[pianotech] no shows

[Richard Gullion]

On any repairs...I get a deposit up front...balance on return. It has worked for me very well, with no complaints.

Richard the "Piano Guy"

www.thepianoguy.webs.com







From: dlawson at davidlawsonspianos.com.au
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:47:40 +1100
Subject: Re: [pianotech] no shows










Hi Wim,
 
Over the last year or we two, we have started 
ringing for confirmation the day before the appointment, especially if we have 
to remind customer to leave a key out or any other special instructions, (like 
"have some money handy!') Mostly it works, very occasionally someone manages to 
forget in less than 24 hours and sometimes we have to reschedule when we ring to 
confirm because they have forgotten and made other plans but at least we aren't 
wasting time traveling to the destination for no result.
 
Regards,
Alastair.
David Lawson's Pianos
Wangaratta
Australia.
 
----- Original Message ----- 

  From: 
  wimblees at aol.com 
  
  To: Pianotech at PTG.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 5:45 
  AM
  Subject: [pianotech] no shows
  
I am used to no-shows, but it seems I have more than usual 
  than I did on the mainland. 

Here is what's happening. I get 
  a call from the man, who sets up an appointment. But when I show up, 
  his wife either doesn't know I'm coming, and turns me away.Or she knew I 
  was coming, but tells me she is not interested in getting the work done, 
  and turns me away. 

The last straw came today. The husband called 
  me last week, and I scheduled an appointment for Monday at 9. Since it was a 
  Holiday, the wife and 4 kids were home. She didn't know I was coming, but let 
  me in anyway. It was a Hamilton, with half the hammers unglued. She 
  called him, and he said OK for me to do the work, but 
  that he couldn't pay me until Friday. I said that's fine, because it 
  would take me that long to do the work. I show up Friday afternoon, 
  action in hand. She answers the door and she not only forgot I was 
  coming, but couldn't pay me, and that her husband was off island, 
  and wouldn't be back until Monday. She said she would call me. 
  

Obviously I took the action with me. So what do I do? I've got an 
  action in my shop on which I spent several hours, and they have a piano that 
  they can't use, (although they probably weren't using it anyway. They got it 
  for free). 

I'm thinking of charging an extra $50 for the 
  inconvenience, and making him pay up front before I even go to the house. On 
  the other hand, if I play "hardball", they might just forget about the whole 
  thing, and dump the piano, and I'll never get paid for my 
  work.
 
Suggestions?


  Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT
Piano 
  Tuner/Technician
Mililani, Oahu, HI
808-349-2943
Author of: 
The 
  Business of Piano Tuning
available from Potter 
  Press
www.pianotuning.com
  

  
  A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See 
  yours in just 2 easy steps! 
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