retreive the O perhaps by next week. The A as= well. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  If they did come from your plant what would the warranty cover & if the work was dome poorly what gaurantee is there tha= t it will get done the second time?</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><= FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2><BR><BR><X-TAB>        </= X-TAB>I ask that until then, you reserve judgement about a business that has hundr= eds of satisfied customers.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><FONT size=3>>> So you said. & I will reserve it based on w= hat I saw. It gives me no pleasure to see clients get the short end of the stick &= amp; you should hope that the eveidence doesn't  indict you. Until then I in= vite all techs who have seen your work to weigh in  & testify to what is= really being done in Juarez & by who</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  Perhaps quality is on the rise since your purchas= e & that would be most welcome. I happen to know you by reputation & s= ense of humor & hopefully we'll find one in all this at some point.</FONT></D= IV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  What I do know absolutely for certain sure is&nbs= p; some pretty sorry pianos with devesteted clients. <STRONG>The finish as I sa= id was beautiful.</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3> Sincerely</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>   Dale Erwin</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  </FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><= FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>References available upon request at <A title=http://www.samapianos.com/ href="http://www.samapianos.com/" eudora="autourl">www.samapianos.com</A>  Plant tours are welcome. <BR><BR>Sincerely,<BR>Guy Nichols, RPT<BR>President, SAMA</FONT></BLOCKQUO= TE> <DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"= >Erwins Pianos Restorations <BR>4721 Parker Rd.<BR>Modesto, Ca 95357<BR>209-577-8397<BR>Reb= uilt Steinway , Mason &Hamlin Sales<BR>www.Erwinspiano.com</FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>