---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Rick, Like Phil, I've had to struggle with dealers to get them to recognize that the pianos usually need more than just a "tuning" before they get delivered(sometimes they don't even get tuned first, especially at University sales or the like). Like Ric, I charge all customers--private client and dealership--for a 1 1/2 hour service call in a customer's home. On my warranty service calls, I do mostly new pianos. The dealer gets a low, bulk rate. In return, I get the customer, as well as referrals for private clients. Though I can get a pitch raise and tuning done in that time frame pretty easily, I do add an extra 10.00 for it, if the piano was never tuned in-store(easy to tell: tuners put a small round sticker on the inside of the case). It IS wear and tear on body and ears, and it shows unwillingness to prep the piano in the store by the dealer. If the piano was tuned in-store, I don't charge(just as I do with private clients who tune their pianos on a 6 month or yearly basis), because it shows an attempt by the dealer to get the piano ready. If I go over 1 1/2 hours, I charge an hourly rate, based on 15 minute increments of time. It is half the rate I charge private clients. There are times when easing keys, lubricating, or regulating the lost-motion is a must in order to prevent future "sticky key" calls. I have explained to the dealer that it is cheaper to do this in-store or on the first service call than to have someone go back because the customer "has a sticky key." One of them used to say "it's a warranty issue!" NOT! Since it takes so little time, it usually only costs the store a few extra dollars and goes a long way towards keeping the customer happy with the product, the store, and your ability to service a piano properly. When dealing with REAL warranty issues, I like to deal directly with manufacturer's if possible. Most have been helpful and prompt with both parts and payment. Hope this helps, Dave Stahl > I usually do a flat rate for 1.5 hours of work. If I can do a > pitchraise and final tuning in that time then I dont raise my charge. If > I can get the tuning done and have time left over for other matters, > then I pay attention to those. > > I always found it easier to justify raising my charge if I actually > needed more time to finish any given job. > > RicB > > richard.ucci@att.net wrote: > > >Hi List, > > > >I've benn doing in home tunings for a local dealer for several years now , > and I'm wondering what others do in situations where the piano needs a pitch > correction of 25-40 cents. > > > >I've been charging a flat rate to the dealer and then keep the client, but > in the past the pianos were much closer to proper pitch. > > > >Should I be charging more to the dealer for the pitch raise ? I don't want > to tune a piano in a new clients home not to proper pitch. > > > >Thanks, > > > >Rick Ucci / Ucci Piano > >_______________________________________________ > >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > > ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/86/2b/f8/c2/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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