stats

[David ilvedson]

Tom,

You do raise your rates don't you?  I tell all my customers, if 
the matter comes up, that the next tuning will be what ever my 
current rate is at that time.  I don't keep charging the same 
rate for anyone no matter how long I've been tuning their piano. 
Pacific Bell raises my Yellow Page rates every year about 4%.

David I.

Date sent:      	Sun, 24 Oct 1999 22:45:50 -0700
From:           	Tom Cole <tcole@cruzio.com>
To:             	pianotech@ptg.org
Subject:        	Re: stats
Send reply to:  	pianotech@ptg.org

> Pat Neely wrote:
> > 
> > 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.
> 
> These reports of what a tuner charged last time are suspect and if they
> had it tuned somewhere far away, it will have been even cheaper because
> how are you going to know?
> 
> I've had regular customers declare, after being presented with the bill,
> that my rates have gone up. They back down when I show them their
> service record on my laptop, but it reveals to me how people tend to
> have penurious recall at these times.
> 
> When people tell me they were paying xx dollars where they just came
> from, whether or not they are sincere, I reply in a weary but patient
> tone of voice, "That was there and you are here, now, where the cost of
> living is much higher. If price is your main consideration, then you may
> find lower prices if you call around." 
> 
> They may try their luck elsewhere, which is fine. I'd rather have
> customers who are looking for _value_ and are willing to pay for it.
> 
> Tom
> -- 
> Thomas A. Cole, RPT
> Santa Cruz, CA
> mailto:tcole@cruzio.com
> 
> 


David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA
ilvey@jps.net