surcharge

[Richard Brekne]

Roy... given the fact that many (if not most) tuners way undercharge for their
services given the amount of training and experience they have,,, and given the
difficulty in obtaining this training... and given the fact that there simply is
no body around besides us who has the slightest notion of just what it is we
really have to try and accomplish...I say the fear of "gouging" is at best
grossly overstated.

If you tune 400 pianos a year and arent making 40 grand after travel expences
and the like... you are charging too little.

Roy Ulrich wrote:

> I think a lot of people are falling into the trap of thinking 20 cents a
> gallon increase equates with large increases in prices for everything. As a
> tuner who buys a tank of gas about twice a week, I look at the _real_
> numbers:  15 gallons @ 1.36 is $20.40; 15 gallons @ 1.56 is $23.40. Do I
> need to gouge all my customers with an increase of $5 or $10?
>
> If you average a dozen tunings a week and charge an additional $10 each,
> that's $120 a week increase to cover less than seven bucks worth of gas. Who
> becomes the bad guy now, Standard Oil or you?
>
> Roy Ulrich
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Wimblees@AOL.COM <Wimblees@AOL.COM>
> To: Pianotech@ptg.org <Pianotech@ptg.org>
> Date: Wednesday, March 08, 2000 9:02 AM
> Subject: surcharge
>
> >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
> >

--
Richard Brekne
Associate PTG, N.P.T.F.
Bergen, Norway