<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1 = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META content=Word.Document name=ProgId> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2769" name=GENERATOR> <META content="Microsoft Word 10" name=Originator><LINK href="cid:filelist.xml@01C605AF.25F13BE0" = rel=File-List><o:SmartTagType name="time" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype><o:SmartTagType name="date" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype><o:SmartTagType name="PostalCode" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype><o:SmartTagType name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype><o:SmartTagType name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype><o:SmartTagType name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype> <STYLE>@font-face { font-family: Tahoma; } @font-face { font-family: Bradley Hand ITC; } @page Section1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; = mso-header-margin: .5in; mso-footer-margin: .5in; mso-paper-source: 0; } P.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; = mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } LI.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; = mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } DIV.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; = mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } A:link { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } A:visited { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } P.MsoAutoSig { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } LI.MsoAutoSig { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } DIV.MsoAutoSig { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } SPAN.EmailStyle18 { COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-style-type: personal; = mso-style-noshow: yes; mso-ansi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: = 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; = mso-bidi-font-family: Arial } SPAN.EmailStyle19 { COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-style-type: personal-reply; = mso-style-noshow: yes; mso-ansi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: = 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; = mso-bidi-font-family: Arial } SPAN.SpellE { mso-style-name: ""; mso-spl-e: yes } SPAN.GramE { mso-style-name: ""; mso-gram-e: yes } DIV.Section1 { page: Section1 } </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US style="tab-interval: .5in" vLink=purple = link=blue> <DIV>This presents an interesting approach. Tell the customer up front what SHOULD = be done to get it right. Then give them the alternative to pass = on the pitch adjust with the caveat that since the piano will not, therefore, have received as good a tuning when you are done as = if it had been tuned regularly, or had the suggested pitch adjust, it will very likely not hold the tuning for as long as = they might like or expect. Let them consider the cost of a pitch adjust plus = fine tuning now, or the cost of just a full tuning today and an = additional full tuning in two or three months instead of six or = so.</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr = align=left>-----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On = Behalf Of Dean May Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 6:49 = PM To: 'Pianotech' Subject: RE: How to explain a pitch adjustment </DIV> <DIV class=Section1> Hi Geoff<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> It kind of = depends on the piano. Most Yamahas are a little more tolerant. Generally if they = are more than 8-12 cents out I’ll use the pitch raise feature of the = Cyber Tuner. But I normally don’t charge people extra unless it is more than 15 = out. Actually, if they are within 15 cents I normally don’t even put the piano on = pitch (unless it is in a critical situation that demands on pitch). If a piano is = only out that much it is probably because of humidity issues, so I’ll = tune it flat or sharp as the case may be. Otherwise when I come back in 6 months it = will be 15 cents out the other way. I have a lot of anecdotal evidence to support = that. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Most of the = time if they are out up to 50 cents I only make = one pass through the piano. I always adjust the overpull down on the pitch raise screen by -4 cents. It seems to work for me. I do = check after the first pass, especially at the tenor break, but I am not = looking for a perfectly still spinner. I’ll tolerate about 1.5 cents out, = especially if they are somewhat consistent. Usually, even on more major pitch = raises, there will be only 10-15 notes I need to slightly adjust. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> If they are = out 100-200 cents I usually need to tune twice, then a third time on 10-15 = notes. I always tell the customer afterwards that the piano doesn’t = have as good a tuning as if it had been tuned regularly. It won’t be stable = until after the second or third tunings. The second tuning should come within 6 months = but you might want to call me out sooner if it gets sounding bad. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Hope this helps.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <DIV> Dean<o:p></o:p> Dean = May           &n= bsp; cell 812.239.3359<o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272<o:p></o:p> <st1:place><st1:City>Terre Haute</st1:City> = <st1:State>IN</st1:State>  = <st1:PostalCode>47802</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><o:p></o:p></DIV> <o:p> </o:p> -----Original Message----- From: = Geoff Sykes [mailto:thetuner@ivories52.com] Sent: <st1:date = Year="2005" Day="20" Month="12">Tuesday, December 20, 2005</st1:date> = <st1:time Minute="40" Hour="17">5:40 PM</st1:time> To: = deanmay@pianorebuilders.com; 'Pianotech' Subject: RE: How to explain a pitch adjustment <o:p> </o:p> <DIV> Dean --<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV>  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> At how many cents off pitch do you consider a pitch adjustment necessary?<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV>  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> -- Geoff Sykes<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> -- Assoc. <st1:City><st1:place>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; = MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in"> -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] = On Behalf Of Dean = May Sent: <st1:date = Year="2005" Day="20" Month="12">Tuesday, December 20, = 2005</st1:date> = <st1:time Minute="54" Hour="13">1:54 PM</st1:time> To: 'Pianotech' Subject: RE: How to explain a = pitch adjustment<o:p></o:p> I find it very helpful to “pre-sell” the pitch raise. When a = new customer calls we quote our normal rate ($85) and ask how long it has been since the = last tuning. We then explain that if the piano is real bad it could be up = to $150 because it will require more work to get it into shape. (My rule of = thumb for charges is take the worst note out of tune and add $1/cent to my = basic rate, up to the maximum of $150.) There may also be additional = charges for minor repair and/or adjustments. Most people do not balk at all at = the cost. They are expecting to pay more on a piano that hasn’t been = tuned for many years. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Then when I get to the job I don’t ever have to sell a pitch raise. = It is pre-sold. They may ask if it is going to take the pitch raise, but = they’ve already committed to paying it or I wouldn’t have the = appointment. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Being up front like this eliminates the perception that you are just = trying to “upsell” a job. They know before you come out what the = possibilities are. Before I started doing this several years ago I faced the same = struggle you are. Since we started doing the pre-sell, I am actually doing more = pitch raises at a much higher price.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <DIV> Dean<o:p></o:p> Dean = May           &n= bsp; cell 812.239.3359<o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272<o:p></o:p> <st1:place><st1:City>Terre Haute</st1:City> = <st1:State>IN</st1:State>  = <st1:PostalCode>47802</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><o:p></o:p></DIV> <o:p> </o:p> -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] = On Behalf Of Geoff = Sykes Sent: <st1:date = Year="2005" Day="20" Month="12">Tuesday, December 20, = 2005</st1:date> = <st1:time Minute="45" Hour="15">3:45 PM</st1:time> To: Pianotech@Ptg. = Org Subject: How to explain a = pitch adjustment<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <DIV> Greetings all --<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV>  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> Many pianos need a = pitch adjustment prior to tuning. Usually because it hasn't been touched = in five years. Therefore, like many of you I'm sure, I frequently find = myself having to explain to customers what a pitch adjustment is, and why their = piano needs one prior to tuning. I have found that car analogies often = help when explaining things but I have not been able to come up with one that = would help with a pitch adjustment. Even after explaining, as simply as I = know how, the relationship of the incredible string tension across = the plate and why it needs to be equalized before a fine tuning will = hold, I often feel like I'm coming off trying to sell them something bogus. = How do you people explain pitch adjustments to your customers whose piano = needs it so that they not only understand what it is but why it's = important that their piano gets one prior to tuning?<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV>  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> -- Geoff Sykes<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> -- Assoc. <st1:City><st1:place>Los = Angeles</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></DIV></BLOCKQ= UOTE></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>