Dealership Work-

[TunerJeff@aol.com]

Dear Larry,

     Everyone has a different policy for dealership work; Some folks charge a
premium price for such work. Others simply charge a standard customer rate.
Some refuse dealership altogether. (And some techs, like me... charge way
less.)

     My own policy is based on the notion that dealerships are good for my
business, good for piano awareness & use, and good for my customers. The
better my relations with dealerships, the more prosperous my business can
be... it's that simple.

     How much do I charge? Well... we aren't supposed to be "price-fixing"
here on the List, so; My standard fee is $??.??/tuning.

My tuning & service fee policies;

    All churches, schools, music and/or piano teachers recieve a 10%discount
(...offered as a <<10% PROMPT PAYMENT DISCOUNT/ NET 10 DAYS>>, just to hurry
things along. Bookkeepers cannot justify missing this discount when they get
reviewed or audited at year's end... it works.). All these folks can (and do)
refer new customers to me on a regular basis. I appreciate it, and I let them
know it, too. That 10% is also my donation to the betterment of Music in my
area (...I'm done now.... you can wade your way out of the gooey sentiment,
and wipe the self-serving muck from your boots.).

     Dealers get a whopping 25% discount for all first-service in-home calls.
My view is that I've just been handed a new customer! One who'll be there
generating income for me for the next 30 years (...or more, mebbe), and I am
thanking the dealer for the favor. Could have given it to someone else, now
couldn't they? I prefer to keep my relations with dealers on a good basis...
and they DO understand a discount. Each new customer gets my full support for
the dealership that sold them the piano, and (if possible) I try to mention
the salesman who sold the instrument, too. This discount is for the first
service call only! (That customer is MINE now, bubba.) I don't do kickbacks
or 'donations' for referrals either. All this is for the first call on a
freshly delivered piano and new owner.

 One thing to remember;
 *****As far as the customer is concerned, we are the dealership!*****
     We represent the dealer's interests when we walk throught that door, as
well as the customer's & and our own. Too many tuners seem to regard dealers
as an unavoidable evil... which has always struck me as (...at least)
illogical, and possibly downright STUPID. We need those dealers, our
customers need those dealers, and...well... heckfire! ... where would new
pianos come from without 'em!? (Duh!)

     Floor tunings (in store) are 50% discount from normal fee & no extra for
pitch raise.
     Floor service (in store) is at 50% my normal hourly/rate for repairs &
regulation.
     Home Tunings (as 'splained above) are 25%discount from standard fee.
     Home Service (Repairs or Regulation above normal tuning service) is
25%discount/hr.

     This breakdown keeps things easy to calculate. The Dealer is responsible
for any needed parts expense beyond a hammerhank or two. I charge for mileage
only beyond my service area... which doesn't happen much. (My "area"
stretches for some 200 miles along a thinly populated stretch of
Coastline...most everyone lives within 20-miles of the main (..er...only...)
highway.)

     Like most of us reputable tuner/tech guys, I include 10 to 15 minutes of
service (Fixing one or two broken notes, raising capstans, trapwork
adjustment, solving a ringing-damper or two, whacking in a couple of
rubber-buttons, tightening bench-legs or music rack... you know what mean...)
This kind of service is what seperates us from those 'tooners' who rush in,
tune a piano in 40 minutes, and dash out the door to the bank with the
customer's check. It's always nice to know that the instrument is in better
condition than you found it... and not just the tuning! The customer may not
remember (...or appreciate) your ability to tune... but they WILL remember
that you tightened that wobbly bench.

Hope this helps you,
Jeffrey T. Hickey  RPT

ps-
     Call me, if you REALLY must know what I charge. You won't be violating
any laws by calling (as a customer...) and simply asking about my fees. The
guvmint-boys won't give a d*** until/unless we all mysteriously start
charging the same rates. Shoot, you could even shop-around the country!
(...and let me know what you find!!!)

jef