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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I do exactly as you say, but I do not address =
potential
string breakage over the phone. I just don't feel it is necessary to go =
into
that detail on the phone - we don't even know for sure yet that the =
piano will
need a pitch raise (yeah, right!).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>And BTW, even if they state that the piano was =
tuned
within the last year, I still tell them it's $40 for a pitch raise if =
the piano
is significantly below standard pitch - "your piano should be up to =
pitch if it
were tuned to standard pitch within the past year - but I can tell you =
for sure
when I see the piano." I used to ask them to play middle C over the =
phone to get
an idea of pitch - back when I had a piano in my home. I liked doing =
that. It
was kinda fun seeing how close you could come.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>P.S. Today was a good day for servicing pianos. =
I
convinced a lady to junk her "Grand" spinet because all hammers were =
bobbling,
dampers were oinking, damper lift rod was broke, hammer butt was broke, =
several
bass strings were missing, bass bridge was cracked, bass bridge was =
tearing
soundboard apart at glue joint, frame/pinblock was separating, hammers =
were
deeply grooved, and pitch was a full step flat. I think that was all. I =
told her
she could likely spend a "grand" on the piano and, at best, end up with =
a poorly
performing piano (I think I may have used the "J"-word - oops!). She =
agreed to
cut her losses. (After she asked about how to dispose of =
the
piano, I described how her 16 year old son could have a very good =
time
disassembling the piano for easier disposal) We talked about piano =
shopping
for a good while and she appears to be ready to buy a new or used full =
upright
and spend up to $5K. So cool. :-)</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Hi List,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>When you're on the phone scheduling an appointment with a client, =
and you
ask the question "How long has it been since the piano was last =
tuned", and
they say "over 10 years", then you mention the pitch raise and the =
extra cost
involved, and that their piano may need it....do you also mention that =
some
strings might break over the phone, or do you wait till you're at =
their
home before you bring it up?</DIV><BR><BR>Matthew
Todd<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>