mileage fees.

[Michelle Smith]

I live in a small town with a large highway going through the middle.  Any
tunings that are X number of miles away from the highway are charged
mileage.  Everyone who lives around here knows basically how far they are
from the highway so in our phone conversation, they already have a basic
idea of how much it will cost.

On a related subject, when the plumber was here the other day, he included
travel to/from my house in his hourly rate.  The fee was higher than most of
us probably charge and he was very "generous" to himself with the amount of
time it took.  It sure did give this newbie tuner a new perspective.  

Michelle Smith
Bastrop, Texas

  

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Hechler Family
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 10:30 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: mileage fees.

David, et all,

That is hard to do especially when you expand you work expertise (player 
piano and reed organ services). I charge for round trip mileage from my 
house ( 44.5 cents per mile) for anyone outside of my metro area (St. 
Louis, MO). For example, I was contacted for a reed organ rebuild which 
was over 2 hours away. When I talked to the person, they had no problem 
paying for mileage on top of my regular rebuild rate. I also charge for 
trailer rental on top of that.

I figure as long as you are up front with people, they won't mind paying 
for mileage - especially with the gas prices these days - we are at 
$3.09 for regular.

Regards,
Duaine

David Ilvedson wrote:
> I think that is sensible...choose your work area and stay in it...
>
> David Ilvedson, RPT
> Pacifica, CA 94044
-- 
Duaine Hechler
Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ
Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding
Associate Member of the Piano Technicians Guild
Reed Organ Society Member
St. Louis, MO 63034
(314) 838-5587
dahechler at charter.net
www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com