This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment 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 Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Find what you need with new enhanced search. HYPERLINK "http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=3D29917/*http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250"= Learn more. -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.6.11 - Release Date: 01/12/2005 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.6.11 - Release Date: 01/12/2005 -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.6.11 - Release Date: 01/12/2005 --=20 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.6.11 - Release Date: 01/12/2005 =20 ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/ba/d4/7f/4e/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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