Prices for rebuilding work

[Diane Hofstetter]

Hi Brian!

  Well, your first day (?) of being self-employeed and already you're 
burning the past-midnight oil :-)

  Good idea to post question, interesting to find out what kind of answers 
you receive.  Over the years I have accumulated price lists from a variety 
of rebuilders, most of them are, however, old, but you can figure what 
tunings cost in those years vs. today's tuning costs and extrapolate the 
rebuilding costs in today's terms.  Do you have a fax?  I could send you 
copies.

  Yesterday I found a price list on the web from "Pianoservice Hawai'i" 
called "Action rebuilding for Steinway grands" it's located at 
www.pianoshawaii.com/pianoservice/steinway_rebuild.html.

  I spoke with our customer today,  she is leaving tomorrow am. for a one 
month's trip to Tibet!  Said she does want to restore this piano and will 
work out the details with me upon her return.

  Will write more tomorrow,  Murray wants the phone line for his computer 
and I want to go to bed!

  Diane


>From: "Brian Trout" <btrout@desupernet.net>
>Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
>To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Subject: Prices for rebuilding work
>Date: Sat, 2 Oct 1999 01:27:41 -0400
>
>At the risk of someone yelling fire in our theater, I'd like to ask for 
>some input.
>
>I know that it can be construed as price fixing if we all get together and 
>agree as to a particular price we should all charge for a particular 
>product or service.  That ain't where I'm coming from.
>
>I need some perspective of what other people are charging for rebuilding 
>work.  A large piano store in my area has made mention of much rebuilding 
>work that they could 'send my way', only they have requested a 'price list' 
>of sorts.  I've got some ideas for much of it, but having been an employee 
>for so long, and not having access to the 'bottom lines', I'm a little in 
>the dark as to what others might be charging.
>
>On the one hand, I don't want to be too cheap.  If a complete bellying for 
>a 6' grand might be considered reasonable at $4,500, I don't want to be 
>busting my hump trying to do these jobs for $2,500, just so I'll be the 
>cheapest guy in town.  On the other hand, I haven't yet established a 
>reputation that would allow me to charge $6,500 for the same job and expect 
>to get it because I can demonstrate that I'm worth it.
>
>I've had many discussions with this particular dealer, and although we're 
>on a friendly basis, I can be sure he won't be the first to start throwing 
>out numbers. (Isn't there an old saying about the first guy that throws out 
>a number loses?)  I have indicated on a number of things that I most likely 
>won't be the cheapest guy around, but rather he'll have a product that'll 
>be of very high quality, the kind worthy of a premium price.  Now, how do I 
>determine just what that price is... that's the six million dollar 
>question...
>
>Of my local guild chapter, there's only two other people who are doing 
>serious rebuilding work, neither of which particularly wish to talk about 
>prices.
>
>So basically, I'm left with a situation where I'd like to find some input, 
>but don't particularly know where or how.
>
>Any figures, thoughts, ideas, or other remarks you'd like to send my way?  
>I'd be open to any and all of them.  If you think it's too hot a topic for 
>the list, feel free to e-mail me privately.
>
>Not wanting to stir up trouble.  Just looking for input.
>
>I hope you'll all have a nice weekend.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Brian Trout
>Quarryville, PA
>btrout@desupernet.net
>
>
>

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