Voicing M&H BB

[David Love]

Not my style.

David Love

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Meyer" <cmpiano@home.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: October 27, 2001 7:24 PM
Subject: Re: Voicing M&H BB


> So take your best guess and double it.  You can always give a 10 percent
> discount.
>
> Carl Meyer  Assoc. PTG
> Santa Clara, California
> cmpiano@home.com
>
> .
> > I've been caught too many times in the past throwing out a quote that
ends
> > up being too low.  I find that most jobs take more time than you think
if
> > you factor in everything, including pick up and delivery.  Action and
> belly
> > jobs can vary considerably depending on the scope of the work so I like
to
> > itemize everything included.  For example, someone calls up to find out
> how
> > much to change hammers and shanks.  You throw out a price and discover
> later
> > the action needs bushings, backchecks, the capstan line is wrong, the
> action
> > has 12 leads in the bass, the repetition springs in the wippens look
like
> > little 'J's and the every screw on the hammer rail is stripped.  Harder
to
> > go up than down.  I don't think most people mind me taking an extra day
to
> > give them accurate information, plus I always send out a contract that
at
> > least says that they agree to the price and the work to be performed
(not
> > for small on site jobs).  No questions later about what was expected and
> for
> > what price.  I have encountered situations where I wasn't sure what the
> best
> > course was and not felt embarrassed about telling someone I wanted to do
> > some additional research as to the best and most cost effective approach
> to
> > the problem.  I think most people are reassured by that.
> >
> > David Love
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Carl Meyer" <cmpiano@home.com>
> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > Sent: October 27, 2001 5:40 PM
> > Subject: Re: Voicing M&H BB
> >
> >
> > > I'm not a gambler.  I didn't lose any money at Reno.  BUTTT. I'm
enough
> of
> > a
> > > gambler to quote a job.  After  inspecting a piano, I'll usually give
a
> > > rough quote.  If it is a job that is under one or two thousand
dollars,
> I
> > > just make sure I quote high enough.  If I can do the job in less time,
I
> > > give them a discount. They will love you forever.
> > >
> > > I have a friend who spends so much time doing estimates in triplicate
> that
> > > he hasn't had time to do any meaningful work.  That is why he has a
> three
> > > year backlog ( he hasn't finished the jobs he quoted three years ago.)
> > >
> > > If you need an excuse to delay say " I need to check the parts prices"
> and
> > > let it go at that.  I hate the time it takes to write up a formal
quote.
> > > I'd rather eat the excess time to do the job.  There is always ways
you
> > can
> > > fudge time to minimize  the loss if you bid too low.  Makes you more
> > > realistic in estimating the time it takes to do the job.
> > >
> > > Pretend to be cocky, even if your not.
> > >
> > > Carl Meyer  Assoc. PTG
> > > Santa Clara, California
> > > cmpiano@home.com
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Charles Neuman" <piano@charlesneuman.net>
> > > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > > Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2001 4:33 PM
> > > Subject: Re: Voicing M&H BB
> > >
> > >
> > > > Terry,
> > > >
> > > > I'm curious, from a business point of view, how this situation
works:
> > > > What do you tell the customer after inspecting the piano? Do you say
> > > > you'll think about it, consult other people, or research it further?
> > > > I've always been curious how a situation like this is handled, where
> the
> > > > tech needs time to think or research but doesn't want to come off
> > > > looking like they don't know what they are doing.
> > > >
> > > > Charles Neuman
> > > > PTG Assoc, Long Island - Nassau
> > > >
> > >
> >
>