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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi All,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Clyde's comment "<FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><EM>I installed a system with the understanding that I would remove it
and refund every penny if she felt she had "thrown her money away</EM>." got me
thinking... that's always dangerous. Does that technique work?? Sure seems like
a good idea. I moved a while ago and have to build business again so the
majority of my current customers are pianos that have not been taken care of
and/or of little value. How do you sell someone with a $500-$1000 piano a ~$400
DC system? I don't even try on the first visit, I don't feel right trying to
sell on a first call so I just leave the DC brochure and the "humidity control"
bulletin and hope for the best. I HAVE told them that the system could be moved
from their current piano to a new one if they should upgrade but that doesn't
help often. </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks troops!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Mike</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Mike McCoy RPT<BR>Chapters 170 & 190
PTG<BR>Langhorne, Pa<BR><A
href="mailto:mjmccoyrpt@earthlink.net">mailto:mjmccoyrpt@earthlink.net</A></FONT></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=cedel@supernet.com href="mailto:cedel@supernet.com">Clyde
Hollinger</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, February 12, 2003 7:10
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: DC</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Kenneth,
<P>I would caution against being overly critical, considering your lack of
experience with the systems. However, I will add that, depending on
where you live, a Dampp-Chaser system may indeed not be all that helpful.
<P>Let me give a couple examples, and you can see if you want to maintain your
position. Like you, I was very skeptical when I installed my first
system, but the woman was a music teacher (and a lawyer's wife), and she was
frustrated about how the piano wouldn't stay in tune. I installed a
system with the understanding that I would remove it and refund every penny if
she felt she had "thrown her money away." That was nine years ago.
Now she says, "You may use me as a reference. There is no way I would
ever do without the Dampp-Chaser system."
<P>We have a system on our home piano. Our talented pianist daughter,
who played the piano almost every day, was playing one time and thought the
piano sounded out of tune. She checked to see if the system was
unplugged, and sure enough, it was. She plugged it in again, and the
tuning improved markedly over the next week.
<P>Those are not an isolated responses. I could cite dozens of other
happy piano owners who have installed partial or complete Dampp-Chaser
systems. Would you try to convince them they "threw their money away?"
<P>To insinuate that those of us who sell Dampp-Chaser systems are just
promoting a scam to make more money is highly unfair. I have had enough
success (results, not money) with the systems that I would really like to do a
full-scale promotion to make sure that everyone knows they are
available. So why don't I? I guess I should, but I have too much
work already. I never suggest additional services or products just to
increase my bottom line. (Did you notice the "never?")
<P>Now about your reference to tight centers, I will agree that if the piano
has a sluggish action year-round, a Dampp-Chaser isn't going to solve the
problem. Perhaps there is a piano technician in your area who is
claiming the system will do something it cannot do. But here in SE
Pennsylvania, there are some pianos that get sluggish when the humidity rises
and work well again when the humidity falls. In those instances I
believe a heat bar and control can solve the problem. But frequently,
the condition is too severe, and center pin work is called for.
<P>Since you do not believe in the systems, I doubt you have installed any and
are therefore speaking from opinion or from very limited experience. If
that is the case, it would be wise to be less critical of us who see
Dampp-Chaser systems as a part of quality piano care.
<P>Regards, <BR>Clyde Hollinger, RPT <BR>Lititz, PA, USA
<P>KENNETH FINLAYSON wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE="CITE"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=-1>Time and again I have
come across DC installed in a piano, and I feel the customer has thrown his
money away. What really was wrong was tight centre pins, or tight key
bushings.</FONT></FONT> <FONT face=Arial><FONT size=-1>As RPT's, our
primary reason for existance is not to make money: but to ensure quality
piano care within the musical community. I ran across another DC recently
installed in a brand-new Samick. In my opinion, it was a waste of money,
which gave satisfaction only to the piano store who made a profit by
installing it.</FONT></FONT> <FONT face=Arial><FONT size=-1>I never
recommend DC. I don't believe in them. I might someday, but it would have to
be under very extenuating
circumstances.</FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>