[pianotech] basic or full service

[Ken & Pat Gerler]

David,
If I arrive and find the instrument has been meticulously serviced 
(including cleaning/vacuuming inside so I don't stir up dust) by a previous 
quality technician, then it is just my "basic" fee for servicing IF all I 
have to do is tune the instrument.  It is just that I advise the customer 
ahead of time, THAT on my first visit, IF the instrument has not been 
maintained previously, there will be more than a tuning fee.

Ken Gerler

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 8:39 AM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] basic or full service


Higher fees on first time calls make sense sometimes but what if someone is
just switching techs and the piano has otherwise been regularly serviced?
Aren't you discouraging them from making the switch by charging them a
higher fee where, as in this case, it may not be warranted?  I gave up
automatically charging a higher first time fee for that reason.  In fact, I
know a tech locally who offers a discount for the first time fee in order to
encourage people to switch technicians.

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com





I have watched all the "traffic" on the "basic" or "full" service and I (or
my wife) tell/s anyone "searching" for service on an acoustic piano my
procedures. On a first call, they can expect a higher charge than a minimum
fee for service, as I will not service an instrument if I can not leave it
in some sort of playing condition; i.e. all notes working whether the
regulation is perfect or not, but no bobbling hammers or sluggishness
anywhere. Those things give "fits" to the person trying to play the
instrument.

Ken Gerler