PTG standards for pitch raises.

[Dick Beaton]

Sy my friend.....
AMEN....YOU HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD.
DICK   HELENA MT
-----Original Message-----
From: Sy Zabrocki <only4zab@imt.net>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Tuesday, November 24, 1998 11:56 PM
Subject: Re: PTG standards for pitch raises.


>Victor: from Sy Zabrocki
>You state you don't post often on the list. Maybe you should. Your
>paragraph on this topic makes more sense than all others in the last few
>days, IMHO. You state you can raise 50 cents and finish in one hour and ten
>minutes. I'll even do better than that. I'll raise 100 cents in 1½ hours
>and so can you Victor. Then tell them to have it tuned again in 6 months.
>
>Some say go back in a month. So what if the average family piano has
>settled 5 cents. Are we going to max out some struggling family's budget
>for 5 cents. I couldn't sleep  if I were charging all these exorbitant
>double and triple fees. Do we want to contribute to them quiting piano
>lessons?
>
>Are there experienced tuners who are just slow? Can't most do a rough pull
>in 15 minutes? Maybe that's why I can't figure why all the fuss about pitch
>raising.
>
>Punish your client if you want but let me tell you who will ultimately be
>punished. YOU!  I'm not going to explain that if you can't figure it out.
>You can holler, scream, teach, bitch, moan, preach, explain etc. and people
>still neglect their pianos. In 40 years I've not seen that condition
>change. So live with it, it comes with the territory. This is how I operate
>and I've got the repeat business to prove it.
>
>Pitching raising takes a little longer and charge a reasonable fee for it.
>Even double fee it too much in my book. Many tunings are so easy I find
>myself putting on the brakes so I don't get done too early. It works both
>ways.
>
>I've been loyal to PTG since 1964. If they ever tell me to charge double
>and triple fees I'll drop membership in a heart beat. In my opinion level
>heads float to the top at PTG and they won't do that. It would be nice if
>there was some guideline to follow. It's obvious nobody could probably
>agree anyway judging from the wide range of opinion posted on this list.
>
>Thanks again Victor for your paragraph which motivated me to support you.
>
>Sy Zabrocki--RPT
>
>
>
>
>
>----------
>> From: Victor Belanger <vbela@MIT.EDU>
>> To: pianotech@ptg.org
>> Subject: Re: PTG  standards for pitch raises.
>> Date: Tuesday, November 24, 1998 7:17 PM
>>
>> I don't say a whole lot on this site but I have a few thoughts on this
>one.
>> I don't charge pitch raises on a piano unless it is 50 cents flat.
>> I find it very hard to make extra money on something that takes me 15 to
>20
>> minutes and still finish the tuning at the latest one hour and ten
>minutes.
>> Being in the north eastern climate, and tuning a piano every six months I
>> would be charging pitch raises and lowerings every time! How do you
>explain
>> that one to the customer. Gee your piano is 25 to 30 cents flat or sharp.
>I
>> guess I have to charge you extra for a pitch raise.
>>
>> Where's the cut-off break?
>>
>> Victor Belanger
>>
>>
>>
>