Tuning Rates are subjective on this list.

[Jay Mercier]

Good point here (below).  Local plumbers get $40 dollars just to show up 
at the door.  It's ridiculous around Glenwood because the average 
plant-shift worker only makes $8.00 per hour. I'm not saying that 
plumbers  shouldn't get paid for their work, but they are currently 
overpaid in our county.  

As far as tuning goes, there are many times I feel I deserve $75 dollars 
for the amount of work involved with jobs.  However, I'm in a position 
of risk.  I'm the only piano tuner in an area of 10,000 people and I 
travel quite a bit for the out-of-town jobs.  If I start charging more, 
people will start calling the other tuner who lives only 15 miles  away.  
He's an RPT and charges $50 dollars also.  
The bottom line is there is competition and living in a small town of 
hard-working families I can't simply charge a whole lot more than the 
other guy, especially because he's been around the area longer and is 
very well known.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jay 



>Jay,
>
>What does a plumber in your area get per hour to come to your 
>house?  You might want to see what other service professionals 
>make per hour in their work.  Our profession is very specialized 
>and I think many piano technicians tend to charge too little for 
>their work.  For your information when I started out in Minot, 
>North Dakota, after a year at WIT, this is in 1974, I was 
>charging $20.00 per tuning.  I was $5.00 more than the two other 
>guys.  
>
>David ilvedson, RPT
>Pacifica, CA
>
>David 
>
>> From:          "Jay Mercier" <jaymercier@hotmail.com>
>> To:            pianotech@ptg.org
>> Subject:       Tuning Rates are subjective on this list.
>> Date:          Wed, 25 Nov 1998 19:38:19 PST
>> Reply-to:      pianotech@ptg.org
>
>> Since this is not only a national but international usernet list, I'd 
>> say that all fees mentioned on this list are subjective.  The comment 
>> below - what part of the country is this applied?  - New York City?  
>> L.A.?  Maybe even a "smaller" city such as Cedar Rapids, IA.  I'm 
seeing 
>> a lot of the $75 dollar range on up here guys.  If I charged that 
rate 
>> where I live, I'd be out of business within 1 month!!!  I charge $50 
>> dollars for a tuning and $10 per pitch raise.  The average house in 
my 
>> town costs between $40,000 - $75,000 dollars, most people drive 5-10 
>> year-old automobiles and your average "going out to dinner" costs 
around 
>> $20 bucks for a family of four.  $50 dollars for a tuning around here 
is 
>> much more than "ends meat."  Just my 2 cents worth.
>> 
>> Jay Mercier
>> Piano Tech / Teacher
>> Glenwood, MN
>> >
>> >For those of you who are charging $75 for a tuning, but are taking 2 
>> hours to
>> >tune a piano, you are only making $37.50 per hour. Have you ever 
>> thought about
>> >the expenses involved in your work and your home? Have you figured 
out 
>> how
>> >much money you need to earn to make a living?  Try it once, and see 
if 
>> you are
>> >charging enough to make ends meet. 
>> >
>> >Willem Blees.
>> >
>> 
>> 
>> ______________________________________________________
>> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>> 
>> 
>David Ilvedson, RPT
>Pacifica, CA
>ilvey@jps.net
>


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