Piano Service Software

[Greg Newell]

Roy,
         I tried to make that switch and found that there was at least one 
problem that I couldn't overcome. This is rather basic to the way I do my 
business. I send out reminder cards every month for those who've had their 
piano service either 6 months, 1 year, 1.5 years etc. ago. Neither 
Quickbooks nor it's add on (which should have been there in the first 
place, will sort customers that way and give me the availability of 
printing either labels or postcards. Had that worked I probably would have 
stayed with it. Irregardless of which program I use to print invoices etc. 
I still use a paper calendar. That will NEVER go away.

best,
Greg



At 11:42 PM 12/15/2005, you wrote:
>List:
>
>Quikbooks makes a Customer Manager program.  It's not too expensive..I 
>think it was $89.
>
>I made the switch from PTBiz at the start of the year.  I was able to 
>import names, addresses, and telephone numbers from my PTBiz customer 
>database via the process that John previously described...creating a CVS 
>file using the mailmerge function.
>
>QBCM can sync with data in both Outlook and Quikbooks.    So, any changes 
>you make in one program will change info in the other two.   You can 
>set  QBCM so that it uses the Outlook calendar as it's primary 
>calendar.  That's what I did.   So, my PocketPC syncs with Outlook on the 
>desktop, and then QBCM syncs with both Outlook and Quikbooks.   You can 
>add a customer in Quikbooks, for instance, and the info shows up on your 
>PocketPC, and vice-versa.
>
>There are two minor drawbacks.
>One) The syncing process with QBCM is a little bit "clunky".  You have to 
>have QBCM, Quikbooks, and Outlook all open to sync them.
>Two) Appointments don't appear in the QBCM customer history unless you 
>make them from QBCM.  Appointments made in Outlook (on the PocketPC, for 
>instance) do appear on the the Outlook calendar in QBCM, they just don't 
>show up in the customer info.
>
>Overall, the switch to Quikbooks and QBCM is one I've been happy 
>with.  PTBiz really isn't an accounting program.  It keeps track of 
>income, but not expenses.  It's good, as far as it goes, but it's much 
>nicer to have a program which keeps track of both.  The whole goal is to 
>have less work to do come tax time.  Also, Quikbooks is putting out 
>updates just about every year, so I'm not stuck with an 
>obsolete  program.  I expect they will upgrade the QBCM program as 
>well.  I've already recieved one update.
>
>Another thing about Quikbooks is that they offer seminars through 
>associated accounting firms so you can learn how to use the program.  I 
>went to one last fall, and it was well worth it.
>
>It sounds like others out there have found good solutions also.  I think 
>that we all have our own ways of operating, and just have to find what 
>works well for each of us.
>
>Roy Peters, RPT
>Cincinnati
>
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives

Greg Newell
Greg's piano Forté
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net