<HTML>In a message dated 8/31/2002 8:44:55 PM Pacific Daylight Time, bigda@gte.net writes:         Hi Dave         But Dave what is that we can do short of boycotting working for Stwy dealers and new Stwy owner. When you say why do we put up with it, what is IT that can be done. Plenty of techs have complained to no avail. What about a petition? If  Thousands of techs signed it would this change the way they do business? Honestly petitions don't work often even in government. I'm calmly asking a fair question. what is it you suggest?    Many of us sell many a remanufactured Stwy based on that mine and others often sound better, play better for usually less money than the new ones as the client did compare ours with the unprepared ones at the dealer and chose to buy remanufactured.  Politically speaking they're good for business even though I think expensive pianos of any make should come more finished. But I stress that's just MY opinion.     There is a lot of carping about "the way Stwy does it" but don't they have the right to put out a piano any way they wish? Even if we disagree. I for one and for selfish reasons am glad the company survives. By the way we carp about many products made by corporate America. We don't have to buy, sell or fix them.    Like it or not Steinway is the industry leader or one of them. They're the piano that all others are compared to. I wish mine were but I'm not that famous. Nevertheless. I see this as a personal integrity issue for those most offended by the Steinway Corporation.     For example a true environmentalist does not throw a way things that can be recycled, eat at Mickey Ds and toss away the styra -foam containers, or feed bears at Yellowstone. Why? because of their convictions. No, not felonies, personal ones.        My point is that for all techs who can't abide the Factory policies on advertising, the actions that need to be tweaked, (a pedantic factory attitude, or however you perceive it) and hold such strong Anti- Steinway feelings should simply refuse to support them in any way shape or form. This includes refusing to take another dollar from the Steinway business at large whether it be private clients or Stwy dealers. This includes not selling rebuilds,Installing soundboards fixing actions etc. I think this mode of action would be consistent with true conviction.    However this would put many out of business including me. It would seriously damage the income levels of most who would follow through on this strongly held convictions. Our nations musicians/pianists would be the poorer for it. Performances would suffer etc.     My point is money talks and unless a company,corp. or individual is subject to economic hardship, changes we perceive that need to be made, will not be made.     My own position is that I wish to make a substantial difference on the Stwys that come to me as raw material thereby providing a level of musical experience hopefully that is becoming  more common by the efforts of myself and many like you on this list. And yes profit by it, artistically,professionally and financially.    I owe Steinway a HUGE debt even if I don't happen to agree with some of their business philosophies. For the record I didn't say that I have or haven't. Just my slant on things. No flame suit required.    yes The dialogue continues     Dale Erwin <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Disgraceful.  Other manufacturers don't do this on a consistent basis.  Why do we put up with this from American Steinway?  The basic instruments are good if not great, but they pretty much all need a Stanwood-type tweak. This has been the dirty little secret about American Steinways for decades.  A big part of Keith Hardesty's business when he was alive was tweaking the actions of new Steinways for serious players and performance venues.... The dialogue continues....... David Andersen</BLOCKQUOTE> </HTML>