<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>In a message dated 1/16/01 10:53:00 PM Eastern Standard Time,
<BR>skolnik@attglobal.net writes:
<BR>
<BR>
<BR><BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">
<BR>I need some perspective. In the retail piano business, how common is the
<BR>practice of extracting non-refundable deposits from customers? Many
<BR>replies, either yea or nay, would be most illuminating.
<BR>Thanks.
<BR>
<BR>David Skolnik
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>At Cunningham, we don't do it. Although we are clear with a customer that a
<BR>deposit is only appropriate when there is serious intent, it doesn't make
<BR>sense to me (long term) to make a deposit non refundable. However, I have
<BR>heard of many companies that do this on a regular basis.
<BR>
<BR>Hope this helps,</XMP></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>Richard Galassini
<BR>Cunningham Piano Co. & Factory
<BR>Philadelphia, Pa.
<BR>1 (800) 394-1117
<BR> <A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/voce88/cunn.html">http://hometown.aol.com/voce88/cunn.html</A> </FONT></HTML>