<HTML>In a message dated 6/14/02 3:09:00 PM !!!First Boot!!!, A440A@AOL.COM writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">This is not some casual scheme to separate the elderly from their money. It is a carefully thought out plan of action that makes sense economically, aesthetically, and morally.  If a technician has been the "family tuner" for many years, there is usually trust there, and there is nothing wrong with leveraging it for the benefit of all concerned.  From the heritage perspective, what better object to remember ancestors with than a fine musical instrument?  From the aesthetic angle, the classic American grand pianos can be restored to out-perform the vast majority of new instruments sold today, (at a fraction of the cost, even including new soundboards)!   From the moral side of the equation, the resources dedicated to the artistic restoration of the old piano are well-protected; the piano can represent a solid financial investment if the future requires the inheritor to let it go for more pressing concerns,(and the tech should position themselves to be of service in brokering the piano if that does happen, 10% isn't an exhorbitant figure).    </BLOCKQUOTE> Ed I agree with Lisa. A brochure outlining your ideas would be of great service to us. One of the problems I have run across is that children don't always have the same sense of value of what the instrument is worth as the parents. Children have different tastes in furniture style. Instead of a satin walnut, they want the shiny black. Instead of an older well built instrument, they want a new piano. And, unfortunately, as you pointed out, they would rather that Mom sold the stupid thing, so they can buy a stereo, or take a trip to Acapulco. But having a well written brochre, might help both parties. It also takes the "money hungry" aspect out of our equation. Thanks for taking the time to bring this up. See you next week. Wim </HTML>