[pianotech] estimated fees

[David Renaud]

Hello

   I'll attempt to answer this without crossing anti trust rules.
The "correct" answer does not breach any such rules.

    A first time appointment on a new piano is likely work for a dealer.
Dealers, as some other commercial clients are often extended a discount.
Sometime a dealer even expects the first time tuning and touch up regulation
For free in exchange for your keeping the client. Sometimes the dealer has 
A data base and some volume of service requests, and wants a discount from
It's technicians. Sometimes a dealer has little volume of service requests and just 
Wants a good technician to service it's product, not wanting much of a cut.

      The long and short of the dealer end is; businesses have personalities based 
On the personality and character of the owner(s), the size and vision of their business, 
And the given market/area they exist in. Expectations vary greatly From dealer to dealer, 
Region to region, market to market. 

       You need to set a price, not based simply on what others charge, but based on a 
Complex set of variables. In a free market system, a given market gives "permission" 
For a certain price range, and the competitors in that market negotiate their price 
With the market, and their standing in that market, more then with each other.

Here is a suggested process for negotiating your prices for any given service in a given market.

1) Survey the prices of all your competitors. Have a friend do it, or pay someone to do it 
If you are not comfortable calling around for prices. Be informed regarding what's out there.

2) shop other trades on your area. What is the going rate range for skilled labor. 
    I think a tuning call should cover 2 hours with travel of the going rate for shilled trade labor, 
And additional repair time should make sense structurally with that rate.
 
3)  decide purely on an honest view of your level of expertise and experience compared with 
Your competitors where you fall in the spectrum of prices. Place yourself cheaper then the most experienced technician with the most respect that perhaps does the national level concert hall, but more expensive then someone with less experience, less expertise, and less"community respect" by local artists. 

4)  decide if you want to capture more market share, or if you are happy with your current volume of work. If you wish to capture more market share you might discount your fair price sightly for a season or two in an attempt to gain more market share.

5) decide if you are willing to do discount tuning for commercial clients. Not everyone wants 
Commercial clients. Not everyone wants to tune on the weekend for concerts. Not everyone is
Willing to have a contact at a concert hall and have to tune at 7am sunday mornings for a discount and then wait moths to get a check.  That also depends are market extractions in your area. 

Set your price structure and stick to it. Respect it. 

There are more factors at play, but these are pieces of the negotiation.
Sometimes having a higher price can get you more work. If your too cheap 
People assume your not too good, for your too hungry for work. If your busy, 
And act like you don't need the work, people assume you are good. Perception 
Is such a big part of marketing.

I have not answered your question directly, but rather hope to show the answer is 
Personnel, complex, and somewhat subjective. 

Make your decisions and respect those decisions for a season.
If you are wrong in your price decisions you will know as you evaluate the results.

I hope that helps someone.......

                              Cheers
                                Dave Renaud
 




Sent from my iPad

On 2012-03-31, at 3:40 PM, Heritage Pianos <excelpianos at telus.net> wrote:

> Understood, just meaning rough estimates, kinda from - to
> Thank you
> norbert
> 
> From: Tom Driscoll <tomtuner at verizon.net>
> Reply-To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2012 15:25:41 -0400
> To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] estimated fees
> 
> To my knowledge we can't discuss fees in such a forum or even in a group.    Anti-trust laws.
>       FWIW (and it might be a lot )
> Tom Driscoll
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Heritage Pianos
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2012 2:15 PM
> Subject: [pianotech] estimated fees
> 
> Hi there:
> 
> Wondering if we could  get estimate for average PTG charges
> involving one tuning and touch up regulation in customer's home after piano being delivered.
> 
> This concerning a new grand delivered to customer in fully prepped condition before.
> 
> We have for many years given this type after service to PTG members appreciating
> what a fair fee for this type work would be suggested or considered.
> 
> Thank you very much
> 
> Norbert Marten
> Heritage Pianos Ltd
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