>If you want to be fair to yourself AND the client<..Blah, Blah, Blah,.... My post was simply an observation of the vast disparity in fees, not a "cry for help". I charge about 2/3rds of my tuning fee as an hourly labor rate for repairs, regulation, and such. Pretty cut 'n' dry; but heh, that's me. Terry Peterson ----Original Message Follows---- From: Erwinspiano@aol.com Reply-To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: vert hammer replacement Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2004 00:53:38 EST Joe- thanks for the perspective. My thoughts exactly. Dale Erwin Pianolover88 queried: "After a bit of research, and talking with several techs, I've found that their time spent hanging new hammers in a vertical piano varies wildly from tech to tech; ............yada yada." If you want to be fair to yourself AND the client use the GPW Repair Labor Guide. (End of commercial.<G>) Sure, I can sling a set of hammers on a piano in less than 4 hours, but, is it a total job? Not!!!!!!! Anytime you are making a proposal to a client, take the time to research the costs of materials, use the RLG for "average" fair labor times multiplied by your hourly rate and that should be a good basis to WRITE a comprehensive estimate, for the client. Each piano is different, so take ALL things into consideration before committing. If you are talking about a 10 year old piano with only the hammers shot, (not bloody likely), then it would be no biggie to only take a few hours, w/little or no regulation needed. If it's a 100 year old upright/grand that is totally shot, but is worth doing this sort of work on, then it's going to be a "pile" of other things in addition to the "replacement of hammers"! I'll be giving a class, on this very subject, in Eugene, in February. Anyhoooo, get an RLG from Randy Potter. He publishes and markets it. Yes, I do get a residual.<G> Best Regards, Joe Garrett, RPT, (Oregon) Captain, Tool Police Squares Are I _________________________________________________________________ Rethink your business approach for the new year with the helpful tips here. http://special.msn.com/bcentral/prep04.armx
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