FEEDBACK REQUESTED

[C. Mike Swendsen]

Hi Larry
In my practice I make it a point to do estimates free, and I think most
other pianotechs do as well.  In most other trades the estimates are free.
I do charge however; for an appraisal and sometimes thats all the people
want so I discuss with them on the phone what it is that they want and let
them know that an extimate can possily bring in a paying job but if there is
no chance of my getting money for my efforts then they should expect to have
to pay.

Hope that helps.   Mike Swendsen
>Hi All,
>
>I thought this forum would be a good sounding board for some feed back
>concerning an event that happened to me recently.
>
>     A customer calls and says they want me to restore their upright piano, and
>I tell them initially that the cost could be around $2000-2500 for a typical
>restoration not including refinishing and providing the piano is worth it to
>begin with.  This being understood, the customer has me come out and do an
>estimate anyway.  On paper I show them that indeed the restoration comes to
>around $2200 and proceed to tell them that the estimate is $35 for the house
>call and that the $35 will be taken off the final bill if they decide to have
>the work done.  They inform me that they won't pay it because I didn't tell
>them in advance that the estimate would cost them and they wouldn't have had me
>come out it they knew it would cost them.
>
>     It boiled down to two statements.  Me saying to the customer, "I never
told
>you this was free." and the customer saying, "You never told me it would cost
>me."
>
>     I'm open for comments here.  I'm toying with the idea of mailing the
>responses to the customer, so please indicate if you would like to remain
>annonymous.
>
>     It's only $35, but I'm at odds with the reasoning.  Usually I don't have
>to deal with this sort of thing, my clientelle knows I don't work for free.
>The customer knew the estimate ball park previous to the call, and had no
>intention of spending that much for the job, but still had me come out anyway.
>
>Larry Fisher 11/11/95
>
>
>
>
>
>
>--- Larry Fisher RPT, Portland Metro's Authority on PianoDisc Systems
>        For more information call (360) 256-2999 in Vancouver, Wa.
>                      or email larryf@pacifier.com
>
>
>