<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <STYLE type=text/css>P { MARGIN: 0px } </STYLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rick,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>David is absolutely correct. Just do = the best work that you can and be patient. I've had plenty of customers use somebody else........once. And, when you get them back, DO NOT denigrate the = other tuner(s). Often, it is a matter of personal taste on the customer's = part. While it is true that we are "competitors" for business, it also true that our = common "foe" is actually the limits of the piano's abilities to sound and feel wonderful. Whenever another's tuner's name is mentioned, I always find = something positive to say about them. For one thing, I do not wish to disparage = the customer's taste or judgement. Yes, I may enjoy a moment of "victory" = later, after I have gotten the customer back; but, I keep that to myself. We = piano techs all need each other's knowledge, experience and insight in order = to best "Save The Music", to borrow a phrase. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Be patient and enjoy each opportunity = to service a piano. It IS a privilege.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Robin Blankenship</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=richard.ucci@att.net href="mailto:richard.ucci@att.net">richard.ucci@att.net</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=ilvey@sbcglobal.net href="mailto:ilvey@sbcglobal.net">ilvey@sbcglobal.net</A> ; <A title=pianotech@ptg.org = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, October 05, 2004 = 8:36 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: ethics = question</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <P>Thanks for the advice Dave,</P> <P> </P> <P>I think the fact that a strong bond was not yet created with them = had a lot to do with it, however I do have a strong bond with the womans father = who's piano I service and who was not pleased about the teachers = behavior.</P> <P> </P> <P>RU/UP<BR></P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px = solid">-------------- Original message from David Ilvedson <ILVEY@SBCGLOBAL.NET>: = -------------- <BR> <STYLE type=text/css> p { margin: 0px; } </STYLE> <P align=left>I'd call the teacher and tell him to quit = recommending the new tuner to your customers.   Don't get steamed on the phone = with the teacher.   What's wrong with that?   He = just may say OK unless you've really ticked him off somehow...;-]  </P> <P align=left> </P> <P align=left>On a related note...you will NEVER keep all your customers.   The best you can do is do top notch work and = be as friendly and interested in their piano/them as you can.   = I keep names of children, pets etc. in my database to refer to when = calling.  Most importantly keep the regular contact for service and that's all = you can do.  Creating some sort of personal bond with the = customers does beget loyalty.  That being said, I've lost oodles of customers = over the years...usually from my neglect of contact, they moved, quit playing = the piano and yes, sometimes another tuner is referred...</P> <P align=left> </P> <P align=left>David I.</P> <P align=left> </P> <P align=left> </P> <P align=left>----- Original message ----------------------------------------><BR>From: <<A = href="mailto:richard.ucci@att.net">richard.ucci@att.net</A>><BR>To: = <<A = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>><BR>Received: = Mon, 04 Oct 2004 19:32:08 +0000<BR>Subject: ethics question</P> <P align=left><BR>OK guys , here's the deal.</P> <P>A piano teacher I tuned for years ago, stopped using me for = reasons unknown, and started using a competitor.  He then started = telling clients who were mine originally and referred to him for teaching, = to use the other tuner.</P> <P> </P> <P>Last night I lost another one. The woman said," Oh we just had it = tuned.Our teacher suggested someone else. But if it doesn't = sound good later we'll call you". </P> <P> </P> <P>I replied ,"Thank you for your loyalty". "I'll certainly be = waiting by the phone for your call"." I am deleting you from my files, Good = Bye".</P> <P> </P> <P>Has this ever happened to you guys and what if anything can = I do about it and still be ethical. I deal with about fifteen or more = teachers now but I'm really starting to get steamed.</P> <P> </P> <P>Thanks,</P> <P>Rick Ucci/Ucci Piano</P></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>