Business: getting and keeping customers

[Pianoman]

Hi,
I call ALL my past clients after about 8 months as a reminder.  If I leave a 
message on their machine I make a note of the date on my files.  I go 
through my files alphabetically so the next time I come to them I call again 
and leave a message.  I keep calling until I get them live.  If they say no, 
they are not ready, I ask them if they would like me to call back and when. 
I make a note of that.  If they say no, I make a note to WCM and the date. 
If they have not called me after a year from that date I call one more time 
and talk to them live before I delete them.  Sometimes it is years before I 
tune for them again and sometimes they have found another tuner.  I find it 
helpful NOT to ask why they did not use me instead of someone else, as it 
only makes me feel bad.  You can't win them all.
James
James Grebe   Piano Tuning & Repair   Member of M.P.T.
R.P.T. of the P.T.G. for over 30 years.   "Member of the Year" in 1989
Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups, Piano Benches, Writing 
Instruments,Table Timepieces
 (314) 845-8282   1526 Raspberry Lane   Arnold, MO 63010
Researcher of St. Louis Theatre History
BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE!
pianoman at accessus.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <KeyKat88 at aol.com>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 07, 2006 8:04 AM
Subject: Business: getting and keeping customers


> Greetings,
>
>        Is it advantageous to be agressive with customers, ie; sending
> reminder cards twice or calling if they dont call for a tuning within a 
> month after
> you'e sent them one reminder? Or...is it a turn off. I tend to think it is 
> a
> turn off.
>
>        Before I was a tuner, when I needed my piano tuned, I simply called
> my tuner. IMHO, it is something you just neeeed as a piano player!  My 
> tuners
> throughout the years never sent me a reminder card.  I do send them to my
> customers. I usually ask if they want a reminder.  Thoughts?
>
> Julia
> Reading, PA
>