What's a fair price to charge for tuning a piano

pianotune05 pianotune05@comcast.net
Wed, 8 Feb 2006 22:32:17 -0500


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I wish I had the problem of too many tuning appointments :)
Marshall
ps. I'm still passing out cards, advertising, talking to you guys on the =
list.  I'm getting some tunings here and there.
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: pianolady50@peoplepc.com=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 8:31 PM
  Subject: Re: What's a fair price to charge for tuning a piano


  Okay, my thoughts on this!   Most people do not want to wait more than =
a few weeks for an appointment.  Part of customer service is just that - =
service.  You need to please the customer by being able to make an =
appointment within a reasonable length of time.  As a tech you can only =
service X number of pianos per day/week.  As a customer, waiting longer =
than three weeks is too long (my opinion).  So, once you get too booked, =
how do you control it?  Price.  You tune fewer pianos, have more time =
for your customers and yourself and earn the same amount of money (or =
more).

  Debbie
    ----- Original Message -----=20
    From: pianotune05@comcast.net=20
    To: Pianotech List=20
    Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 5:07 PM
    Subject: Re: What's a fair price to charge for tuning a piano


    I'm curious,
    Why would it be a bad thing to be booked well in advance.  I know a =
guy who 's booked 6 weeks or so in advance.  I think that would be a =
good thing, and knowing my financial situation, I sure wish I was booked =
solid.
    Marshall

      -------------- Original message --------------=20
      From: A440A@aol.com=20

      > Joseph writes:=20
      >=20
      > << Whe I facture that sales tax, car=20
      >=20
      > expenses (tolls, gas, etc.) and travel time are=20
      >=20
      > deducted from the gross fee, I do not see how I can=20
      >=20
      > charge less than $100 for a basic tuning. >>=20
      >=20
      > In the beginning, you will have to charge little enough to =
simply attract the=20
      > customers that are price shopping. You will want to move out of =
this category=20
      > as fast as you can. You will do this by impressing enough =
customers so that=20
      > word of mouth, (is there anywhere else words come from?, uh, I =
know a couple=20
      > of people that talk out their a. ahhhh, well, I'll just let that =
be), begins=20
      > to fill your schedule.=20
      > As soon as you realize that you are missing customers b! ecause =
you don't=20
      > have time to get to them, you will realize that you are not =
charging enough.=20
      > You will then raise your price until you have more time than =
customers, oops,=20
      > charging too much? You will know if your calls begin to drop =
off. (or maybe=20
      > you let your quality slip).=20
      > Return customers are the lifeblood of a service business, unless =
you=20
      > advertise so heavily that you don't need them, (hard to do). Do =
what you can to=20
      > make your customers feel like they got their money's worth. =
Customers usually=20
      > don't think in terms of dollars, but rather, what value they =
think they are=20
      > receiving. Also remember that 90% of communication is =
non-verbal, so if you are=20
      > confident that your price and the quality of your service are =
equal, your=20
      > body language, tone of voice, and general bearing will put the =
customer at ease.=20
      > A long term tech, with a large body of work and customers behind =
th! em,=20
      > will comfortably charge more than the beginner. In Nashville, =
the price of a=20
      > tuning varies from $60 to $130, depending on who is doing it. I =
have customers=20
      > that feel much better paying me twice as much as the last tuner =
they employed.=20
      >=20
      > If you are booked two months in advance, you are not charging =
enough.=20
      > If your phone is not ringing, you may be pricing yourself too =
high. The only=20
      > way to find your comfort zone is to get in the business and =
learn.=20
      > good luck,=20
      >=20
      >=20
      > Ed Foote RPT=20
      > http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html=20
      > www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html=20
      >=20
      > _______________________________________________=20
      > Pianotech list info: =
https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives 
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