wear and tear on da nerves

[David Ilvedson]

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But Terry will claim his referals are because he's the=
 cheapest...YIKES   Not how I want to be thought of...

David I.

----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
From: David Love <davidlovepianos@comcast.net>
To: 'Pianotech' <pianotech@ptg.org>
Received: Mon, 15 Nov 2004 07:36:25 -0800
Subject: RE: wear and tear on da nerves

I was joking about charging extra for the noise.  I guess I=
 forgot my smiley face.  I have a flat fee for tuning, additional=
 incremental flat fees for pitch raising (the additional fee will=
 depend on how much pitch raising needs to be done), an hourly=
 for all other work.  My minimum show up fee, inspection fee,=
 assessment or  appraisal fee is the same as my tuning flat fee. =
 Basically, the first hour costs more.  I do, after all, have to=
 get there.  My hourly fee is about 75% of my basic tuning fee.  =
  In all honesty, I don=92t get near the $300. price I read=
 recently for a tuning plus pitch raise.  A normal pitch raise=
 just doesn=92t take me that much longer, maybe 15 - 30 minutes, so=
 I add depending on how severe the pitch raise is.  I just don=92t=
 find that a normal tuning varies that much in time to worry=
 about the hourly aspect of my tuning fee.  Variations are=
 usually on the short side, not on the long side, so it wouldn=92t=
 really be benefit to me.  At the least it would simply cost me=
 time in explanations.  I prefer simple fee structures and I=
 think customers do to.  
 
Pricing structure is important.  I am dubious about claims that a=
 higher fee will send everyone scrambling for the lower price. =
 Most customers are referred and will tolerate a variation in=
 price structure if they trust they are getting good work.  There=
 probably is a point at which a higher price structure will cost=
 you more in lost business than you gain by higher fees.  That=92s=
 the price point you need to find.  If you can work less for=
 higher fees and make the same amount of money, you are better=
 off.  Having a larger client base, however, gives you more=
 access to potential =93other=94 work, rebuilding and things like=
 that so there may be other factors to consider.  A larger client=
 base also gives you an option to pick and choose the work you=
 want to do.  That counts for something as well.  
David Love
davidlovepianos@comcast.net 
-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org=
 [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Sarah Fox
Sent: Monday, November 15, 2004 6:44 AM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Re: wear and tear on da nerves
 
Hi David,
 
>Bad idea.  I would say that most of the time my tuning fee=
 exceeds my hourly rate.   
 
Hmmmm...
 
Then you may be charging too much for your tunings or too little=
 for your other work?
 
Or if you think your fees are about right, mix flat fees with=
 hourly fees.  For instance, charge a flat rate to come to the=
 house, plus an hourly fee on top of that.  If you feel the=
 tuning work demands more money even so, charge a higher hourly=
 rate for the tuning work, explaining to the customer that it's=
 more intensive work, requires more expertise, or however you=
 want to justify it.
 
Or perhaps have a flat rate  to come out, a flat base rate to=
 start tuning, and your typical hourly rate on top of that. =
 Structure your flat rates and hourly rates so that you come out=
 where you want to be, on average.  Justify the base rate however=
 you wish.
 
Or perhaps charge your normal tuning fee as a flat rate, but=
 allot a certain amount of time for the tuning and charge a steep=
 (double) hourly rate for any time you have to go over.
 
However you do it, it's your option how you respond to the=
 vacuum.  If you're running behind schedule and have several=
 other clients waiting on you, you can just suffer through,=
 without as good an outcome.  If you're ahead of schedule, take a=
 paid break while you wait for the noise to subside.  Your=
 choice.
 
Of if all that complicates life too much for you and/or your=
 customers, and you would still rather charge a flat rate for=
 tunings, don't complain when the job gets longer because of=
 doodads atop the piano, vacuum cleaners, etc -- or difficult=
 pianos, for that matter.  That's the cost of simplicity.  But=
 guaranteed, if you charge by the hour, you'll either walk into=
 houses with pianos stripped of doodads, or you won't mind=
 spending the time ($$$) carefully moving them out of your way. =
 And the vacuum cleaner probably won't be fired up, but if it is,=
 consider it a paid coffee break.
 
Anyway, it's all a tradeoff:  complexity of fee structure vs.=
 aggrivation on the job.  ;-)
 
Peace,
Sarah
 


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