Being a good business person

If you read my current status update you may know what's coming....

I had the piano tuned Monday when I was out of town.  So the hubby was holding down the fort while the guy was there.  I told the hubby to expect to pay around $65 for the tuning as I had been told by my piano teacher this was the going rate.  I found out later that the tuner charged him $110!!  I couldn't blame the hubby because he didn't really know any  better - he knows nothing about pianos or going rates, etc.  He was told the piano had to be tuned "twice" and normally the guy charge $130+ but he gave us a "deal" and only charged $110.  Did I mention that he never mentioned any of this until the work was complete???

Needless to say I was HOT!  As soon as I found out I called my piano teacher to see if what he claimed was feasible.  (let's face it  I really don't know squat about piano tuning either....)  She and another musician confirmed I essentially got conned.

So today I called to let them (tuner and his wife) know I will no longer be using their services because I felt taken advantage of and they were unprofessional in how they handled the tuning.  Needless to say this didn't go over well....

me:  Hi, your husband came to tune last week when I was out of town.  After discussing the situation with my husband I am very concerned about what happened.......  the charge was much higher than expected and the excuse was it required a "double tune", which it didn't.  (this I do know for a fact.  I had 2 notes ever so slightly out of tune....  I have an electronic tuner...)  I felt very taken advantage of  and the way it was handled was very unprofessional.

Wife: Well, why don't you wait until Husband gets home to discuss it with him.  But we didn't quote you anything so how do you know how much it was supposed to cost?  It hadn't been tuned in over a year so it HAD to have a double tuning.

me: That's part of my issue.  I never was given a quote and I assumed it was the going rate of $65.

Wife:  THAT's not the going rate!  We charge $85! 

me:  I'm not arguing to get any money back.  I'm calling to let you know that we will no longer be using your services and I was going to explain why in the event you want to change your future business practices for new customers.

Oops.  Apparently the "we're not going to use you any more" really set her off.  The next thing I know she's going OFF on me, defending how they do business...

Wife:  Your husband should have asked how much it was.  He was there!!

me:  This has nothing to do with my husband.  He doesn't know anything about pianos or music. 

Wife:  Well it sound to me that the communication is in YOUR household, not ours!

me: EXCUSE ME?!?!  I really don't appreciate what your saying. 

Wife continues to argue with me (even though I'm really cool as a cucumber.  I'm not arguing at all. Ok, maybe I raised my voice a little when she tried to turn the tables on us....)

Finally I hear her away form the phone telling her husband:
Wife:  I'm too mad at her!  She can't be reasoned with !  YOU talk to her!  I'm DONE!

??????  really?  All I'm telling you is that we won't be using you anymore and why. 

Husband gets on the phone.  I reiterate in a nice, calm voice that we won't be using them again and if I were a business owner I'd want to to know why so I could better my business practices.

He was no better.

After I'd explained why I was calling:
Husband: Well, your husband was just standing there playingwith the dogs the whole time!

(??  did you expect him to HELP you tune the piano himself?? WTF?!?!  Anyone with dogs knows my hubby was keeping them occupied to stay of of tuners way...)

I went through the same crap with him as the wife.  We ended in the same spot.  Him going on and on, not letting me get a word in edge-wise.  The whole time I'm on the other end: "Sir, excuse me, sir.  If you'd please let me finish.  Hello, sir?  Please, allow me to finish."

He wouldn't stop so I finally hung up on him.

I really hate doing that.  Honestly I do.  But he wouldn't be quiet so I could wrap it up.  What an idiot!

My next call was to the store where I purchased my piano - and to the owner who had recommended this tuner.  Again, if I owned a business I'd like to know more about the guy I was recommending!!   So we'll see how this all works out in the end.

Actually, I'll tell you.  I'm getting a new tuner!!

NOTE:  I am very aware that my biggest mistake was not getting a quote up front.  However, that had no bearing on the guys sketchy business practices or the ridiculousness of the phone calls that followed.  Learn from my mistake - ALWAYS ask for a quote upfront!