<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" = xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 9"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 9"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C4AAB8.EAF1B530">  <style>  </style>  </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue = style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> Robin wrote:<o:p></o:p> 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.<o:p></o:p> <!= [if = !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p> <!= [if = !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p> It= seems to me that our biggest foe is apathy on the part of multitudes of piano = owners to keep their instruments maintained. We have to do a better job of communicating the importance of regular maintenance. And we must have = systems in place for periodic reminders for call backs. If the average piano = owner only has their instrument tuned every 5 to 10 years, think what would happen = if we could cut that interval in half: we would double the total amount of = tunings done in any given year. That translates into greater demand for = everyone. <o:p></o:p> <!= [if = !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p> Th= ere is plenty of pie out there for everyone. We have to tap into it. That is = our challenge.<o:p></o:p> <!= [if = !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p> Dean<o:p></o:p><= /font> Dean May             cell = 812.239.3359<o:p></o:p></= p> PianoRebuilders.com   = 812.235.5272<o:p></o:p></= p> Terre Haute IN  47802<o:p></o:p> <= span class=EmailStyle18><![if = !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p> -----Original Message----- From: = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On = Behalf Of Robin Blankenship Sent: Tuesday, October = 05, 2004 8:31 AM To: Pianotech Subject: Re: ethics = question <![if = !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p> Rick,</fo= nt><o:p></o:p><= /p> 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. 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. = <o:p></o:p><= /p>  <o:p></o:p><= /p> Be patient and enjoy each opportunity to service a piano. It IS a = privilege.<o:p></o:p><= /p>  <o:p></o:p><= /p> Robin Blankenship<o:p></o:p> <div style='border:none;border-left:solid black 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in = 0in 4.0pt'> ----- Original Message ----- <o:p></o:p> <p class=MsoNormal = style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:39.75pt;background:#E4E4E4;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:so= lid black 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'> <div style='font-color:black'>From: <a href="mailto:richard.ucci@att.net" = title="richard.ucci@att.net">richard.ucci@att.net</a> </div> <o:p></o:p>= To: <a href="mailto:ilvey@sbcglobal.net" = title="ilvey@sbcglobal.net">ilvey@sbcglobal.net</a> ; <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" = title="pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</a> <o:p></o:p> Sent: Tuesday, = October 05, 2004 8:36 AM<o:p></o:p> Subject: RE: ethics question<o:p></o:p> <![if = !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p><= /p> Thanks for the advice Dave,<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o: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.<o:p></o:p><= /p>  <o:p></o:p><= /p> RU/UP<o:p></o:p><= /p> </div> <div style='border:none;border-left:solid #1010FF 1.5pt;padding:0in = 0in 0in 4.0pt'> <p class=MsoNormal = style='margin-right:.5in;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:= auto;margin-left:43.5pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid #1010FF = 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'>-------------- Original message from David Ilvedson <ILVEY@SBCGLOBAL.NET>: = -------------- <![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p>  <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'>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...;-]  <o:p></o:p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'> <o:p></o:p><= /p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'>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...<o:p></o:p><= /p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'> <o:p></o:p><= /p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'>David I.<o:p></o:p><= /p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'> <o:p></o:p><= /p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'> <o:p></o:p><= /p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'>----- Original message ----------------------------------------> From: <<a = href="mailto:richard.ucci@att.net">richard.ucci@att.net</a>> To: <<a = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>> Received: Mon, 04 Oct 2004 19:32:08 +0000 Subject: ethics question<o:p></o:p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'> OK guys , here's the deal.<o:p></o:p><= /p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p><= /p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'> <o:p></o:p><= /p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'>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". <o:p></o:p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'> <o:p></o:p><= /p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'>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".<o:p></o:p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'> <o:p></o:p><= /p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'> <o:p></o:p><= /p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'>Thanks,<o:p></o:p><= /p> <p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:43.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;border:none;mso-border-left-alt:= solid #1010FF 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'>Rick Ucci/Ucci Piano<o:p></o:p> </div> </div>  </body> </html>