Charges

[Michael Magness]

On 8/18/07, Matthew Todd <toddpianoworks at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I know a lot of shops that charge for a minimum service fee.  They may
> charge $50 or $60 an hour, and if their work only takes half an hour, they
> still charge for the full hour.
>
> What if you went to a new clients home to tune, and upon doing a
> pre-tuning inspection, found a split bridge among other problems, that would
> render the piano useless to tune until those problems were fixed?  I would
> hope that you would at least charge a flat service fee, whether it's an hour
> or whatever.
>
> Matthew
>

Hi Matthew,
The scenario you've outlined is quite different from the initial question
and I have no quarrel with your statements.
If I find a situation such as you describe, I give the customer a written
estimate, on the spot if possible or if not, by mail as promptly as
possible. I charge an estimate fee, equal to my hourly rate. I will apply
that fee toward the total bill, minus tuning, for a minimum of 6 months, the
amount of time the estimate is valid. I believe it helps take the sting out
of not getting the piano tuned but still having to pay and helps customer
relations by applying it to the work when I do it. I lose nothing since I
can plan the work when I do the estimate saving time when I come back to do
the job and of course a little cushion for "incidentals" helps even things
out too.
Mike





>  *Michael Magness <IFixPianos at yahoo.com>* wrote:
>
>
>
> On 8/17/07, Dean May <deanmay at pianorebuilders.com> wrote:
> >
> > Good question.
> >
> > Consider that the Protec or Goose Juice might not work. You'd be called
> > back
> > and the customer would expect you to fix it for free. You need to charge
> > enough so that the average collected would cover any such call back. I
> > usually try to head this off, though, and explain that the lubrication
> > will
> > probably work based on my experience, but the action may need more
> > drastic
> > measures.
> >
> > It also isn't free to stock Protec/GJ and hypo oiler.
> >
> > I try to charge $20-$25 any time I get the hypo out and lubricate all
> > the
> > flanges.
> >
> > Dean
> >
> > Dean May             cell 812.239.3359
> >
> > PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272
> >
> > Terre Haute IN  47802
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
> > Behalf
> > Of David Lawson
> > Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 7:23 PM
> > To: Pianotech List
> > Subject: Charges
> >
> > I am throwing in this little scenario for you to consider when working
> > out
> > your charges.
> > Before the arrival of Protec, and the ability to place a few drops on to
> > a
> > tight centre pin, instead of removing the hammer, re-centring the flange
> > and
> > replacing them, we charged for the time taken, right? What do you do now
> > that the same job is done, with little time involved, just the cost of
> > the
> > Protec? I still charge for a flat fee for the curing of the problem, and
> > it
> > is based upon my previous charges for the full job. Am I screwing the
> > customer, or am I supplying a service that my expertise permits me to
> > carry
> > out? Curing a sticking note is the bottom line, and having a happy
> > camper
> > for a client gives you license to charge for the service given.
> > I wait with great anticipation for your replies!!
> > regards, David Lawson Wangaratta Australia.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Dean May" < deanmay at pianorebuilders.com>
> > To: "'Pianotech List'" <pianotech at ptg.org>
> > Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2007 1:38 AM
> > Subject: RE: squeaky, creaky pedal puzzler---SOLVED!
> >
> >
> > > I dare say, Ron, that you charge more per hour for your time than some
> > > beginning piano tech. You should, anyway. That isn't screwing the
> > customer,
> > > it is employing the rationale I poorly set forth at 3:00 AM this
> > morning
> > > after the birth of my fourth grandchild. Your higher rates are
> > justified
> > > precisely because you have learned some expensive early lessons. You
> > can
> > get
> > > the job done quicker now.
> > >
> > > I certainly did not intend that one should charge on a bill 18 minutes
> > of
> > > time not accounted for. Only that your total charges need to reflect
> > the
> > > expensive lessons learned.
> > >
> > > Dean
> > >
> > > Dean May             cell 812.239.3359
> > >
> > > PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272
> > >
> > > Terre Haute IN  47802
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
> > Behalf
> > > Of Ron Nossaman
> > > Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 10:40 AM
> > > To: Pianotech List
> > > Subject: Re: squeaky, creaky pedal puzzler---SOLVED!
> > >
> > >
> > > > If I got a bill from someone and was charged for 18 unexplained
> > minutes,
> > > > I would have some questions. I think your charges will appear
> > > > inconsistent if done in this manner. A better way to compensate for
> > > > experience and training value is simply to have an appropriate
> > billing
> > > > rate. An appropriate billing rate will fairly compensate you for
> > your
> > > > expertise, experience and training and your invoices will be
> > consistent
> > > > and easily understood/explained.
> > > >
> > > > Terry Farrell
> > >
> > >
> > > I quite agree. When (not if) I take too long to find some
> > > problem, and choose not to bill my client the full amount for
> > > my own ignorance, I also choose not to screw the next guy.
> > > When I hand the first guy the invoice, someone pays for my
> > > education then and there - either him or me. My choice.
> > > Ron N
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > Hi David,
> > Having been at this for only 38 years and considering myself to still
> > have things to learn, I am not as quick with the Protek as some are but
> > prefer to ascertain if the problem is singular and temporary or an indicator
> > of things to come. Perhaps it is the first of a series due to a climactic
> > change, whether seasonal or manmade. My first response is to question the
> > customer, have they moved the piano, shampooed the carpets, added a room or
> > furnace humidifier, had a water leak either plumbing or roof/window/etc. In
> > other words before I go for the simple fix, out of hand, I ascertain the
> > CAUSE, if possible. I can then form a better plan of action, for me, my
> > reputation and my customer. If it turns out that it is an isolated incident,
> > one sticky action center, there are still other remedies to try prior to
> > Protek. If it is a hammer butt center pin, strengthen the return spring,
> > jack center the same thing, whippen center I would use the Protek. Only if I
> > didn't want to pull the action to see why, which if I had the time I would
> > probably do, bent center pin, scratched capstan, I could go on.
>
>
> I point out to the newbies in our chapter constantly that piano work is a
> studied work, not so much about knowledge as about observation. If you have
> one key/note/hammer/whatever that is acting up you have 87 samples to
> compare it to and observe the differences until you figure out what's wrong.
> If they just learn to start spraying Protek and Goose Juice willy nilly at
> everything that seems odd how will they learn how to repair things
> properly?
>
> The question was about charging. I charge my hourly rate which is based on
> what I know, just as a mechanic, electrician or plumber charges an hourly
> rate that is based upon their knowledge. They then charge that rate for the
> time it takes, period. If we begin adding in small amounts based on the time
> it took us to learn each tidbit in our arsenal we could easily price
> ourselves out of business. It took me 8&1/2 hours to tune my first piano,
> how do I figure that in? I've been amassing knowledge about construction,
> air handling, AC, heating units, air flow, types of windows, flooring and
> many other things directly relating to pianos and their care for 38 years
> how do I figure that into the price? I don't! I charge my hourly rate, I
> give good advice, I do good work, work that pleases me, not my customers, my
> standards are higher! I tune to please myself, not my customers again, my
> standards are higher! I get called back by most, I work regularly, I sleep
> well, that's enough.
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Michael Magness
> Magness Piano Service
> 608-786-4404
> www.IFixPianos.com <http://www.ifixpianos.com/>
> email mike at ifixpianos.com
>
>
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>


-- 
Michael Magness
Magness Piano Service
608-786-4404
www.IFixPianos.com
email mike at ifixpianos.com
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