In the end, the consumer doesn't really care how long it takes you to do a job; they simply want to know how much it will cost and that you do quality work. I think that it is more comfortable for the consumer if they understand that a "standard" job will generally cost a certain amount. If the job turns out not to be standard, then the consumer should understand why it will cost more to ensure a certain level of quality. Neither the technician nor the consumer wants to feel cheated out of time and money. A fair pricing structure will make both parties feel comfortable. The end result should not necessarily be based on the amount of time taken. But in the long run, time is a very important issue when a technician prices a job. If you spend 6 hours on a tuning and only charge $100, it will be very difficult for you to make a living. But at the same time, charging $600 would be disproportional to the final result. There are a number of issues that should be balanced when ascertaining the value of the final work. Doing a job quickly allows you to make more money by being able to schedule more jobs. This only works if you have a standard price for a job. If you charge by the hour, there is little incentive to work faster. Bradley M. Snook ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ted Rohde" <rohde@pdnt.com> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 6:20 PM Subject: Re: Fees - revisited > Ed Foote wrote: > Time is all we have to sell, and when we run out of it, there isn't > any more, so I suggest that the only way to maximize your time's worth is to > constantly strive to do higher quality work and constantly raise your prices > to match. > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > Mr. Foote and List, > Thanks for all your input...quite insightful. But I QUITE RESPECTFULLY > (and I mean that, Mr. Foote) disagree with the above suggestion that time is > all we have to sell. As I read the input week after week on this list, I > realize you have so much more to sell than time....namely knowledge. > Bear with me...we have a well pump that had problems. I had two service > people out who both repaired the problem only to have it return within a > short time. I was referred to a man who had been in the well pump business > for MANY years. I called him. Over the phone he asked what brand the pump > was. I told him. He asked "does it have a silver band on the back or a > black band on the back?" I responded. After a few more questions, he said > he would be out in a couple hours and get it fixed, which he did. It took > him 20 minutes, one $10 part and a pair of pliers for which I GLADLY paid > his $110 bill. He didn't sell his time...he sold 30 years of working his > field, knowing the problem, coming prepared for the job and getting out. > You experienced techs are the same. Y'all know that the 200 series > Yamahas from the 70's break bass strings and have to have low tension > replacements...Baldwin Spinets click at the grommets...don't replace just > one elbow on a Lester spinet...Steinway flange rails have to be > repaired...Samick let off buttons make noise sometimes...Story & Clark > pinblocks separate and have to be secured....golly, the list just goes on ad > infinitum (and I don't know why those came to mind, they just did). We do a > disservice to ourselves if we assume we only have our time to sell. That's > my point, I guess. You all have so much more, in my opinion. And that > knowledge has value far exceeding an hourly base. > > Thanks for the opportunity to voice. > > > Ted Rohde > Central Illinois > >
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC