[pianotech] Is this the work of an RPT?

[Ken & Pat Gerler]

Matthew,
If you know in advance, that you will not be able to make your dues, send a note to the home office.  Back in the late 80's I had extensive bills putting a step-son through college.  I sent a note to the home office saying I was going to have to drop my membership.  Then about four years later, I took the test again and got my RPT status back.

Ken Gerler
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Matthew Todd 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2011 11:44 PM
  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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