James, thanks for letting me know what you think. If a customer can't understand that they have to pay bills on time like the rest of the world I don't care if they call a different technician. I have lots of other business from people who pay on time. If other technicians don't mind dealing with people who take 1.5/2 months to pay that's okay with me. Its not going to happen with me anymore though. You have a place where the Minister drives a car that would cost over $40000 and an institution that don't have to pay taxes and they are located in one of the most prosperous neighborhoods in town but they can't pay me? I don't know how upping my prices with them would cause confusion... Its all about what the traffic will bare I say... Some tuners are charging $120, so I wouldn't be going above fare market value by adding $10 per piano for these people. After all the long short is that I don't care if they feel like parting with me, I just want to be paid on time. I don't know why some technicians will let churches jerk them around but I'm not going to be one of them. Yesterday I had the plumber come over and he left a bill that was due in 10 days. Today I sent the check out and the company will get it tomorrow, what's so hard about that? My electric company won't let me go with out paying for 2 months... So, why should I put up with any less? Shawn Brock, RPT ----- Original Message ----- ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pianoman" <pianoman at accessus.net> To: <pianotech at ptg.org> Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 7:18 AM Subject: Re: [pianotech] slow paying customers revisited > $120 seems over priced. Are you going to price your self out of a job? > Too much price fluctuation confuses clients. > James > James Grebe > Since 1962 > Piano Tuning & Repair > Creator of Handsome Hardwood Products( > 314) 608-4137 1526 Raspberry Lane Arnold, MO 63010 > Researcher of St. Louis Theatre History > BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE! > www.grebepiano.com > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Michael Magness" <IFixPianos at yahoo.com> > To: <pianotech at ptg.org> > Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 6:44 PM > Subject: Re: [pianotech] slow paying customers revisited > > >> On Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 8:53 AM, Shawn Brock <shawnbrock at fuse.net> wrote: >> >>> Thanks to everyone who responded to my ramblings. I am combining your >>> thoughts for my solution. I have decided that I will stop giving the >>> multiple piano discount to each of these churches. I was charging $110 >>> for >>> the first tuning and $100 for each tuning after that. I know $10 don't >>> seem >>> like much of a discount, but sense they each have 5 pianos I was taking >>> $40 >>> off the bill and to me that's a decent discount... So that's the first >>> thing I'm going to do. My next solution is to charge $120 per tuning if >>> I'm >>> not going to be paid on the date that services are rendered. I >>> understand >>> that some large churches do have to jump through hoops to get a check >>> out to >>> a contractor but these people are just taking advantage of me. In each >>> of >>> the 2 churches the music director makes the appointment and he also has >>> the >>> ability to sign a check. In addition to this fact keep in mind each >>> time I >>> have turned in my invoice to the music director. I always get the same >>> words from each of these guys, "I'll have this in the mail to you in a >>> day >>> or two." The day or two always turns into more than thirty days. Some >>> times it has been 2 months! To me that's just B-S and making more on >>> the >>> job or not performing the work is the only way it can be handled. >>> >>> Thanks again, >>> Shawn Brock RPT >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> *From:* wimblees at aol.com >>> *To:* pianotech at ptg.org >>> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 04, 2009 1:09 PM >>> *Subject:* Re: [pianotech] slow paying customers revisited >>> >>> Shawn. >>> >>> With a big church, it usually not just one or two people who are >>> involved >>> in getting bills paid. Bills have to be approved the appropriate person, >>> (choir director), then sent to the finance committee, which meets once a >>> month, then the accountant, who approves the disbursement, and then >>> finally >>> to the person who actually writes the check. Once the check has been >>> printed, it needs to be signed by the accountant, or treasurer, and >>> maybe >>> even counter signed. All that takes time, and, as you indicated, if any >>> one >>> of those people are sick or out of town, it further delays the process. >>> >>> Two suggestions. One, talk to the choir director, or music chairman, >>> tell >>> him/her your concern, and ask for his/her recommendation on how to get >>> paid >>> faster. >>> Two, Put on the bill that if it is paid within 14/30 day, they will get >>> a >>> 10% discount. Or the other way around, say that interest at 18% will be >>> added to bill if it is paid after 30 days. If they don't pay the extra, >>> add >>> it to the next bill. You can either itemize the bill, and put on it, >>> "balance carried forward", or if you give them a discount for multiple >>> pianos, don't give them the discount the next time you tune for them. >>> >>> As far as last minute tunings, add 25% to the tuning bill for "emergency >>> service." They will either remember to call you sooner, or you'll get >>> paid >>> extra for going out of your way. >>> >>> Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT >>> Piano Tuner/Technician >>> Mililani, Oahu, HI >>> 808-349-2943 >>> Author of: >>> The Business of Piano Tuning >>> available from Potter Press >>> www.pianotuning.com >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Shawn Brock <shawnbrock at fuse.net> >>> To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org> >>> Sent: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 4:28 am >>> Subject: [pianotech] slow paying customers revisited >>> >>> List, >>> >>> I know we had a thread going not long ago on slow paying customers and >>> last >>> year I had complained a little about some of the churches I serve. I >>> have >>> some >>> questions that I would like to gather some answers for and some >>> statements >>> that may or may not be out of line (you tell me.) First: how long do >>> you >>> give >>> commercial/institutional/church customers to pay the balance for your >>> services? For most of these types of account I have been giving 14 days >>> from the >>> date of service to the date of payment due. That seems more than >>> reasonable to me, after all the phone company and other utilities don't >>> give >>> you that >>> much time from when you receive the bill to the due date. Perhaps I'm >>> being unreasonable though? I have 2 churches that are my slowest paying >>> customers, >>> and they are maybe the richest churches I work for. Each has 5 pianos >>> that >>> get regular service and both are slow paying. Its funny... It seems >>> that >>> the people with the least amount of money are the first to pay, I find >>> that >>> those folks are the ones who have a check waiting on the date of the >>> appointment... >>> So back to the topic at hand. I had cut the slow payers back to a 10 >>> day >>> due date or a "payment due on date of service" instead of the 14 days I >>> had >>> been giving them. That hasn't seemed >>> to help! Each time I work for them it never fails that I have to make >>> numerous phone calls to get my money. They both have a long list of >>> excuses >>> that >>> they run through (the accountant is on vacation, the accountant is sick, >>> we >>> misplaced the invoice, we thought we had 30 days, a check should have >>> been >>> in the mail to you, I will have to check with someone and get back with >>> you) and so on. I could have understood this once or even more, but >>> this is >>> every time I deal with these people and I'm sick of it! These 2 >>> churches >>> were served in a 2 day period and now they are both past due by more >>> than a >>> week. I wouldn't be as quick to complain but we are talking over $1000 >>> that >>> is due to me and I could use it. Last I checked I still have bills to >>> pay. >>> So what's the answer? Maybe I should charge more and give them a >>> discount >>> if they pay on time? Or is that to complicated? Maybe I should just >>> stop >>> working for them? Damn! I'm sorry but when it takes people more than >>> 30 >>> days to pay that seems a little excessive to me. Its not like these >>> people >>> even have to pay taxes... One thing that fuels my fire is these are the >>> same people who will call you and want you to come out to tune for a >>> concert >>> the same day, or the next day. They new about the concert months ago >>> but >>> didn't have the foresight to schedule the tuning. And then... They >>> show >>> you gratitude by paying in a month and a half! "We need you now and we >>> will >>> pay you when ever we want." Well, that's how it seems any how. Come on >>> people and share your wisdom with me. I could use it... After all we >>> are >>> not just talking about $1000 which is in my opinion still a substantial >>> amount of money. We are talking about 2 days worth of work and we are >>> also >>> talking about principles. If they couldn't afford to pay it would be >>> different but at a glance you know that you are just getting kicked >>> around. >>> All comments and ideas are appreciated. >>> >>> Regards, >>> Shawn Brock, RPT >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> *A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy >>> steps!<http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1219957551x1201325337/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID%3D62%26bcd%3DfebemailfooterNO62> >>> * >>> >> >> >> I solved this years ago, I thought by printing on my invoices that 1&1/2% >> interest begins after 30 days and continues monthly until paid. >> Last year I collected on a 3 tuning job along with a year's interest!! I >> guess I didn't solve it after all. >> Schools just ignore it entirely and pay when they get around to it. Most >> others are reasonably timely and I've grown more patient over the years, >> deciding to consider checks that finally arrive in my mailbox as "found" >> money! (grin) >> >> Mike >> -- >> I intend to live forever. So far, so good. >> Steven Wright >> >> >> Michael Magness >> Magness Piano Service >> 608-786-4404 >> www.IFixPianos.com >> email mike at ifixpianos.com >> > > >
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