big city rates

[Zeke Wheeler]

I am currently learning to be a tuner, but I also currently own a 
moving company, and I charge high rates, and have various charges for 
certain "extras". The particularly rich customers get charged full 
price, all by the book. Poor customers get a "working man's discount" 
as a favorite bartender of mine used to call it. Certain things I throw 
in for free. heavyweight charges, travel time, supplies used. No one 
can fault you for giving indiscriminate discounts. However RAISING 
rates, will really piss people off. But discounts never hurt your rep. 
Also a good way to get yourself a free cup of coffee, a free beer, or 
whatever your customer may have to offer in their own way.

-zeke

On Jul 3, 2006, at 3:22 PM, Leslie Bartlett wrote:

> We have a local guy who says he charges according to the "thickness of 
> the
> carpet"................    I sort of like to keep that in mind as I 
> consider
> what I will charge, because usually I really cheat myself, especially 
> if it
> is some little old lady on fixed income.   If the carpet is really 
> thick,
> then I will actually charge for a 20-cent pitch raise, when I often 
> don't,
> since I use an ETD and generally go through all pianos twice anyhow.  
> I was
> in a home this week where the lady teaches in a private school and 
> doesn't
> make enough to get her learning disabled kid in, so I extra work for 
> which I
> didn't charge. I don't up my fees in the wealthy homes, but I do give 
> myself
> permission to charge extra for neglected pianos, and will charge for 
> some
> repairs I would just sort of gloss over in homes where people are 
> rather
> strapped.  The guy who charges by "thickness of carpet" is actually 
> highly
> scrupulous and his business ethics actually are totally above 
> reproach.  I
> just remind myself at times that I do deserve to earn a living wage, 
> which I
> so often forget untill I have to pay a "living bill" for something 
> like auto
> or aircondditioning............
> les bartlett
> www.bartlettpianoservice.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On 
> Behalf
> Of A440A at aol.com
> Sent: Monday, July 03, 2006 1:34 PM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: big city rates
>
> Sid writes:
> << > In my rural area, I am on the verge of charging these people with
>
>> their second homes and second
>
>> decorator Steinways big city rates.  Likely triple my norm.
>
>>>>
>
> Greetings,
>   This appears to be a classic case of opportunism.  If "these people" 
> come
> to find out that you are charging them more than your norm because 
> they are
> wealthy, (and it will happen), you can kiss your reputation and future
> income from them good-bye.  Also, if you charge more because the 
> customer is
> rich, you cannot say your price and your quality are linked.  There is
> nothing but trouble ahead for this business approach.
>     Your integrity will be measured by how closely your word and your 
> deed
> match one another.  Will you honestly tell customers that your price 
> depends
> on how much money they have?
> Regards,
>
> Ed Foote RPT
> http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
> www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
>
>
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