Prices for rebuilding work

[Brian Lawson]

Hi Diane, different Brian here. I would be interested in your collection of
prices, and I do have a fax    978 926 5675  its a USA number but gets
diverted to my email.

Brian Lawson
IC PTG



> From: Diane Hofstetter <dianepianotuner@hotmail.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Prices for rebuilding work
> Date: 02 October 1999 09:18
> 
> 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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