This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Excellent, thank you. Alan ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Wimblees@AOL.COM=20 To: pianotech@ptg.org=20 Sent: Saturday, September 07, 2002 2:17 PM Subject: Re: New Question re: Potential Customers In a message dated 9/7/02 6:14:43 PM !!!First Boot!!!, = mathstar@salemnet.com writes:=20 I've noticed several references to sending out reminder cards, etc.=20 I have been calling people when it's time (or when I think it's = time) to=20 tune. Sometimes I get put off indefinitely or vaguely--they think = the piano=20 sounds fine or don't want to spend the $, I suppose.=20 This feels like I used to when I sold insurance and called to set=20 appointments ... I don't like the feeling BUT I just think there = would be=20 more procrastination and forgotten schedules if I leave it to the = customer=20 to call--also more pitch adjustments to deal with, etc.=20 Your thoughts?=20 We've talked about this a couple of times in the past. But it never = hurts to talk about it, especially since we have a lot more newbies on = the list.=20 The need for piano tuning is like the need to get your teeth cleaned. = 6 moths or a year goes by in a hurry. And just like your teeth, it is = difficult to realize something has gone awry, since it happens so = gradually. That is why a gentle reminder is not a bad idea.=20 But, as Alan said, customers don't always respond to a cold call. Most = of the time customers hang up without really listening to who you are, = or what your are trying to "sell" them, because to them, you're just = another phone solicitor.=20 That is why I send out reminder post cards. There are some available = from the home office, or you can make your own. The reminder card is a = non invasive way to let your customers know that it has been 6 months, = or a year, since you were there, and that it is time to get the piano = tuned again. (I send out reminder cards for 4 years. It's amazing how = many people call you even after 4 years, not realizing it's been that = long). The post card allows them to schedule an appointment at their own = convenience, whenever they want to get around to it. You will find that = they are much more receptive to having you in their house when they have = invited you, than when you have asked them for the appointment.=20 It is also a time saver for you. I used to call my customers. I even = sent them a post card telling them I was going to call them. Then one = year, over a six month period of time, one month I sent out a post card = telling the customer I would call them, and then the next moth, I asked = them to call me. After six moth, there was no significant difference in = my income from one month to the next. Basically, I was getting the same = number of appointments during the months I was calling customer, as when = I was asking them to call me.=20 That was about 20 years ago, and I have never called a customer to ask = them to get the piano tuned. They always call me, and I'm saving about 3 = - 4 hours a week to do other things. The other advantage to the post = card is that it will get put on the refrigerator door, and it will stay = there for months. I have gotten phone calls from customer who got the = reminder card 4 or 5 months before. It's also great free advertising. = That post card on the refrigerator will get seen by friends and family = members. And when it gets sent to churches and schools, the secretaries = and other staff members often see the reminder cards.=20 For the little amount of money the post card cost, they are a great = way to build up your clientele.=20 Wim=20 ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/ca/90/ae/db/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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