Pitch Raise and String Breakage

Alan tune4u@earthlink.net
Fri, 14 Jan 2005 11:48:29 -0600


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You bet. Sometimes I way "A standard tuning is XX dollars. If your piano =
is
in good shape and close to pitch, that's all it would be."
=20
Maybe it's the way I say it, but they don't seem to get "suspicious" =
like
you did! Ha. I just don't want people making decisions based on =
inaccurate
information or costs they can't associate with things I can point out =
and
explain in person. It's just good business.
=20
As to the comment about the "family's financial situation," that is NOT =
how
fees are based (gimme a little credit) but it IS an important =
consideration,
sometimes, in what options I recommend and--sometimes--what kind of =
extra
work I'll throw in to help out. For example, I have many times made =
repairs
for which I billed less than I normally would in order to give =
struggling
single moms, for instance, a working piano and me a regular tuning =
customer.
Also, fair to say, if I'm in a home where the piano obviously cost far =
more
than my car, I am not prepared to hear a lot of whining about fees. =
"Your
fragistats need basculating and the flongbats are starting to pusculate =
and
that's just how it is. I recommend a complete dusting of your music =
desk."
=20
Alan R. Barnard
Sighing in Salem, MO

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On =
Behalf
Of Terry
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 4:06 AM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Re: Pitch Raise and String Breakage


Alan wrote:
=20
"Lately I've been ducking the whole "how much do you charge thing" quite
succesfully with calls like you describe. I simply say: "I don't want to
quote anything before I see a piano for the first time."
(snip)
"Also, this let's me.....estimate the family's financial situation, find =
out
how much the piano means to them, etc."
=20
Hmmmmm. Sounds suspicious to me. Don't you even have a standard tuning =
fee?
=20
Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----=20
From: HYPERLINK "mailto:tune4u@earthlink.net"Alan=20
To: HYPERLINK "mailto:pianotech@ptg.org"'Pianotech'=20
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 8:50 PM
Subject: RE: Pitch Raise and String Breakage

Lately I've been ducking the whole "how much do you charge thing" quite
succesfully with calls like you describe. I simply say: "I don't want to
quote anything before I see a piano for the first time. I'll examine it =
and
then we can discuss what is needed and agree on things before I do any =
work.
Fair enough?"  Or something to that effect. Seems to be accepted very =
well
and I haven't wasted a trip yet.
=20
Then, when I see that it's 87 cents flat with rusty coils and mouse =
nests,
we can talk face to face about needs, options, etc., and do the =
"selling" on
a personal basis. To me, that is always better than "selling" anything =
over
the phone where you don't really know what's what with the piano. Also, =
this
let's me establish a rapport with the customer so I can read their body
language, estimate the family's financial situation, find out how much =
the
piano means to them, etc. At this time, before starting, I say things =
like:=20
=20
"These strings may be rusty enough or old enough that some of them may =
pop
while tuning."
=20
"Though I will be careful, metal under tension loses its elasticity, or
ability to stretch, over time and gets brittle."
=20
"You been taking these strings to the beach with you, or what!?!=20
=20
Alan R. Barnard
Salem, MO

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On =
Behalf
Of Matthew Todd
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 5:11 PM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Pitch Raise and String Breakage


Hi List,
=20
When you're on the phone scheduling an appointment with a client, and =
you
ask the question "How long has it been since the piano was last tuned", =
and
they say "over 10 years", then you mention the pitch raise and the extra
cost involved, and that their piano may need it....do you also mention =
that
some strings might break over the phone, or do you wait till you're at =
their
home before you bring it up?


Matthew Todd
Todd Piano Works
Piano Tuner/Technician
Tuning - Repairing - Regulating=20



   _____ =20

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