Customers don't over- or underpay me

[Clyde Hollinger]

Lance (and other friends on the list),

Even if the guy never pays you the $525, you only lose $250 ($525 - $75
- $200 = $250).  Chances are, you rarely lose this much money in a
year's time (I hope), so you have reason to be thankful.

If I get to a home and no one is there to let me in, I wait 15 minutes
then leave a letter which says: 

"Dear Client,

When I arrived as scheduled I was unable to gain access to your piano.

If there was an unforeseen emergency that prevented you from being home,
please let us know.  We are very understanding, knowing there are
instances when the welfare of a friend or family member takes precedence
over piano service.

If this problem was due to an oversight on your part we recognize that
all of us make similar mistakes now and then.  Nevertheless, piano
technicians have little more to sell than their time and skills.  A
failed appointment means a significant loss, since it will now take two
appointments to service your piano when payment is received for only
one.  The extra time from the failed appointment can rarely be used
profitably.

We have developed the following policy if the second instance is the
case.  We are willing to absorb the loss for the first occurrence. 
Should the same happen again, you will be requested to pay half the
normal tuning charge, plus mileage costs if they apply.  Both of us wish
to be treated fairly, and from our viewpoint this policy appears more
than fair.

Please call if you would like to schedule another appointment.  Thank
you for understanding."

And I go off to get a cup of coffee and read the paper.  The above is
not copyrighted.  :-)  Feel free to use it.

Clyde Hollinger, RPT
Lititz, PA, USA

Lance Lafargue wrote:
> 
> In the last couple of months I have had at least three customers
> intentionally overpay me, I guess because they received more than they
> thought they would, etc.  One lady overpaid me $200 because she was so
> happy, last week $75 overpaid for a $300 job, etc.  (I'm charging $45/hr.)
>  THEN, last month a guy I worked for asked if I would allow him to pay me
> 1/2 in Feb and 1/2 in March since I did more work and charged more than he
> thought (I was open-ended on the original estimate because of the
> uncertainty of what would be needed, I was clear with him).  Now he's
> almost a month late with the balance ($525) and I'm getting a little
> nervous.
> 
> My point is just that there is such a difference in people and how they
> treat you, how they  (do or don't) appreciate you, etc.  I've learned never
> to be generous to one person just because everyone else seems so nice.  You
> just can't get mushy with the public!  But I KNEW that, I just got weak!!!!
> 
> P.S.
> I had a no-show from a customer who scheduled with me, then got another
> tuner out quicker than I could and forgot to cancel me.  She refuses to pay
> the $45.00 failed appointment charge because "I have nothing writing".
> What do you do with no-shows?  Do we have a case?
> 
> LANCE LAFARGUE, RPT
> LAFARGUE PIANO SERVICES
> New Orleans Chapter
> Mandeville, LA.
> _______________________________
> II III II III II III II III II III II III II III II III II III II
> -------------------------------------------------------
> lafargue@iamerica.net