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<DIV>Yeah, I thinking aiming for the high end is a good goal...my=
business has evolved in to mostly field work. Lots of=
private and commercial clients. I do not=
have a problem with low end pianos as they pay the=
mortgage. I don't rebuild anymore...never=
really got good at it, i.e. did it all the time. The=
last few years have been the best yet. As my=
financial advisor/tax guy said..."if you were in the corporate=
world after 25 years, you'd have the benefits but look at your=
lifestyle." We do have a pretty good working=
environment. A topic I'd like to discuss is planning=
for the future. How do some of you invest, save etc.=
for retirement. I have a home which is worth=
much more than my mortgage and I have a real estate trust=
investment and some IRA funds...I look at corporate America and=
State and Federal employees and their benefits, ie. retirement,=
health for life etc. and it kind of annoys me...</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>David I.</DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=3>----- Original message=
----------------------------------------><BR>From: <<A=
href="mailto:Erwinspiano@aol.com">Erwinspiano@aol.com</A>><BR=
>To: <<A=
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>><BR>Rec=
eived: Mon, 27 Dec 2004 23:52:27 EST<BR>Subject: Re: Year=
End</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=3><BR> All </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> I think ever ones business will vary=
from location to location. Biz will also vary depending on=
whether you do in home service or just rebuilding. I like the=
comments about diversification.We experienced a few downs the=
biggest one being most of 2003 but we still got by. The=
time before was about 3 months in 1998 when I had to lay off a=
main worker. Overall this has been a great year for rebuilding=
& not bad for the service end. I don't do much outside work=
but my brother handles much of that & he did=
well.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> At this time of year we=
are grateful for the care & concern of friends=
& family & a faithful creator</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> As Willis Snyder always says aim for the=
high end.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Prosperous new year in all ways & not=
just monetary</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3> Dale=
Erwin</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>There is good news and there is bad=
news from this end. I am Down from last year on appointments by=
25% but only down by 7.5% financially, which means that=
profitability is actually UP.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>The one challenge we are going to have=
to address is the onslaught of the digital piano. Traditional=
piano dealers are selling more of these now than the real=
thing. I always try and put my customers off buying them by=
saying that they lose their value very quickly, just like=
computers because they become outdated (obsolete) within a few=
years. I also tell them that they will soon become tired of the=
sound of a digital piano (at least I do) "listener fatigue" and=
all that. I can only play a digital piano for about half an hour=
and have to switch it off. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Have any of you ever analysed the=
tuning on a digital piano: it's terrible. The temperament is not=
very smooth at all and even the unisons aren't all that great.=
However I do suspect that if they were tuned the way we tuners=
would like them to be tuned, they probably wouldn't sound like=
pianos at all!</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Any other ammunition with which to=
bombard the onslaught is welcome.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3>Looking forward to another=
year.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT=
size=3>Burp</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
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