nickels and dimes do add up, but...

[Owen J. Greyling RPT]

Tom,
Simple..In a service business, someone ALWAYS pays. If you are working on an
instrument that doesn't belong to you, someone else should be paying for
that service...not you. If you are not compensated for your work, all of it,
YOU are paying for the privilege of working on someone else's piano.
Been there, done that!
This problem is easily and permanently solved by sitting down and writing
out a "Business Plan". You will not likely make a conscious decision to give
away your earning potential, before you've earned it.when you are wearing
your 'business hat". I'm not as harsh as I sound, honestly..but I work to
hard to be poor. Bet you do to!
Regards,
Owen

 ----- Original Message -----
From: <Tvak@aol.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2003 3:31 PM
Subject: nickels and dimes do add up, but...


> List
>
> I have been wondering how some of you handle the little incidental things
> that sometimes need to be done on a tuning call.  I find it difficult to
> charge someone for something that takes very little time, and I like to do
> something a little extra if I can.  I think it makes the customer feel
like
> he is being taken care of and not being taken advantage of.  But then,
where
> do you draw the line?
>
> One place that I've drawn the line, is if the customer asks me to fix
> something that is bothering him.  I am more inclined to charge him to
correct
> a problem he is aware of and wants remedied.  Even then, if it takes less
> than 5 minutes, I can't seem to put it on the bill.
>
> And what about things that perhaps only you have noticed?  Here are some
> things that one comes across pretty regularly.  Would  anyone care to
comment
> on their policy regarding the following: (on a vertical piano)
>         Tighten a loose hammer butt flange to correct a floppy hammer?
>         Tighten 3 loose hammer butt flanges?  Five?
>         Adjust a leaking damper?  Three dampers?  Five?
>         Adjust the lost motion from a damper pedal?
>         Ease a key?  Three keys?
>         Adjust a backcheck to stop a double-striking hammer?  Three?
Five?
>         Align a hammer to strike all three strings?
>         CLP a sluggish hammer butt?
>
> Would you:  A) charge him for it?
>             B) just leave it like it is?
>             C) not charge him, but  let him know you took care of the
problem
> for him?
>
> Just curious how some of you might approach this.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Tom Sivak
>
>
>
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