What we charge?

[David ilvedson]

I'm having a "Roto Rooter" guy come to my house next week 
to run my main sewer line with his 4" blades and then a foam 
treatment.  This lasts me a year (quaranteed but I've never had 
call them back).  Before the regular annual treatment I would 
have someone out every 6 months or so when I had an 
emergency.  I pay $127.50 for this service.  There is very little 
skill, mostly muscle, involved but he does have specialized 
equipment and the foaming agent.  He is here for about a 1/2 
hour.  When I wonder about my prices I look no further than 
plumbers or such who go to the home.  In general I think we 
undervalue our highly skilled service. 

David I.

From:           	"Brian Trout" <btrout@desupernet.net>
To:             	<pianotech@ptg.org>
Subject:        	What we charge?
Date sent:      	Wed, 26 Jan 2000 13:36:57 -0500
Send reply to:  	pianotech@ptg.org

> Hi Wim,
> 
> You wrote:
> > I know it is against the law to talk about how much we charge...
> 
> Is it really?  This is one of those things I'd like to know more
> specifically about.
> 
> Why is it against the law to talk about how much I charge?  If somebody
> calls me on the phone and wants to know how much I charge for a piano
> tuning, it's $65 plus tax.  That's what I charge.  There are others in my
> area who are higher.  There are a few who are lower.  Frankly, I don't care
> what other people are charging, beyond curiosity.  I have set my price
> according to what I believe is appropriate for me.
> 
> When we call a professional in another trade, say the furnace repair guy, do
> we expect to know what he charges his customers?  I would certainly hope so.
> Does he know what his competition charges?  Probably.  I would hope so.
> Does that mean they've reached a 'back alley agreement' as to what they're
> going to charge all of their customers?  I seriously doubt it, although
> THAT'S what I would consider to be price fixing, conspiring with others in
> your trade to fix prices...  I can see that this type of practice could be
> considered to be less than legal.
> 
> My point is, I charge what I charge, irrespective of what you charge.  My
> prices are not a secret.  This idea that we can't discuss what we believe
> are fair prices in our markets doesn't make any sense to me, especially
> considering the geography between us.  It doesn't mean we'll all charge the
> same prices.  We may or may not.  Business people, piano technicians in
> particular, tend to find the price points where they are most comfortable
> anyway.  Some will want to be "pretty much where the average is".  Some will
> want to be a cut above in quality and service, and charge higher prices to
> match.  Some will make it their point to be a couple of dollars cheaper than
> anyone else in the book.  And none of them are necessarily right or wrong.
> But when you can call a dozen different tuners in the phone book, and get a
> half dozen different prices for a piano tuning...  well, I think the price
> fixing arguments tend to be a bit more shaky.
> 
> I would rather tend to think that there would be less chance of those 'back
> alley agreements' if we were all up front and open about our charges.  I've
> got nothing to hide.
> 
> Just my take.
> 
> Best wishes,
> 
> Brian Trout
> Quarryville, PA
> btrout@desupernet.net
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 


David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA
ilvey@jps.net