<HTML>In a message dated 1/10/02 2:39:12 AM !!!First Boot!!!, sid@sover.net writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Yesterday it was a seventy five year old upright which was more or less functional except for the bass bridge...  Serious crack along the lower pins, looked like tuning might be stable enough if additional string tension didn't exacerbate the problem. Still enough side bearing on the upper pins that it didn't sound horrible.  Average pitch around fifty cents flat. These people can not afford even an epoxy job (of witch I still am not convinced). I have been fearlessly doing 150 cent pitch raises for years, but in this case advised to leave piano flat and save money towards new piano.  Was I shortchanging my customer? </BLOCKQUOTE> This concept that ALL pianos HAVE to be at 440 is ridiculous. I think we have to consider the piano, and the customer's ability to pay. A piano doesn't have to be perfect to satisfy us. What is also important is our consideration for the customer. Before we make any attempt at making a piano perfect, we should asses the economic condition of the customer. I get the feeling some of you take an approach that how well you can make the piano play and sound is more important than the customer's ability to pay. I am not saying we should do the best job we can, but before doing any work, we need to get the customer approval. As I mentioned before, if the customer insists on doing the pitch raise, and making the repairs, I take a soft sell approach. I evaluate the economic condition of the customer by making some inquiries about their life. Nothing personal, but sometimes a simple question about what she does for a living, what her husband does, etc., will tell you a lot. Yes, Greg, a piano sounds great up to pitch. But is it worth it to relish in how good the piano sounds, when the customer had to sacrifice buying food, or clothing? Wim </HTML>