<html> Having done off location sales a few times, We quit because of the carnage  afterwards.  The phone never stops ringing for little touch ups and sticky notes.   Now the attraction to the dealer is higher volumes, and gross margins, then he can usually expect in the store.    This only happens because of the greater greed of the customer. After the feast, we found there was a famine for about 30days, so there was really not so much net gain. Too much work for me, for too little return. Roger At 08:22 AM 3/2/02 -0500, you wrote: >  Thanks for the funny article about piano sales.We do that up here in Wash >DC,but they are called University Sales.There seems to be some competition >amoung two of our local dealers.(One of which I have been employed by for 22 >years)Neither one actually puts their name on any of the advertiseing.The >thing really gets us in service is that our own company doesn't tell us about >the event untill less than a week before.I think they are afraid of our >competition getting wind of our sale and they can start a counter sale.This >of course causes our prep. tuners to rush and prepare low end "Kiwis", >"Kokler and Crumbles"and a few Steenbergs and Baastons for the >selection.Again these were all supposedly proffesionally mantained at the >school.We know that most of them come from a warehouse we keep surplus >units.They are also delivered directly from the school with very little >prep.Then to top it off the piano is sold without a free tuning(why should it >need it if it has been professionally maintained?)So when I see them in the >field six months later I get to practice my under an hour pitch raise.Did I >forget to mention that the customers are given a coupon good for a $50.00 >tuning within six months! I sure hope this trend sees a quick end very soon.  >  > </html>