Scheduling Appointments in Advance

[Willem Blees]

Matthew

I tried pre-scheduling appointments when I lived in St. Louis, but because?very few customer accepted the idea, so?I gave up trying. I also had trouble pre-scheduling, mostly because?I never knew what I would be doing, as far as rebuilding , teaching at seminars, vacations, time to see kids at college, etc. was concerned 6 months or a year later. 

But when I moved to Hawaii, and?bought the customer file from a deceased tuner who pre-scheduled most of his customers, I actually have customer asking for it. Since I don't do any more rebuilding, and going to the mainland for any kind of trips is virtually out of?the question, pre-scheduling is great. 

I ask if they want to tune the piano every 6 months or once a year. Most opt for 1 year, but I do have a couple of 6 month customers. I already have over?180 appointments set up over the?next 12 months. That's out of 300 customers. 

I send?my customers?a post card 2 weeks ahead of time to remind them I'll be there. (one month might be too long a lead time).?The rest I send a reminder card, asking them to call me. Then I wait a month, and call them. I've only been doing this for 9 months, and so far it's worked out great. 



Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT
Piano Tuner/Technician
Honolulu, HI
Author of 
The Business of Piano Tuning
available from Potter Press
www.pianotuning.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Todd <toddpianoworks at att.net>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Wed, 28 May 2008 4:45 pm
Subject: Scheduling Appointments in Advance



Just curious as to how many of you try and schedule the next tuning appointment at your clients home?before you leave?? Does that go well?

?

I am thinking about giving my clients two options.? They can choose schedule their next appointment there, and I'll send 'em a reminder card a month before, or if they don't want to schedule right then, I'll still send 'em a reminder a month before, then call when their due date rolls around.? I have been thinking about giving them a discount (maybe 5 bucks) if they schedule for their next appointment.

?

Just curious.

?

Thanks in advance for the input,

Matthew

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