Posted by
Bill Cherry on Sunday, July 20, 2008 12:16:50 AM
BILL CHERRY
I want to tell you of two recent and interesting experiences.
While in "real life" I am a Realtor, for years I have also tuned pianos. Why? Because I have always loved pianos. And I've played side gigs for more than 40 years. Why? Because I love pianos.
Now the way you find me is from a referral from one of your friends or from my piano tuner web site wee.billcherrypianotuner.com
And the web site makes clear what the price is, that I only take cash or check, and that there is no credit for anyone. Period.
And when people call to schedule my services, I tell them the price and that I must be paid by cash or check at the time of the tuning. No credit cards, no accounts payable.
Individuals understand this. And until recently, hotels did as well.
However,during the past two months both a Marriott brand and a Hilton's Doubletree in Dallas called at the last minute begging that I come quickly and tune the hotel's piano...they had a function that required the instrument be in tune.
I rearranged my schedule each time and tuned the pianos. And that's when the person who hired me told me that it was against the hotel's policy to pay at the time of service.
I would have to turn in my invoice and a 1099 and wait for a few days before the check would be sent to me. Nevermind that wasn't our deal!
"You knew the deal. You chose to deceive me"
And then I said, "You know if I brought six people in for dinner in your dining room, and when the waiter brought the bill, I told him I'd send my personal check in a few days, you would call security, wouldn't you?
"And that would be because I had no credit arrangements with you.
"Now you made no credit arrangements with me, yet I'm supposed to play by your rules because you are a national hotel chain."
So how did things come out? The Marriott took more than a month to pay me. The Hilton Doubletree near NorthPark still hasn't.