Free estimates

[Piano Services Tech Dept]

We have chosen a win win policy for "free estimates" that has worked very
well.
We charge the customer $65 for the estimate and then apply it towards the
work if they have us service the piano. This has completely cuts out the
shoppers who are either not serious or just cheap or are other technicians
customers doing a favor for their tuner,( Ask me how I know!). No more
driving around looking at pianos that someone got for free and wants to fix
it for $50.
We have found that serious piano owners appreciate the fact they are
receiving a staite-forward estimate since we are being paid for our time and
knowledge and they will not be charged since we will be doing the work
anyway.

Regards,

Ed Mashburn,RPT
Piano Services of Florida,Inc.

P.S. We are buying Art Case pianos in any condition.
        941-924-0722


----- Original Message -----
From: <Pianofxrguy@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, June 02, 2000 7:54 AM
Subject: Re: Free estimates


> In a message dated 06/02/2000 6:28:23 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
> cedel@supernet.com writes:
>
> << I usually tell clients that businesses which offer free estimates are
> usually
>  those which sell big ticket items, such as builders, but that I can't
afford
> to
>  give a free estimate on what might be a relatively inexpensive job.  Do
> those of
>  you who rebuild pianos give free estimates?  I would consider that a
bigger
> job,
>  but I would guess clients frequently abandon the idea of rebuilding when
> they find
>  out what it will cost. >>
>
> I used to charge a nominal fee for an estimate and then tell them that if
> they chose to do the work, I would take the estimate fee off the top. That
> sort of worked. Now there are a couple of other local guys who give free
> estimates, so I am kind of trapped. I am considering going back to the
other
> plan because I think the other guys are overcharging to make up for the
lost
> ones, since I do not do that I am kind of cutting my own throat.
>     John Stroup
>