In a message dated 6/2/00 6:21:47 AM Central Daylight Time, cedel@supernet.com writes: << I usually tell clients that businesses which offer free estimates are usually those which sell big ticket items, such as builders, but that I can't afford to give a free estimate on what might be a relatively inexpensive job. Do those of you who rebuild pianos give free estimates? I would consider that a bigger job, but I would guess clients frequently abandon the idea of rebuilding when they find out what it will cost. >> There are two types of estimates. One is where they just want to know what it is going to cost to fix up the old piano. I get a lot of calls from customers who want me to come to the house to see if the piano is worth tuning, or if it can be tuned in the first place. I tell these customers it will cost them a minimum service call to have me tell them that. If they don't understand why I have to charge them, I just say, thanks, but no thanks, call someone else. If they do agree to pay for the estimate, then I'll go. Sometimes I pick up a small repair job, or just a tuning. I tell them up front that if the estiamte is $250 or more, I will give them credit for the repairs if they decide to ahve me do the work. The other group is where they have a piano that they know needs a lot of work, and the customer wants comparative bids. It makes sense that when someone is going to spend $5,000 -- $20,000 to rebuild a piano, spending an extra $50 -- $75 to get some good bids is going to be to their advantage. These are the serious people I want to deal with, and I always give them credit for the estimate when I get the work. Willem
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