Frequent tuner discounts, was Re: Let me introduce myself.

[Mike and Jane Spalding]

Here's more questions:

If the piano is tuned regularly, and you spend the same amount of time at
each tuning, is the result a more stable tuning that sounds good for a
longer period of time?  Would your customer rather have a long-lasting
stable tuning, or a $5 discount?  What kind of customers do you want?

For the record, almost all of my customers so far have been first time
customers, and I struggle to fit the "get aquainted" routine plus a decent
tuning into 2 hours.  When I passed the tuning exam in July, I raised my
rates to be near the midpoint of the range in my local area.  But I extend a
"charter customer" discount to all the friends and aquaintances who were
generous and trusting enough to hire me last year when I had no credentials
and even less experience.

Mike

----- Original Message -----
From: Charles Neuman <piano@charlesneuman.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2001 12:45 PM
Subject: Re: Let me introduce myself.


> I wrote:
> > Hmmm, I just had a brainstorm. Do any of you give a discount if a
> > customer has their piano tuned regularly?
>
> Greg wrote:
> >     The thing I'd like you to consider is; Does it take you less time or
> > effort to tune if the last one was more recent? O.K. two things; Are you
> > scheduling a shorter appointment time for these discounted tunings? O.K.
3
> > things; Are you likely to increase your business by giving away part of
> > your income?
> >     Food for thought I hope.
>
>
> Thanks for the "food" (seriously). I can't answer any of the questions
from personal experience since I'm a newbie. However, as for #1, could one
argue that if it's tuned more regularly then you'd have a more stable piano
that would be easier to tune? As for #2, I'm curious what people find. Does
it save time? And as for #3, maybe it would give an incentive for someone to
keep getting their piano tuned (thereby giving you more business). I know I
delay going to the dentist as much as possible. Maybe I'd go more frequently
if I got a discount.
>
> It was more a question about whether people do this, rather than a
suggestion that people SHOULD do this.
>
> Charles
>
>
>