Charging overtime

[Clyde Hollinger]

OK, I'll let you know what's been going through my mind these last several
days.  Suppose all local piano technicians have all the work they need for the
next several months, and a new client calls and needs a tuning done within two
weeks.  All technicians say they can't do it because they are fully booked.
What is that client to do?  I have not checked with other local technicians to
see how busy they are, but I am taking new client orders for next March.

I think if a new client were willing to pay more (an "overtime" rate so to
speak), then I would just take personal time and go do the job.  I did suggest
this to one person recently, and I actually charged on this basis once, when I
was called on a Friday night to tune a piano before a Saturday wedding.  The
clients were grateful they could find someone who would do the job on short
order even at a higher cost.  I charged 50% more than my normal rate.

Thoughts?  Do any of you do this?

Regards,
Clyde

Farrell wrote:

> I've had the same thought in the past. I think that when I am too busy with
> service appointments, I will raise my price quite a bit for first-time
> appointments, but then discount those that repeat at least once a year. But
> not until I am too busy. I'm sure such a policy will scare away some of
> those first-timers. I think it is a great idea.