[pianotech] Is this the work of an RPT?

[Gerald Groot]

That isn't true at all Matthew.  That, my friend, is a frame of mind - a
mindset that you and many other tuners have made for yourself that sets your
prices low and keeps them low.  What you think, is not necessarily the
actual way things work in business.  In any business.  Prices must be raised
from time to time in order to keep up with the cost of living and in order
to make a living.  I've heard many tuners say that "my customer won't pay
that!" That's wrong.   I have a friend here who lives in Grand Rapids 12
minutes from where I live that says the same thing.  Yet, I have the same
exact customer types as he does.  Mine pay it.  His might not though but,
that is only because of his negative attitude.  

 

Case in point.  As an example only.  My base fee for tuning here, is $150.
That is JUST for tuning only!  Major pitch raises are extra.  Removing the
action is extra.  Repairs are extra.  Sure, I toss little things in here and
there, we all do that.  But, that is besides the point.  I average well
above that price for most tunings.  I tune at least 3 or 4 a day and am
always booked ahead all year long.  I used to tune 6-9 a day but at age 55,
I'm intentionally slowing myself down, trying to go for 3 tunings a day but,
I'm far too busy to do that so, I keep tuning more and more.  J  For this
next month, I will be tuning no less than 5 a day, 6 days a week.  I am
booked solid through September.  I have most of October booked out.  I have
all of November booked out.  I have all of December booked out.  I have all
of January booked out.  I have all of March booked out.  By booked out, I
mean NO openings at all.  I have 4 or 5 action jobs already scheduled for
next summer.  So, if what you said were true about raising prices, I would
have gone out of business long ago.   

 

That did not come by me "naturally."  I worked my tail off for years to
build up my business and my reputation so that I could be that busy.  The
fact is, our business is built up on our own reputations.  On our honesty,
our integrity, our quality of workmanship, on our dependability and much
more not to mention how we treat our customers.  It's no wonder so many
tuners are complaining about a lack of work with how they treat the RPT's in
here.  If they treat their clients the same way, I would never call them and
being an RPT that knows these people, I would NEVER recommend them nor would
I sub contract anything to them.  That becomes their loss.  Attitude is
everything.  

 

Jer

 

 

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Matthew Todd
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2011 10:14 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Is this the work of an RPT?

 

Thank you sir.

 

That is why I said "standard tuning service".

 

My point was that if we raised our own rates each year, after a while, no
one would want to pay the money, and we would soon be out of business.
Sure, maybe it's an assumption, but I will not be the one to try it to see
if it is true.

 

 

TODD PIANO WORKS

Matthew Todd, Piano Technician 
(979) 248-9578

http://www.toddpianoworks.com <http://www.toddpianoworks.com/> 

 

From: Jim Coleman <jcpanoman at colemantools.com>
To: Matthew Todd <toddpianoworks at att.net>; pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Thursday, September 1, 2011 8:28 AM
Subject: Re: Re: [pianotech] Is this the work of an RPT?




Matthew,

 

 First, you wrote, "I'd be up over $200 for a standard tuning service."  If
you were doing something on the order of a full service on your visit, that
is tuning, some minor voicing, regulation touch-up, etc, you would be in the
ball bark.

PTG's dues are a bargain!  We provide a sort of full service.....available
to almost 4,000 members around the world.  If we did not keep the dues in
line with increasing costs, and improving our 'service' to the membership
you would, in time, have no educational resources, no Journal (worth the
dues by it's self!), no website, no adequate Home Office building or
personnel, the RCOs would be on their own and eventually disappear, no
Annual Convention, etc.

The teaching and learning of new and better ways to service our clients
would possibly revert back 60 years or so to the way it was when my
grandfather was in the business and teaching my dad. They did not want to
share any secrets with an 'outsider' lest they make more money

or take away any of their customers.

I can guarantee you that my dad nor I would be who or what we are today
without PTG. And where would many of today's technicians be without my dad,
LaRoy Edwards, Norm Neblett, Web Phillips, Al Sanderson, and so many other
giants in the world of piano technology. 

 

So, to you Matthew and the other members on this list, if you want to be all
you can be as a piano technician, get seriously involved in

PTG.   If you haven't challenged the tests, DO IT !  Get involved in your
chapter, be a delegate to council! Run for office!

Who knows you could be president of PTG some day.

 

So much to say and so little time.

 

Jim Coleman, Jr  

Proud to be an RPT

 

 

-------Original Message-------

 

From: Matthew Todd <mailto:toddpianoworks at att.net> 

Date: 08/31/11 23:00:05

To: pianotech at ptg.org

Subject: [Norton AntiSpam] Re: [pianotech] Is this the work of an RPT?

 

Dues increase Patrick?  So what else is new?  If I raised my rates as much
and as often as the PTG raises theirs, I'd be up over $200 for a standard
tuning service.

 

TODD PIANO WORKS Matthew Todd, Piano Technician 
(979) 248-9578

http://www.toddpianoworks.com <http://www.toddpianoworks.com/> 

From: J Patrick Draine <jpdraine at gmail.com>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 1:50 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Is this the work of an RPT?



Bill, 

Have you spoken to this particular RPT about the piano? Have you offered to
show him how the work ought to be done?

If you care enough to bring the situation forward to the public as you have,
you might consider following the procedures outlined in the PTG Bylaws,
Disciplinary Code. While I doubt that any action would be taken against him,
getting the appropriate committees involved may be just the "wake up call"
that he needs.

On another note, I suggest you read the September Journal's "Executive
Outlook" column, this month written by Vice President Chris Solliday. You
will see that our elected leadership is considering furthering our
"continuing education and training." This of course will need a major "buy
in" from the membership (and, yes, probable dues increases) before any such
plan is implemented.

Check it out, and get involved!

Patrick Draine

On Wed, Aug 31, 2011 at 9:41 AM, Bill Fritz <pianofritz50 at aol.com> wrote: 

As to the work being performed, I've already answered that, w/ the
customer's confirmation, and more detailed info on my part.

 


		

 
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