Billing dealers

[Jon Page]

Yeah Lar, I know what you mean.

There is a dealer closer to Boston which I have dealings with from time to 
time.

A whiner from the start and changed a clear-cut, above-board arrangement
into a shady, self-serving bait & switch kind of thing.   A used S&S M or L
was left on consignment with him for16K. Four months later found out he put a
price of 22K on it to make his rebuilt units for 28K look more attractive.

I took the piano out and 'never had time' to come in and fix some little 
technical
thing or other his 'normal' guys couldn't fix, for more than a year.  I did 
decide to
place another piano on consignment but with the written stipulation that 
his option
was for 30 days, if not sold, out it comes.

That has worked out well on a few other pianos I left with him, incentive;
move it or loose it.  For some reason a piano will sell for 50% more, 60 miles
closer to Boston. A store front has a lot to do with it too.

However, on services rendered a check was always written when the bill was 
presented.
This is good business practice. But I am still amused with the 
whinning.  If he procrastinated
on payment, as the guy with you, I certainly would not have dealings with 
him in the future.

I don't know  how much you depend on this dealer for work but I would 
consider not
accepting more service calls until past debts are paid and insist on being 
paid within
seven days (if not immediately).  Increase your rates dramatically across 
the board and
offer him a discount for a timely remittance.

He is being cheap and manipulative but you should push right back and demand
you just compensation. He will actually respect you more for it in a whinny 
kind of way.

Don't take this kind of crap from a prosperous dealer.

Best,

Jon Page
At 06:55 AM 06/15/2000 -0800, you wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>I recently had another run in with a local dealer that has a personal
>problem with himself, .........  he's let his success make his head so big
>his shoulders don't hold it up anymore.  Don't get me wrong, he's putting
>pianos in homes all over the place and I'm very greatful for that.  We all
>could use more of that.  Where I got the problem is he's exerting his
>dominance on his support structure by not paying in a timely way.  After
>numerous verbal agreements failed, I resorted to charging him 18 percent
>interrest on unpaid amounts beyond 30 days with a two percent discount
>incentive to pay in 10 days.  He called yesterday and whined all over my
>shoulder.  I had to hurry home and change my shirt plus I refused to get my
>knees dirty with this guy.
>
>If you are working for a dealer as a direct employee, and you repeatedly
>get your check late, look into the Labor and Industry regulations regarding
>this.  I believe there are some serious rules regarding this.
>
>If you are doing calls for a dealer on an independent basis, and the dealer
>is notorious for not paying promptly, do yourself a favor and protect your
>investment.  You have time invested in every invoice, this time is
>converted into money, but only if the dealer pays.  The sooner he pays, the
>sooner you get the benefit of your money in your account, not his.  Should
>the dealer go under while he still owes you money, you're protected.  The
>creditors will pay you before other debts that don't have interrest
>accumulating.  I've seen lots of dealers go under in the 30 some odd years
>of service, and each one owed me money.  I never got any of it.  This is
>the first dealer I've had to resort to charging interrest with.  Charging a
>dealer interrest is no guarantee that you'll be paid, but it's a nice
>investment return that holds up in court.
>
>Some things to watch for when dealing with a dealer that is "jacking you
>around".
>
>Lies
>Late payment
>incomplete payments
>lost invoices
>revolving bookkeepers
>emotional behavior
>
>There's probably a few more but that's enough for now.  All of the above
>mentioned items are used to gain control.  When discussing details with
>these types of people, have your goals firmly in hand before talking.  Make
>damn sure you're in the right, and within reason.  Business first, emotions
>never!!  Let the controller dance and cry and rant.  It's quite a show but
>affects me little.  Frustration will eventually steer the controller away
>from you to softer more adventuresome prey.
>
>I hope this email finds y'all in good health, prosperous times, and
>SINGLE!!!  YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
>Lar
>
>
>                                     Larry Fisher RPT
>    specialist in players, retrofits, and other complicated stuff
>       phone 360-256-2999 or email larryf@pacifier.com
>          http://www.pacifier.com/~larryf/ (revised 10/96)
>            Beau Dahnker pianos work best under water

Jon Page,   piano technician
Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass.
mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net
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