There are a number of schools, correspondence
courses, apprenticeship situations where a technician can learn this trade
properly. Generally, schools which teach courses in piano technology,
offer full time one and two year courses in piano repair, are relatively
expensive, and require relocation. Correspondence courses are a good bit
less expensive, and allow the freedom of progressing at in the time
available to devote to it.
One of the by-products of these tip
sheets is consumer fear in a climate in which poor service can flourish.
I'm sure that the vast majority of piano technicians are honest people
doing their best to make an honest living. Some, and not many, piano
technicians are a bit on the commercial side. Very few, if any, are
trying to defraud the public, and those few who from time to time do are
pretty quickly put out of business.
But as in any competitive business
where the difference between competing products and services is often
based on the amount of commission a technician receives, small acts of
dishonesty gradually creep into the business in the form of distorted or
outright false technical claims, phony statements, and less-than-
satisfactory service. These practices evolve slowly and are so widespread,
they are passed off as "business as usual," rather than the disservice
that they really are.
There are a few unscrupulous technicians who will take a
cheap no-name brand of piano, clean it up, put a famous manufacturer's
decal on it and call it a "rebuilt Baldwin" or some other well known name. If
a piano name is not cast into the iron plate beware.
PIANO RE-BUILDERS
Novice re-builders are also somewhat at a
disadvantage. But even more experienced
re-builders often have a love/hate relationship with price guides-some
swear by them, and others swear at them! Usually, it's a matter of how
"fair" they perceive the guides to be.
There is no definite answer to the question "How
much do you charge to tune a piano?". until the technician can see and
evaluate your piano. Any piano technician who gives a price quote
otherwise may be neglecting an area of service that your piano may
require.
A few years ago the Piano Technicians Guild was
embarrassed when some members were found guilty of price fixing in Federal
Court. Rather than paying large fines, the membership of the P.T.G. was
restricted from ever discussing tuning and repair rates. So you
should call for an appointment.
Remember that no matter what level of testing a
technician has passed, the true measure of competency and honesty of a
piano technician can be found in the customer satisfaction level of his or
her clientele and the reputation he or she enjoys among their peers.
BROKERS AND CONSIGNMENT OPERATORS
These are usually people who are salespeople, they locate
and keep track of certain types of instruments (old Steinway, Mason &
Hamlin, etc.) who will advertise them in the newspaper and
sell them for private parties. Dealers will also often have pianos on
consignment, owned by private parties who split the profits with the
dealer. These are usually good values.
Remember, too, that the most
important single factor influencing a given piano's value is its
appearance (condition). Re-builders generally care less about how the item
operates than about how it looks, after all they intend to overhaul the
inner workings, however, checked varnish, dents, scratches, faded finish,
or damaged or missing parts all adversely affect this rating and are more
difficult to renew.
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