List et all Depending on how many pulls I have to give to the piano, I charge a 30% of the tuning per pull. I normaly explain to the customer all what is to be done, I tell him it will need several tunings at shorter intervals if it does, and I am very careful to specifie it in the receit. Plus I have my own computer receits, and on their back I have printed recommendations I called it " How to make your piano last longer" and I mention general rules for New tunings or very flat pianos, humidity, piano finish. I always insist for the client to read it. I never live it up to the customer to call me, I schedule it in the computer when the time is due I call him, you would be surprised the amount of times i received this type of answers, quote: 1 "Oh Mr. Degen, glad you called me, I know the tuning is due, but I cannot find your phone number. I also insert in the piano (I mentioned it before ) a life sheet, it contains my number, they donīt even remember about that... 2 "Glad you called me, I have been so busy, I keep forgeting to call you.... These are customers that could be lost otherwise, if you live it up to them they will never call. The ones that remember a high initial price are very few, and normaly the ones that keep complaining after they had a good explanation and a good job are not desireable customers. 90% of the times new customers require PR and other details, so initial price normaly is higher. The ones I handled to whom I specified everything, explained everything, and did a good job, sometimes live because (that is my opinion) as time goes by they have no point of comparision. One day they will tell you they think you are to expensive and live. 60% of thos customers call me back on the turn of a year max two. the other 40% I am not interested in them (other technicians are also allowed to live ) about Clydes post, Even though sometimes it is tempting to punish some of your customers I have my own rules about charging pitch rises. I have an idea of the time it takes me, I know that roughly i spent the equivalent of 1/3 of what it takes me to tune a piano that I service regularly. so I charge 30% more. Elian Degen Piano Tuner and Technician Caracas, Venezuela degen@telcel.net.ve Phone 58-2-748547/ 58-14-9222981 Fax 58-2-748547 -----Mensaje original----- De: Jon Page <jpage@capecod.net> Para: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org> CC: WallyTS@iname.com <WallyTS@iname.com> Fecha: Martes, 24 de Noviembre de 1998 08:56 a.m. Asunto: Re: Charging for pitch raises >Wally, >I charge less for a p/r as you but I also have a different approach >for some customers. > >If the piano is flat, I will p/r & rough tune for my normal fee and advise >a follow-up tuning in a few weeks to a month and explain that it will be >drifting out of tune due to the tension change and they will notice it >first in the extremes. > >I could have scheduled it then or they could call. This impresses upon >them the idea of frequent tuning. If they called fine, they are the better >off; if not, then they are not a serious customer for me to bend over >backwards for. I also am able to remain on schedule by not interjecting >extra time on one piano. It was not my fault that the piano was flat so I did >not worry that I could not put more time into it. > >More times than not, the quick service call is sufficient for them and >they do not get it re-tuned until they feel it needs it again. Either way >I have done the best I could for the price and they have a piano which >is in tune enough for them and they do not feel I have sold them a bill >of goods with extra expenses. > >Then with the next tuning, if sooner than 10 years, The piano will be >closer to pitch and possibly another p/r-tuning will make it more stable >or it could be just a straight tuning. > >Here again, first inquiring of the use of the piano: no lessons, parties >or accompanying. > >Jon Page >Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. (jpage@capecod.net) >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >At 06:47 AM 11/24/98 -0500, you wrote: >>Ted, >> >>This in response to your note about the Whitney spinet: >> >>Different technicians go about charging for pitch raises, and other jobs, >>in different ways. Each one of us charges as he wishes according to the >>local market and conscience dictates. In my area I only charge a set fee >>for tunings and then charge all other work by the hour, actually by the 1/4 >>hour. A pitch raise generally only takes me a half hour in addition to the >>tuning, so I only charge for a half hour of extra labor. If I see that >>there may be a possibility for a string breaking, I will inform the >>customer and explain what the charges may be; the type of piano you mention >>may be more troublesome, and therefore warrant a higher price. >> >>I talked to a friend of mine recently (not a PTG member) who charges more >>for the pitch raise than for the tuning. He reasoned that since the >>customer had neglected the piano for so long, he was justified. It seemed >>to me his attitude was that of "punishing" the customer for not taking care >>of the piano. >> >>My philosophy is that my charges should be related more closely to the >>actual work I do on the particular piano in question. That way I can say I >>am being fair to my customers and will hopefully establish a "regular" >>clientele. >> >>I realize that others have a different philosophy about charging for their >>services, which is why they may make a better living than I do. Oh, well, >>maybe I should learn a few things from them. I'm still learning this >>business. >> >>Please, any responses, reply directly as I am signed off the list until I >>get some research projects done for school. >> >>Sincerely, >> >>Wally Scherer, Piano Technician, Norfolk, Virginia, USA >>Associate member of the PTG, Hampton Roads, Va. chapter >>mailto:WallyTS@iName.com >>Web page: http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/2411 >>"Old piano tuners don't die - they just go beatless!" >> >> >> >>
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