>I had a lady just call me and she moved here from San Diego , last tuning >about 2 years ago in that area she said it was $45. > > True (I've heard this about California). I had a potential client call me in 1996 and balk at my $60 to $75 tunings here in Austin claiming that San Francisco only charged $35 to $50 for tuning. I explained that I was about $10 less than the prevailing local rate. Ironically, when I mentioned that other stores may know someone (an apprentice perhaps ) that may work for that $35 to $50 rate here, the client "BLEW-UP" and yelled, "I'm a Medical Doctor. I can 'afford' anyone I want. If I want the best I pay for the best!" I thought about it for a second and said, "You're right. If you want 'me', my rate just went up $10." I now charge $70 to $100 (base tuning vs pitch raise plus tuning). He hung up on me in a huff. But, I'm really glad that I didn't compremise myself to him. I'm even more glad that I now charge the prevailing rate here in Austin, TX. Cheers, Brian Henselman, RPT
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