Phil asks: << I'm not looking for a pat on the back here..just curious if this is common practice amungst my peers..or do you truly feel I am not being fair to the tech. community. >> Don't worry about it. It makes it easier to raise your prices later, (or sooner, if you start feeling undervalued). We reap what we sow, but we have to do the sowing first! Going the extra mile gratis can be a great investment of one's time or a hidden drain on productivity, depending on the situation. It's great being able to so easily make a positive difference in other people's lives. "If I was rich, I would tune for free!" However, there are also the ingrates out there. "An ingrate is one who gets something for free and expects more at the same price". I have found myself snared by several of them over the years and they provided reason enough to raise my prices so as to avoid them. It is impossible to know ahead of time that your willingness to tighten the screws on the hinge this visit turns into a n expectation that you will clean the piano next time you tune it....... Regards, Ed Foote (PS) A customer once called because her mother remembered me for not charging for a short visit 20 years before. I am now tuning that piano, at current prices, and they want to know about rebuilding it. A POI (point of inheritance) situation!
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