surcharge

[Michael Jorgensen]

Willem,
      If gas is up about 50 cents a gallon, and you charge a five dollar
surcharge, that covers the difference in price for ten gallons or about 200
miles.  It would appear to customers like you're either cheating them or not in
demand because you have to drive that 200 miles for each job.  Either way is
not good for business.
       Surcharges remind me of the phone companies, utility companies, and
certain airlines which have detestable reputations as cold money making
machines out to cheat/charge everyone for anything as long as it's legal and
has some government agency approval.
Just my 2 cents
-mike

Wimblees@AOL.COM wrote:

> With the increased cost of gasoline, and higher prices to follow, I am
> contemplating doing one of two things: raise my tuning fee $5 or $10, or add
> that much as gasoline surcharge to every appointment.
>
> The increase in fee would appear like a permanent solution, but might be
> looked on as charging too much to soon. (I increased my price by $5 in
> September.) The surcharge, I think, might be understood by my customers.
> (They all know we are paying much more for gas.) And if prices come down, as
> they are predicting they will in the fall, I can remove it.
>
> What are some thoughts on the matter.
>
> Willem