Pricing emergency services

[Farrell]

I've run into this a number of times. If I have the time in my schedule, but was not going to be in that part of town, I simply charge normal service plus travel time (I usually figure travel time at $40/hr - I like driving). If I have to shuffle my schedule to accommodate the "emergency", I will, but I will charge 50% additional AND travel time.

IMHO, if you are so busy (I wish I was!) and this will cut into your personal time and you are not desperate for the $$, I would be sure to charge enough to be happy with the arrangement. If it is not worth your while, don't do it (unless of course it is for a bunch of homeless children who only have this one opportunity to be in this play and the piano fell off the truck and, and, and - in that case, consider doing it for free). If I were in your situation, if it was a for-profit gig, I would go at least double normal fee plus travel. My heart might bleed a bit for the school - maybe I wouldn't go that high. Just wherever you feel comfortable I guess.

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Clyde Hollinger" <cedel@supernet.com>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2002 11:43 AM
Subject: Pricing emergency services


> Friends,
> 
> I'd like to take this discussion in a slightly different direction.  Do any of
> you charge extra for last-minute orders or emergency service when all your
> appointment slots are already filled?
> 
> Case study:  I received a call two days ago from a local school choral director.
> He needs the middle school piano tuned no later than Monday for an event.  I know
> the piano technician for that district, so I asked if he called her, and he said
> he was unable to contact her.
> 
> Several facts:  (1)  All my month's appointments are filled, and I have a waiting
> list until January.  (2)  Adding a tuning on Monday is going to mess up a
> personal day I intended to take, so I am not eager for the work.  BUT...  (3)
> What is someone who badly needs a tuning to do if all the technicians just say,
> "Sorry"?  (4)  An assumption:  The event was probably scheduled weeks or even
> months ago, so why should I suffer for someone else's error?
> 
> I have an informal policy that I have enacted about 2-3 times.  It is that when
> my appointments are full, adding extra appointments, especially for those who are
> not my clients, can be done on an overtime basis.  That is, I will do it charging
> 50% more than my normal tuning charge.
> 
> I offered this option to the choral director, and he said that sounds fine to
> him.  He is taken off the hook in that he knows the tuning is taken care of, and
> I am (grudgingly) willing to do it because of the extra pay.
> 
> Thoughts?  (Oh, BTW, I left a phone message for the school district's technician
> myself.  She called me back within five minutes but was out of the area and would
> not be returning before the middle of next week, but she appreciated my checking
> with her.)
> 
> Regards,
> Clyde Hollinger, RPT
> Lititz, PA, USA
> 
> 
> A440A@aol.com wrote:
> 
> >  When the last-minute, emergency appointment is made, it is important to let
> > them know first off that you are being asked to perform in a compromised
> > situation, but your price is not. Then cheerfully plug yourself into the
> > scene and do the best that can be managed under the circumstances.
> 
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