how to politely ask for a raise

[Kerry]

I took that to mean that when adjusted for inflation, folks are not getting
ahead, not that they're making the same amount of money. A lot of what we're
dealing with in setting prices is perception, both customers' perception of
how they're doing vs. the need for tuning, and their perception of us as
techs. I recently raised my tuning price and got some comments for the first
time in 30 years, which definitely made me stop and think. 

Does anyone out there offer discounts to regular customers? If so, what are
your parameters? I was thinking of lowering price for those who get a tuning
at least once a year. Has that worked for anyone? It seems as if that might
work better in the current environment than trying to point out the extra
things I do for regular customers when the tuning goes quickly.

Kerry Kean

-----Original Message-----
From: Leslie Bartlett [mailto:l-bartlett at sbcglobal.net] 
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 5:19 PM
To: 'Pianotech List'
Subject: RE: how to politely ask for a raise

I heard on NPR this week, from a former Labor Secretary, that the "take home
dollars" are no greater than they were in 2000 for the average person.  That
makes me a bit more conservative..........
les bartlett 

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Kerry
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 12:55 PM
To: 'Pianotech List'
Subject: RE: how to politely ask for a raise

I went to an online Inflation calculator and figured the inflation rate from
January 2000 to December 2007 as 24.43%. So just to keep up with cost
average cost increases, if you were charging $80 for a tuning in January
2000, you should be charging $100 now. Here's the URL:

http://www.inflationdata.com/inflation/Inflation_Calculators/InflationCalcul
ator.asp

If nothing else, it's fun to play around with...

Kerry Kean