[pianotech] priorities

[Leslie Bartlett]

Yesterday I got an early call...  Have to have my piano tuned today or
tomorrow.   No could do.  Besides a "performer" was coming to play, and the
piano hadn't been tuned in years.  Hung up, and my second client called to
reschedule.  Darn, could have replaced with the one who needed immediate
tuning....   Screwed up on my gps and didn't find first customer till too
late, and had to reschedule her for very late in the day, so still half a
day shot.  Then , on my way home a guy called from out of the blue and had a
piano not tuned in about 30 years....   Got to take it right away, and thus
the day was filled.  Also part of the mystery of scheduling and "being in
control" of our business.   Sometimes we have a lot less control than we
believe we do, and sometimes things work out...    It was a mystery to me.

Les Bartlett



 

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of tnrwim at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 8:11 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] priorities

 

We have a different opinion and solution to this problem. Ok. But now the
next question. Instead of being stood up at the door, what if she calls
(pick one), an hour, two hours, the night before, a day before, any time,
which doesn't allow you enough time to schedule someone else in that time
slot, do you still charge her for lost income and a no show? I realize
travel time is worth something, and since I was staying home to work in the
shop anyway, the time was not wasted. But what if its the first appointment
of the day, and you've got several others to do? Wasted time is wasted time.

 

Wim  

 



 

-----Original Message-----
From: Encore Pianos <encorepianos at metrocast.net>
To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thu, Apr 5, 2012 1:04 pm
Subject: Re: [pianotech] priorities

Since in her eyes you place no value on your time by not charging for it,
and since you don't seem to mind (you didn't say anything) driving for an
hour just to turn around and go home empty handed, then it must be ok.  So
there is no good reason for her not to do it to you again, should a friend
call that morning and say, "Let's go shopping." 

 

Will 

 

From:  <mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org> pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [
<mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org?> mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
Behalf Of  <mailto:tnrwim at aol.com> tnrwim at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 6:25 PM
To:  <mailto:pianotech at ptg.org> pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] priorities

 

 

Sorry, but there is a charge for time and mileage that somebody needs to be
responsible for.

I agree, and in a fair and equitable world, it would be that way. I would
have argued with her that I am as important as the carpet cleaner, and that
if she didn't have me tune the piano then, I would add the trip charge to
the next appointment. She might have accepted that, and even have me come in
three weeks to tune her piano, and paid me the extra trip charge. But that
probably would have been the last time I saw her. Not only that, she would
probably tell a lot of her friends what I did. And at this point, I can't
afford to do that. No matter how you slice it, pissing off a customer will
not make you any money. 

 

Yes, I lost money today. (Well, I didn't loose money, I just didn't make
any). But hopefully I can make money off of her in the future. 

 

Wim

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Delwin D Fandrich < <mailto:del at fandrichpiano.com>
del at fandrichpiano.com>
To: pianotech < <mailto:pianotech at ptg.org> pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thu, Apr 5, 2012 12:02 pm
Subject: Re: [pianotech] priorities

Well, of course it's a negative. I would consider standing me up without any
notice to be a negative. I would consider saying nothing to be equal to
saying my time and that of her carpet cleaner are valuable, mine is not so
I'll just go away quietly. Sorry, but there is a charge for time and mileage
that somebody needs to be responsible for.

 

ddf

 

Delwin D Fandrich

Piano Design & Fabrication

6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA

Phone  360.515.0119 - Cell  360.388.6525

 <mailto:del at fandrichpiano.com> del at fandrichpiano.com -
<mailto:ddfandrich at gmail.com> ddfandrich at gmail.com

 

From:  <mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org> pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [
<mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org?> mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
Behalf Of  <mailto:tnrwim at aol.com> tnrwim at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 2:15 PM
To:  <mailto:pianotech at ptg.org> pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] priorities

 

Hi Will

 

What I said to the customer is not important. The point is, you need to keep
in mind what the priorities are. 

 

But anything you say, other than "I understand", with a smile on your face,
might be construed by the customer as negative. In fact, reminding her that
she made a mistake by not calling you, could be interpreted as negative, no
matter how nicely you say it. So unless you have more customers than you can
handle, just say thank you, and leave it that.

 

Wim.

 

  _____  

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