surcharge

[PAT A RALPH]

List,

Also being from St. Louis (and Wim's home town), I have not changed my
prices or thought about adding a surcharge; our prices figure in a
(hopefully) "decent" amount over our costs or we wouldn't stay in business.
Like some others, I raised my prices a year ago after keeping them constant
for three years.

Having been in the business for 25 years, I have used several different ways
to increase my service fees.  I did them annually for a couple of years and
customers convinced me to just charge round figures (i.e. no 1/4 or 3/4 of a
US dollar)a.  Thats when, as costs indicated, I would up my prices by
US$2.50 or US$5.00.  That has seemed to work and keeps me in business.

Ken Gerler

----- Original Message -----
From: <Wimblees@AOL.COM>
To: <Pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2000 8:45 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
>