There is an old saying Marshall--"YOU CAN BUY OATS PRETTY CHEAP ALSO----IF YOU WAIT TILL THEY COME THROUGH THE HORSE" DON' T BE AFFRAID TO CHARGE-- AND YES---I AM SCREAMING SO ALL YOU ELECTRONIC TUNERS CAN STICK YOUR PLUGS BACK IN YOUR EARS. RON > > From: "pianotune05" <pianotune05@comcast.net> > Date: 2006/01/27 Fri AM 10:31:41 EST > To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech@ptg.org> > Subject: Re: Re: prospecting for customers from an old pro > > Think God said that when I was born, Look out world...:) > > I'm not much lower than the ohter guys in town, just in the ball park. In > my opinion, when I gain their experience, I'll charge what they do. Maybe > I'm wrong, but again perhaps I"m right. As for people person, that's > partially why it takes me longer to tune at the thrift store when I do the > practice tuning. People stop by and talk with me, a minute here, two there > five here and wow, I lost a half hour. Now which pin was I on.? Dogs, I > like most, but I can't stand the little yappy dogs. I love bassets. We > found ours by the way as I mentioned she got away last Friday night. I hope > and pray that someone is at the church when I stop by. A half hour wait in > the cold for another bus won't be too much fun.;) > Marshall > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <ronmay_rpt@bellsouth.net> > To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech@ptg.org> > Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 10:05 AM > Subject: Re: Re: prospecting for customers from an old pro > > > > MARSHALL > > > > I HAVE A GREAT SHOCK FOR MANY. AS MUCH AS WE DON/T WANT TO BELIEVE IT. > > PIANO TUNING ALTHOUGH BEING AN ART IS IN MANY RESPECTS NO DIFFERENT THAN > > ANY OTHER SALES BUSINESS. The first thing we have to realize is that > > people buy productsFROM PEOPLE THEY LIKE and the first thing the average > > pianist wants is a Tuner he likes regardless of what he says. I don't care > > if you like it--BUT YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT. You can be the greatest tuner > > in the country and if you fail as a "people person" you better get a job > > at McDonalds.Most people have no idea if there piano is in tune.it's is > > your honesty and personality that will bring you back. If you don't like > > dogs, you better learn to love them. LOVE ME,LOVE MY DOG. > > > > My attitude is never charge less than my competitor and YES, I LOVE YOU > > GUYS BUT YOU ARE MY COMPETITION. If I find anyone charging the same as me > > my price always goes up $5.00 higher. Don't ever cut your price Marshall > > just charge more and give more. You confidence will fall in direct > > proportion to your falling price. > > > > When you come upon that church that has had the same tuner for years, > > Thank them and tell them "if they ever have need for another tuner please > > keep you in mind." Don't be surprised if they call you next week. > > > > LOOK OUT WORLD - HERE COMES MARSHALL > > > > Ron May > >> > >> From: "pianotune05" <pianotune05@comcast.net> > >> Date: 2006/01/27 Fri AM 07:54:36 EST > >> To: <ilvey@sbcglobal.net>, "Pianotech List" <pianotech@ptg.org> > >> Subject: Re: prospecting for customers from an old pro > >> > >> I always tell them to keep their existing tuner when I call. I also > >> mention > >> that I'm simply trying to find who doesn't have a piano tuner and fill > >> that > >> need. Sometimes they'll ask for my information in case they can't get a > >> hold of the regular guy, but I won't pressure nor ask anyone to change. > >> Also, I do not charge way below what the tuners here charge. I'm told > >> that > >> I'm in the ball park. I also don't give the impression that I'm an > >> expert > >> whatever that might be.;) I simply ask if they have a piano tuner who > >> tunes > >> their piano on a regular basis, Yes, then great, I'm glad you are having > >> yoru piano tuned etc. Cold calling doesn't necessarily work in terms of > >> getting a tuning appointment ,but it let's people know you're out there. > >> Marshall > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "David Ilvedson" <ilvey@sbcglobal.net> > >> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> > >> Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 12:17 AM > >> Subject: RE: prospecting for customers from an old pro > >> > >> > >> > All great advice! I would hope if I was the tuner for one of those > >> > places Marshall/whomever stopped to leave his tuning info, they would > >> > say..."no, we've been using the same fellow for years." I would also > >> > say that cold calls and giving the impression you are an expert and > >> > then > >> > cutting the normal tuning fees way down is not OK...at least in my > >> > book. > >> > > >> > David Ilvedson, RPT > >> > Pacifica, California > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > ----- Original message ---------------------------------------- > >> > From: ronmay_rpt@bellsouth.net > >> > To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech@ptg.org> > >> > Received: 1/26/2006 7:59:37 PM > >> > Subject: prospecting for customers from an old pro > >> > > >> > > >> >>OK Marshall and list > >> > > >> >>Now you are in my ball park from another life. > >> > > >> >>Over my past many years I've done a number of things and 2nd only to > >> >>being > >> >>one of the > >> >>last students of Braid White one of my biggest assets in this business > >> >>has > >> >>been sales > >> >>and prospecting skills learned in several sales positions. The best > >> >>being > >> >>the Life > >> >>Insurance Industry and a lot of training from a fellow every good > >> >>salesman > >> >>knows by the > >> >>name of Dale Carnagie. This training has helped me in building two > >> >>very > >> >>good and > >> >>successful piano service businesses. One in Columbus, OH and now again > >> >>in > >> >>Vero > >> >>Beach,FL and continues to help me everyday in this business. > >> > > >> >>First of all the best sourse of business be it piano tuning or selling > >> >>cookies is that of a > >> >>third party influence. Otherwise known as a referral. Marshall you > >> >>should > >> >>never leave > >> >>anyone's home without the name of several of your customers friends > >> >>that > >> >>own pianos. > >> >>"Mrs. Jones, I am just beginning my piano tuning business and I need > >> >>your > >> >>help, Can > >> >>you give me the names of a couple of people you know that own pianos > >> >>and > >> >>may need > >> >>them tuned" Once you get them it is simple to call or send a card to > >> >>the > >> >>referral and say > >> >>"I tuned your friend Joe's piano and he suggested I contact you" > >> >>When you get good enough to take care of Piano Teachers, ASK FOR a > >> >>referral to > >> >>their students and give them a bunch of cards. IF YOU DON'T ASK-YOU > >> >>PROBABLY > >> >>WON'T RECEIVE > >> > > >> >>Second nothing takes the place of a cold call. As you are driving > >> >>down > >> >>the street and > >> >>pass a church or private school, Walk in the door with your card in > >> >>hand. > >> >>Ask for who > >> >>ever is in charge of the music department or pianos tell them what you > >> >>do > >> >>and ASK FOR > >> >>THEIR BUSINESS. I guarantee you that no other technician has done > >> >>that. > >> > > >> >>Third make up a simple post card with your advertisement on it and mail > >> >>it > >> >>to all the > >> >>churches, nightclubs schools, etc. > >> > > >> >>Fourth Take care of your customer like they are GOLD because they are. > >> > > >> >>If you do these things, you will be further business wise in 1 year > >> >>than > >> >>most will be in 5. > >> >>That is one reason that 20% of the salesforce sells 80% of the > >> >>merchandise. > >> > > >> >>Fifth: Get Dale Carnagie's book "How to win friends and influence > >> >>people > >> >>and practice > >> >>what it says. > >> > > >> >>Sixth: Do what my kindergarten Sunday School Teacher taught me to do > >> >>with > >> >>my first > >> >>Bible lesson: > >> >> "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" If you > >> >> are running late > >> >>for an > >> >> appointment, call them etc. etc. etc. > >> > > >> >>Good Luck Marshall > >> > > >> >>Ron May, RPT > >> >>Vero Beach > >> >>> > >> >>> From: "pianotune05" <pianotune05@comcast.net> > >> >>> Date: 2006/01/26 Thu PM 10:24:57 EST > >> >>> To: "Cy Shuster" <cy@shusterpiano.com>, "Pianotech List" > >> >>> <pianotech@ptg.org> > >> >>> Subject: Re: prospecting for customers > >> >>> > >> >>> Cy, > >> >>> Thanks. Do I need to be a member to access it? My membership app. > >> >>> is > >> >>> in > >> >>> progress everyone. I"m excited. > >> >>> Marshall > >> >>> ----- Original Message ----- > >> >>> From: "Cy Shuster" <cy@shusterpiano.com> > >> >>> To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech@ptg.org> > >> >>> Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 9:51 PM > >> >>> Subject: Re: prospecting for customers > >> >>> > >> >>> > >> >>> > Marshall, > >> >>> > > >> >>> > The PTG has a "Business Resource Manual" that answers many of your > >> >>> > questions: > >> >>> > https://www.ptg.org/store/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=74 > >> >>> > > >> >>> > --Cy-- > >> >>> > > >> >>> > > >> >>> > > >> >>> > _______________________________________________ > >> >>> > Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > >> >>> > >> >>> _______________________________________________ > >> >>> Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > >> >>> > >> > > >> >>_______________________________________________ > >> >>Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > _______________________________________________ > Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives >
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