[pianotech] Deposit or not?

[David Love]

Similar to Dale, there should be a structure of some type depending on the
scope of the project.  First payments should always cover all parts costs
plus some portion of your initial labor (you don't want to be working for
free at the outset waiting for the next payment).  On action rebuilding
projects that might mean 50% plus any outside contracting costs in full
(such as if you have to have a new set of keys made, for example).  Balance
on completion.  On full rebuilding projects it might be divided into thirds.
The first payment enough to cover all materials plus a percentage of the
labor costs until you reach the next payment phase in which you then ask for
another payment to cover the materials costs plus some portion of the labor
for the next phase, final payment due on completion.  Rarely does it break
out to third/third/third.  Usually it's more like 40%/35%/25% or something
like that.  If you are contracting out the refinishing and managing the
project plus the payments then the entire amount should be paid up front and
you become the fiduciary to be responsible for the transfer of payments to
the finisher.  Depending on where in the project that takes place (some
people do the finishing before stringing so the plate can be out) you might
itemize that separately outside of the scope of the other work to be
completed and treat it as a separate payment.  The main idea is that you
don't want to be out of pocket for parts or work that you have to contract
out (just in case they disappear on you), you want to have some portion of
your labor for each phase covered in advance so that you can pay yourself
something while you are working on the project, you want the balance paid on
delivery (if it's an action job for example) or in advance of the piano
being returned if it's a full restoration job.   An in shop inspection
before you return the piano is an opportune time to collect final balances
and you could even have a piano coming out party and pour some wine ;-).
Of course, make sure you factor that into the price-just kidding.

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Dale Erwin
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 7:20 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Deposit or not?

 

We work in progress payments in various forms. ie. 1/2, 1/3, /1/4.  Whatever
works!.
 It depend on how big the job is. The first one which covers the parts. 

 

 

Dale S. Erwin
www.Erwinspiano.com

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: APC Hotmail <alliedpianocraft at hotmail.com>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Tue, Nov 16, 2010 5:13 am
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Deposit or not?

I usually require half


 



 
Al -


 
High Point, NC


 



 



 
On Nov 15, 2010, at 10:56 PM, Gary wrote:


 



 
> With the high price of parts etc do you require any sort of deposit before



 
ordering or doing work?


 
> 


 



 



 



 



 
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