Some excellent answers have come in to the question of discounting. I agree with the person who would ask the teacher if s/he would give daily lessons at the same cost as weekly. The PTG tech bulletins can make it easier to explain why it isn't possible for the tuner to "touch up" the tuning, and why other services might be needed. However, I can still think of at least two reasons to offer discounts; I do find it's important to keep them separate in my head. First, doing two or more tunings at one location saves travel time, and I think it's fair to share that with the client. I can charge less and still make at least the same hourly rate. Second, it is up to each technician to decide how advantageous it might be to offer an ADDITIONAL discount to an influential teacher or store, based on how much additional work might be generated, or how many referrals come in from them. This must be thought of as advertising, and doesn't have to be too large, LEST ONE DEVALUE ONE'S WORK.. While business realities might dictate some discounting in certain situations, too much of it and our clients focus on our price rather than our skill. I would rather charge full price (subject to quantity discounts) and give an occasional surprise free tuning rather than nibble away at every tuning fee, but each tuner's business situation is different. I have also found that nice music-related gifts, like bench covers or CD's of piano music or whatnot are a lot more fun, are less expensive (a fifteen-dollar CD seems bigger than a fifteen-dollar discount), are more thoughtful and therfore more appreciated than a discount, and stay separate from the money issue. By the way, I charge pretty much the same hourly rate whether I'm tuning or voicing or driving my car (although I must confess I don't refund ALL the savings in driving time when doing multiple tunings -- tuning is harder work than driving). A respected colleague of mine charges different rates for different skills -- more for voicing than for tuning,etc., because he says it's a more hard-won skill. What do you think? Bob Davis, RPT
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