List- a play in two acts: Let me start by saying that I don't normally get calls from price shoppers. I'm part-time, never advertised, so most of the people that call know what to expect when I start talking with them. Just got a call last nite, I must've left a card with the guy at the mega-music store close to work, (45 mins. from home) because this woman mentioned getting my name from the store. SHE: A couple of note not working, needs a tune, what do you charge? (I'm not sure I even want to tune over there, I prefer closer to home) ME: A "normal" tuning costs $95, with any additional work billed at $60/hr. SHE: Big pause..... "Wow, that should be around $45" (Uh, oh, did I hear the Twilight Zone music...? Better back out of this one) ME: Well, maybe you'd have more luck checking the Yellow Pages...? SHE "Do you know what I charge my students for a lesson? $5.00! How about if you just come and fix the keys? (This person is a piano teacher?!? Oh man, get me outaa here!) ME: That would just be my labor rate, with a one hour minimum charge. As she launched into the next portion of this pleasant digression from dinner, I decided I was done, interupted that she might want to check the Yellow pages, and hung up. Imagine my surprise when she called back a few minutes later. (Isn't caller ID nice?) SHE: "You're very rude" (Thanks, I'll add that to my resume..) ME: Would you like to hire me, or just lecture me? SHE: "You're very rude" and SHE hung up! (Ah, closure to our little relationship...) So, those of you that advertise, do you get this a lot? Yikes! Ron Koval Chicagoland _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC