<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2600.0" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff background=""> <DIV><FONT size=2>Greg:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I wasn't putting my comments out as a criticism so = much as an observation on my own encounters with such instruments.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>David Love</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=Tunapiana440@cox.net = href="mailto:Tunapiana440@cox.net">Greg T</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> May 05, 2002 11:42 = AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: "Old School = Teachings" - Little Story & Confession</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>David,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I always strive for excellence in my = work, as we all should. But I can't tell you how many times I have driven = many miles for a service call only to find a PSO clunker that is horribly = out of tune and half the keys don't work because of broken & missing = parts, etc, etc, but the customer says something like "This was my = grandmother's piano. I just want to be able to plunk out a few melodies". Given the situation/parameters mentioned why would one be concerned = about it being a bad reflection on their work? It is a reflection = on the client. I don't think my reputation as a good technician will be = damaged in the least by me making the effort to make that old clunker "playable" for the customer. I just do the best I = can and then move on, hopefully to find a better piano to tune at my next appointment...</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Best,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Greg</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>   </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><EM><STRONG>David Love wrote:<BR></STRONG></EM></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><EM>I missed a bit of this thread but = the problem with doing this type of thing, even if the customer seems satisfied, = is that the quality of the tuning reflects on you to others who may hear = it.  Though you can't make a silk purse..., I do tend to think about the = quality of the product I leave behind and how it might reflect on my own reputation.  If a customer wants to pay only a minimum charge, = but you know the piano will need more to even get it reasonably in tune, and = it is likely that you won't see this customer ever again--or at least for = another 10 years, then (even though I still take the job) I often wonder if it's = really worth it.<BR><BR>David Love</EM></FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><BR>----- Original Message ----- = <BR>From: Greg T <BR>To: pianotech@ptg.org <BR>Sent: May 05, 2002 10:32 AM<BR>Subject: = Re: "Old School Teachings" - Little Story & Confession<BR><BR><BR>I totally = agree with the reply below mine...<BR><BR>Maybe that (customer/situation) is = why the "tooners" of the "old school teachnings" did some of the things they = did and a was not so much a reflection of their skill level...<BR><BR>IMO the = best one can do is to simply do one's best, given the parameters of the = situation, and not worry so much about what a previous "tooner" did...<BR><BR>Best,<BR>Greg<BR><BR>----- Original Message ----- = <BR>From: Kevin E. Ramsey <BR>To: pianotech@ptg.org <BR>Sent: Wednesday, April = 24, 2002 9:04 PM<BR>Subject: Re: "Old School Teachings" - Little Story & Confession<BR><BR><BR>    Terry, your customer dictated = the terms of service, you didn't. Let her define the level of service she = wants, if that's what she wants from you. You gave her what she wanted and = what she was willing to pay for; there's no reason for you to have your "tail = between your legs". <BR><BR>Kevin E. = Ramsey<BR>ramsey@extremezone.com<BR><BR>The short story is I tuned that thing in 45 minutes and left it 15 cents flat. = It was the worst tuning I have ever done, and I even skipped the few notes in = the high treble that were lacking hammers and/or hammer felt!<BR><BR>I = still claim to be Mr. "A440 or else!", but golly gosh, I guess there are times = when alternatives are in order - not often, but sometimes.<BR><BR>With tail = between legs,<BR><BR>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>