ETD's accurate?

[David Love]

For the record, my billing structure is not quite as you have laid out.  I
started out with that idea not too long ago but decided to modify it
slightly.  I have a minimum fee that is based on 1.25 hours.  There are some
people who genuinely want the piano tuned and nothing more.  I don't
discriminate.  I am happy to work for them too.  If someone calls and asks
my rate I tell them my minimum fee and what it includes.  If other work
needs to be done, it is billed on an hourly basis.  My average appointment
usually includes a few of those other items, is typically 1.5 hours and is
billed accordingly.

David Love


----- Original Message -----
From: "David Ilvedson" <ilvey@sbcglobal.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: September 22, 2002 3:45 PM
Subject: Re: ETD's accurate?


I believe David's MO is a flat rate for 1.5 hours of work?   I like the idea
myself,
although I don't employ it at this time.  To the potential client he may
seem
expensive compared to me but we really charge about the same if we do the
same
amount of work.  I believe, he won't do the appointment unless he has 1.5
hours and
is paid for it where as I will tune/clean only with an hour appt. or 1.25
hours with a pitch raise.  On the phone I
recommend X amount of time if I feel it needs a full cleaning (pull action,
under strings etc.) an/or repairs, but
I do need to get to the next customer so I try to stay to the agreed time
frame...

I like the flat rate with the extra paid minutes because it gives you the
time to do more and I may start
employing it.  This is the old full service approach to piano work possibly
taught by Bill Spurlock?
After the initial service call other work beyond the intial time frame can
be recommended and dealt with in the future as extra time
with the next appointment.

I think Issac had a good point about doing work before the tuning...although
I don't use this
approach...it seems like a good idea...certainly a pitch raise before the
tuning, aligning hammers
and anything that is direct affecting the tuning...

David I.

PS  Sorry, David L., if have your MO completely ass backwards, but that is
what we hear in the rumor mill...;-]


     ----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
     From: David Andersen <bigda@gte.net>
     To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
     Received: Sun, 22 Sep 2002 14:55:30 -0700
     Subject: Re: ETD's accurate?

     >Thanks for the clarification.  I'm "intoxicated by the nectar" of
doing
     >the best job I can in the least amount of time.  Like an into-it
surgeon,
     >or carpenter, or cinematographer, or studio musician.

     >Why do you give away the time you spend working? When I first sit down
to
     >the piano and play it and inspect it for 5 minutes, I tell the client,
in
     >person or by phone, how much it's out of tune, and what it needs
besides
     >tuning, and what I will charge for that work.  I also usually mention
     >that after I tune the piano I'll have a much better idea of what the
     >piano needs tonally and mechanically. By doing an accurate, musical,
     >solid tuning that gives me pleasure, I'm inspiring myself to serve
that
     >client best in every way.  I need inspiration.  That's just me.
     >It's easy to misunderstand people.  I want to stay as simple and black
     >and white as possible.

     >OK then.......David Andersen


     >>The law of diminishing returns.  At a certain point, laboring over
minuscule
     >>differences is probably not the best use of your time or the
customer's
     >>money.  Instead, put your efforts into areas you can improve upon
which will
     >>make real differences in the customer's perception and enjoyment of
their
     >>instrument.  While you are laboring over that last .01 cent and
becoming
     >>intoxicated by the nectar of creative tuning, I'm lubricating the
action and
     >>touching up the voicing.  Time, and money, better spent.
     >>
     >>David Love
     >>
     >>
     >>----- Original Message -----
     >>From: "David Andersen" <bigda@gte.net>
     >>To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
     >>Sent: September 17, 2002 11:59 PM
     >>Subject: Re: ETD's accurate?
     >>
     >>
     >>>I read this to mean choose your battles.  Good advice, if you ask
me.
     >>>
     >>>David Love
     >>
     >>David-----please elaborate; your meaning is not clear......thanks
     >>
     >>David A.
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