<html> <body> Alan, <x-tab>        </x-tab>Personally, I would send the letter but edit out all of the middle where you discuss other businesses and other tuners. Other than that you are extending the hand of peace. At 05:47 PM 4/21/2005, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Had to happen sooner or later. Visit people who don't play much, tune annual. He's nice. She was okay in past. She not home. Sit at piano. 20+ cents flat after period of high humidity around here. Tell him it needs pitch correction. Work on piano for 2 1/2 hours. She's now home, comes in as I'm trying to take a little Story & Clarke wine out of the unisons. Scowl. "We have places to go today! How much longer is this going to take?" Oh, says I, I'm just finishing up. "How much."  Well it needed pitch correction, you see, blah blah blah, so it's $140 today.   [Insert sound of Banshee With Bellyache here]   "Why, we haven't even moved that piano." (Me: chuff, hrgmff, choke ...)    {Caution Serious Rant Zone Ahead}   WHAT THE HELL IS IT WITH THIS 'MOVING THE PIANO CRAP'? EVERYONE KNOWS(!) THATS WHAT MAKES PIANOS NEED TUNING (puff puff pant) DID THE GOVERNMENT USED TO PRINT THAT FACTOID(???!!!) ON CEREAL BOXES OR WHAT? SEEMS MOST FOLKS DON'T KNOW A $#*%&* THING ELSE ABOUT THEIR PIANO BUT IF YOU ROLL IT 3 INCHES, THAT'S WHEN YOU GOTTA CALL THE TUNER (OR IF A KEY IS 'STICKING.') OTHER THAN THAT, IT CAN EASILY GO ANOTHER 15 YEARS AND SOUNDS JUST BLOODY GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!   "Last time you were here you only charged me $50." No, Ma'am. It was $65 a couple of years ago. Now it's $80 plus you needed the pitch raise.   Tried to explain. She wrote a check. I said, just pay me what you think it's worth. She paid the full amount.   She won't be using me next time. That's okay. She will undoubtedly tell everyone in her church--and it's a small community here--and anyone else who'll listen that I am a rotten crook and I charge $140 to tune a piano--that hasn't even been moved! That's not okay. Damn.   I never raised my voice.   I've attached the letter I've prepared to send her. Before I seal it and send it, if any of you kind folks want to look it over and tell me I'm right on, crazy, or both, I'd appreciate it. All comments welcome. Maybe some ideas for people with similar customer relations disasters are here, too ...   Alan R. Barnard Trying to Thicken My Skin Without Thickening My Skull in Salem, MO (Man, that's just plain thick! Thorry.)   -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.10.1 - Release Date: 04/20/2005 _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: <a href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives"= eudora="autourl">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</a></block= quote> <x-sigsep></x-sigsep> Greg Newell Greg's piano Forté <a href="mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net"= eudora="autourl">mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net</a></body> </html>