wage increasing reply

[pianoman]

----------
> From: Burnersman@aol.com
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: wage increasing
> Date: Saturday, September 13, 1997 7:59 AM
> Dear Ed,
I just went through the same thing in early August.  I had been $60.00 for
about 2 years and raised to $63.00 (5%).  I don't like to raise but I felt
I was slipping behind what I should have left over for fun things. 
Yesterday I tuned for a lady I hadn't tuned for since before 1982.  She has
since moved into the burbs (as have I) and her little Whitney spinet now
has 3 daughters to play on it.  She was not home from work when I arrived
and I found the piano to be -23c low.  I asked the daughters to reach her
on the phone and explained that IF I raised the pitch to A-440 the piano
should be tuned again in 1 month. She said she would and before I got off
the phone she asked me why I raised my prices so much compared to what I
used to charge. Whoa.  How much more do autos cost as compared to before
1982.  How about houses, how about anything?  I did the best I could with
the rage silently working at my skill level.  I didn't tell her how much
money she didn't spend on tuning since 1982 and a lot of other things I
wanted to.  I really hope she doesn't call back for the 1 month
appointment.
You have to make your work worthwhile to yourself as sometimes the client
doesn't agree with your expectations.
James Grebe
pianoman@inlink.com
> list
> 
> not to beat what I charge into the ground again but every 2 years I'm in
the
> same argument with myself. Is it time to raise prices?
> Aren"t you making enough? Where does the money go?
> All things in moderation they say but in todays world there are just to
many 
> things, or "stuff" as a comedian once put.
> for some reason i always fill guilty at the increase so i figure my
timing is
> about
> right.but for an hour in the home(i know there's more involved for one
apt.)
> our rates boggles my mind.
> I don'T like to mess with lil numbers so my rates change by $5.00.
> Sooooo my final argument to my self and those customers who do moan
> (I sometimes think your price is right if at least 1/3 of those billed do
> moan)
> my final argument is cost of living increase.
> so my list friends can any one please give me the cost of living increase
> over
> the last 2 years? 
> this would put my mind to rest and I could think worry about less
complicated
> things like did I kick the dog this morn. should I mow my grass on to my
> neighbors
> drive or should I buy that new Sears lawn tractor with plow wts. and
chains
> argh
> argh argh (tim allen noise ).
>  Help if you please it is seriously on my mind
> thank you
> 
> ed c
> akron o