[pianotech] Is this the work of an RPT?

[Gerald Groot]

No, if you fail to pay your dues, we lose our RPT status and have to retake
the tests.  We are given a grace period and if for some reason, are having
tremendous financial difficulties, may be given additional time to pay
before we are dropped.  J

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Matthew Todd
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 12:45 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Is this the work of an RPT?

 

So if you become an RPT, and then fail to pay your dues one year, do you get
stript of your RPT status until you give the guild your money?

 

Matthew

 

 

From: Gerald Groot <tunerboy3 at comcast.net>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Thursday, September 1, 2011 8:37 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Is this the work of an RPT?

I love my work.  I really do.  But, if I couldn't make a living at it, I
would do something different.  But, I would most certainly not bite the hand
that feeds them.... Meaning, all of the learning you're received for nothing
here. 

I would think that anything a person could do to improve one's likelihood of
acquiring more business would be most prudent. As I said, I have received
numerous emails from people that have looked on the PTG website looking for
a piano tuner.  2 emails from the PTG website easily pays my dues for a
whole year.  :)

Jer

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Duaine Hechler
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2011 8:30 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Is this the work of an RPT?

On 09/01/2011 05:53 PM, Gerald Groot wrote:
>
> 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. JFor 
> 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
>
Jer,

That's great if you can get 5 or 6 tunings a day - really it is.

BUT - again, it called demographics - if the business ain't there - it ain't
there. You just can't go around drumming up 
business out of thin air. If nobody has pianos anymore then where are you
going to find them - in hideouts, in 
speakeasy's - do you get my point ?

And, No, I can't move where the pianos - a r e - because I have family
obligations here.

So - now that you know and understand the facts - where do I get this
business to get 5 or 6 tunings a day ?

I hope you are - not - going to tell me that obtaining RPT status is going
to drum up the pianos that ain't there ?

Duaine

-- 
Duaine Hechler
Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ
Tuning, Servicing&  Rebuilding
Reed Organ Society Member
Florissant, MO 63034
(314) 838-5587
dahechler at att.net
www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com
--
Home&  Business user of Linux - 11 years




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