Right you are there David. Tho I suppose I am a little less concerned with the term I use. I do tell the customer that I any unforseens will be covered by my <<estimate>> unless it is of very serious (read expensive) nature, in which case I will call immediately and we will discuss what should be done. Otherwise I will keep at or under my offer. That said, it really is more of a bid then an estimate per se. As far as the bit about exceeding ones given price offer is concerned. I certainly understand your point. Then too, there are those who just plain operate that way.... plussing for this and that and making it look all very reasonable. In the end I dont really have any problem with anyones pricing policies per se. Like you tho, I dont really look kindly on the types that deliberatly take whatever they can get away with for as little as they can possibly get away with. Thats a different subject matter tho. However you handle bids or estimates or whatever is in the end a matter of what you are most comfortable with. For my part, I just find it suits me best to give a price, and either stick to it or deliver at less that that price. It has had that positive <<word of mouth>> kind of PR affect that I like to rely on. On a very rare occasion... I have to eat a loss. And I make sure the customer knows about it in that case... again playing it for what its worth. But in the long run operating this way pays off big time. Cheers RicB David Love wrote: >Then why do you call it an estimate? You should call it a bid. On my >"estimate" it states that the above is an estimate only and includes >only the work listed and doesn't include applicable sales tax. Any >significant changes to the estimate are subject to written approval >(over 10%). I think if one gets a "reputation" for exceeding estimates, >they are probably not that good at writing estimates and should attempt >to be more thorough. If, however, I discover a bass bridge which needs >to be remade, rather than recapped, or a rim which is delaminating, or >any number of things that can be hidden from view prior to teardown, I >would not want to eat the additional cost because I was afraid of >developing a reputation. The simple way to deal with it is just call >and let them know what you've found and what the additional cost will >be. Or, simply charge the maximum to cover all possible contingencies. >The problem with that method is that it often puts the estimate very >high. That can sometimes make the difference between getting the job >and not. Though you might be in the position of refunding some money >when the job is done for things that might occur but didn't', something >tells me that most people would just present the original balance >due--call me cynical. If you prepare people in advance that there are >sometimes things that only become apparent after the teardown is >complete, you won't have to make the choice between eating it and fear >of developing a reputation. On a major job, taking the time to explain >what you are going to do and why will often put people at ease about >costs and the variability that exists between jobs. > >David Love >davidlovepianos@comcast.net > >-----Original Message----- >From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On >Behalf Of Richard Brekne >Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2004 12:21 AM >To: Pianotech >Subject: Re: Rebuild estimates/bridge pins > >Porritt, David wrote: > > > >>I guess the stupid answer is, I try not to run into the unexpected! I >>don't know, bad things do happen but I've been fortunate not to run >> >> >into > > >>many. In those few cases where I did, I just ate the difference. >> >>dave >> >> >> >> >> >Ditto. A small over run from time to time doesnt hurt nearly as much as >a reputation for exceeding your estimates. Eases my concious as well, >but thats just me. > >Cheers >RicB >_______________________________________________ >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > >_______________________________________________ >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > >
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