Overcharge?

[Jerry Hunt]

I think your fees are more than reasonable (other than possibly, as some
have suggested, on the low side. Depending on your area). One thought
(picking up on Susan's comments): it's very likely that the lady fully
understood the cost and fully intended to pay it. But when her husband
hit the roof at shelling out that much money on a @#$%@%$@ piano, you
became the scape goat to cover her rear.

I also liked Susan's suggestion of writing a non-irate, face-saving
(their face) letter. In which case, you would consider foregoing the $30
as a business development expense.

Pianotoone@aol.com wrote:
> 
> I live in a town in Michigan with a population of 7000, but do most of my work
> in a neighboring town with a population of about 70,000
> 
> Recently I was called to service a piano which was 1/2 step or more flat.
> 
> When the lady originally called me she asked me what the cost would be and she
> mentioned that the piano had not been tuned in some time.   I told her a
> standard tuning fee was $60.00 and if the pitch had to be raised there would
> be an additional fee of $40.00.
> 
> When I got to her home, explained that her piano was indeed way flat, showed
> her the numbers on my trust SAT and explained that although I recommended it,
> it was not absolutely imperative to have the piano brought to pitch.  She said
> go ahead.
> 
> When I finished she said her husband had only given her $70.00 because that's
> what she thought it would be.  I told her fine.  Just give me the $70.00 and
> mail the rest to me ASAP.  I also told her that she would need anothe tuning
> in about a month and that would cost $60.00.  But if she had her piano tuned
> at least once a year after that she should not have any more problems like the
> above.
> 
> Today her husband called me very irate and told me he had explained the
> situation to several other piano tuners in the area and they said the maximum
> for any pitch raise/tuning call would be $65.00  And furthermore if they had
> to come back in a month that call would cost $30.00.
> 
> I know for a fact that the closest tuner to this client other than me is 25-35
> miles away.
> 
> I have already written this guy off as a client, because in over 12 years of
> this kind of work, this was the first time my fees have been criticized.  As a
> matter of fact he is refusing to pay the addtional $30.00 that is still owed.
> I have the wifes signature on the invoice showing what was due and what was
> paid.  But I hesitate to take $30.00 to small claims court.
> 
> NOW THE QUESTION???  Do these fees seem out of line?
> 
> $60.00 standard tuning
> $40.00 for pitch change (any amount at all over +/- 15c,regarless of the
> number of passes)
> And then another tuning in one month.
> 
> Thanks for the wisdom of the list.
> 
> Dick Day
> Marshall MI

-- 
Jerry Hunt
Dallas, TX USA