This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment I have gone around in circles about the best way to bill for my services = that is fair to the customer, adequately compensates me for my time, and = allows me to provide the best service possible. Inequities stemming = from frequency of service, problem pianos, customer expectations, = combined with my desire to avoid having to explain every nickel and dime = operation that I see as necessary, have finally led me to structure my = fee schedule as a pure function of time. =20 My basic fee is now based on a 1.5 hour service call. In that time, if = the piano is serviced regularly, I can usually complete a tuning in = about an hour. That leaves me 30 minutes to do whatever else I see as = most pressing: lubricating, cleaning, voicing, etc.. If the piano = requires a pitch raise or lowering prior to fine tuning, I can usually = accomplish both comfortably in 1.5 hours, usually with a little time = left over. If the amount of work required, or requested, exceeds 1.5 = hours then I bill the additional hourly. If the piano is a Steinway F = or some other such monster I will usually require the entire 1.5 hours = if the piano is at pitch to begin with (not my problem, they bought the = stinkin' thing without asking me). But generally, I can then leave the = piano having taken care of something other than tuning. The customer = will be more satisfied with the instrument and the instrument will = better represent my abilities. =20 In the past, when I have suggested that a piano needs something to a = customer, they have often replied, "Gee, why didn't the last technician = tell me that." The truth is that we get into such a mindset that = customers are unwilling to entertain the idea of doing something that = entails an additional cost, that we often neglect to do things that = really should be done routinely. Using this method I can, over time, = address most of the needs of a piano if the customer is servicing the = piano on a regular basis. =20 Going to this method required a slight increase in my fee and I was a = bit concerned about this at first. But I am finding little or no = resistance when I explain that the fee buys a block of time. Overall, = it has allowed me to reduce my appointment load on any given day to a = maximum of 4 (before it was 5). There is less driving and less stress = involved in making it to the next appointment on time when I run into = something unexpected. I can deliver better service and feel more = satisfied with my work. Customers are ultimately more pleased with the = instruments (even if they don't know exactly why) which is good for = referral business. I suggest you all consider it. =20 David Love ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/dc/c1/8b/d1/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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