<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> Good for you ! !    When I take on a job like this, I tell my hireee that, I am working for her/him , but I will do as honest a job as I can. If she has something else in mind, I will not be a party to it. Most people agree that is the best policy. What they do when I'm not there, is their business, but I cover myself by telling them the truth as I see it.  Good idea to write your agreement with this person down somewhere, in case it comes up again. Wonder how much the military paid for all that stuff we see in their stores ? ? Can't remember the name of the store. Carl / Winnipeg "Kevin E. Ramsey" wrote: <blockquote TYPE=CITE><style></style> Good for you, David.. And don't forget,,you helped pay for the instrument in the first place.Kevin <blockquote 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">From: <a href="mailto:drjazzca@yahoo.ca" title="drjazzca@yahoo.ca">David Renaud</a></div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial">To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" title="pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a></div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial">Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 2:43 PM</div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial">Subject: moral dilemma/ estimate</div>  An estimate for a public school teacher. She's hired me, she works for the school. Yahama Apt. size piano, not bad, needs minor work. Hairline soundboard crack, not open, at pitch, not too much wear, about 15 years old. Apparently the school is now uses electric keyboards; is willing to sell said piano to her. She evicts 2 other teachers from the room, and explains;" she wants to be alone with me because she, "Wants me not to be honest" "wants a high estimate", and proceeds to explain how she thinks she can get the piano for about $1000(Canadian money....about $600US.) She then makes clear I am not to communicate with the school, but will be using my estimate to get what she wants.    Several issues come to mind. First, a client does not dictate what an estimate must look like. She thinks she can orchestrate the details because she is hiring me. I don't think so. I advocate for a client hiring me, buyer or seller, and act accordingly, but within reasonable limits based on defendable valuations. Secondly, she is a public servant, working for the very institution she is actively trying to rip off. I see no sense of obligation to look out for the interests of the corporation she works for. I told her this, and also told her if she worked for my company I would fire her. The same schools that are crying no money for books and activities have teachers attempting to suck the system for thousands of extra dollars. I happen to know this same school closed a wood-shop. What do you think of a teacher getting ahold of most of the tools for a song, for example $20 brings a giant lath home. Polish it up and offer it privately for a $800 value. I was booked to go to the lady's home after the estimate to tune and fix a few things. So between  this and the estimate I just walked away from half a days work. I have heard it said "never let pride get in the way of makn money" well.... today I beg to disagree.               grrrrrrrrrrrr               David Renaud               RPT               Canada                                                 ______________________________________________________________________ Post your free ad now! <a href="http://personals.yahoo.ca">http://personals.yahoo.ca</a> _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: <a href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</a></blockquote> </blockquote> </body> </html>