Here's a common scenario for me. Grand piano has not been cleaned in maybe 20 years. Dust/debris rust, you name it. Action blanketed with dust. A good Hour or more to to a "proper" cleaning. Client agrees to "technical cleaning" fee and sees and appreciates the benifits. Afterwards, a string cover is recommended to keep it that way. A DC might also be suggested. This scenario is similar for the verticals as well, although, unless a spinet, the cleaning will usually not take as long. This is a business, and although I love what I do, time IS money, and I make no apologies for charging for my time. I am also a salesman, as ALL successful entrepreneurs are. I start selling my services from the first call from a potential client. I believe in my talents and abilities and that translates to the client who in turn hires me on the basis that I will deliver outstanding service for his/her money. Yes, if it's just a matter fixing a couple sticky keys or something that may only take 5 minutes, I will NOT charge extra. Terry Peterson ----Original Message Follows---- From: Susan Kline <skline@peak.org> Reply-To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> Subject: RE: New Year's rant; my 2 cents Date: Sun, 01 Jan 2006 22:01:30 -0800 At 09:39 PM 1/1/2006 -0800, you wrote: >Semantics. "Offense"? Pleeeze. I respect your methods. If that works for >you, great! Charge or don't charge. Can't we all just "get along"...Island >Ice tea! > >Terry Peterson Okay, Happy New Year. I do charge; I just organize my charges differently. I don't itemize. I define a "tuning" as including whatever I think is most urgent, so long as it fits into my basic time (and effort) slot, which is set generously enough that most common details (clean the keys, adjust the pedals, voice that stinking tenor note, get that knob back on, etc.) can be covered. If it's going to take more time and effort than the basic fee includes, we talk about how much to do, and when, and the cost effectiveness of doing or not doing this or that. Just don't keep saying that I "work for free". I don't. It's also very insulting. Susan _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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