nickels and dimes do add up, but...

[Farrell]

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If the repair(s) takes more than five minutes, or it requires me to go =
out to my vehicle for whatever, then it is time to add a separate repair =
fee. Works for me.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Richard Strang" <rstrang@pa.inter.net>
To: "'Pianotech'" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 3:24 PM
Subject: RE: nickels and dimes do add up, but...


> A very large percentage of new customers do not call me because their =
piano
> is out of tune, even though  tuning is what they say they want. They =
call
> because something went wrong with the piano and what ever it is is =
driving
> them crazy. That bobbly hammer, or the bass damper that fell off, =
letting
> the string ring forever.
>   I include some minor repairwork in the piano tune. How long does it =
take
> to adjust a couple of back checks? While I'm tuning, I might find =
other
> small things and I'll just fix and or adjust as I'm on my merry way =
tuning.
> I always inform my customer about what I found and what I did to =
correct it,
> and everyone so far has seemed happy with my work. I have never had =
anyone
> complain about getting a little something for nothing, and I feel good =
about
> doing it too.
>    Anything over the simplest repairs is another matter. A bunch of
> adjustments calls for a complete regulation. Where do I draw the line? =
It's
> a fuzzy one, but there is one there, and I charge by the hour. I make =
a
> quote, and it is usually accepted. After all, what ever is wrong with =
the
> piano is driving the owner crazy right? They will pay to fix it, so =
charge
> 'em.
>=20
> Richard
>=20
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On
> Behalf Of Steve Borgstrom
> Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 1:34 PM
> To: Pianotech
> Subject: Re: nickels and dimes do add up, but...
>=20
>=20
> The below business plan thought is a great idea and I have not the
> foggiest notion of how to do it, how to word it, etc.
>=20
> Would anyone be willing to share a copy of their business plan,
> deleting or censoring somehow anything they wouldn't want to share or
> that would be personal?
>=20
> How about a price list? I sometimes have a hard time knowing how much
> to charge, since I'm just starting up...
>=20
> Please go easy on me if I'm asking for the moon and stars here, I'm
> just learning! <grin>
>=20
> Thanks!
> Steve Borgstrom
> Brooklyn Park, MN
>=20
>=20
> On Thursday, May 8, 2003, at 05:58  PM, Owen J. Greyling RPT wrote:
>=20
> > 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...
> >>
> >> 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
> >> tocomment
> >> 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
> >> problemfor him?
> >>
> >> Just curious how some of you might approach this.
> >>
> >> Thanks.
> >>
> >> Tom Sivak
>=20
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>=20
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
> 
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