[CAUT] Money, (was Job Available)

[Paul Williams RPT]

Again, I reret my off the cuff remarks and am sure this tech is on the mark 
with his prices.  I would not discourage anyone from applying. PTW
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <A440A at aol.com>
To: <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 5:16 AM
Subject: [CAUT] Money, (was Job Available)


> Greetings,
> Paul writes:
>
> <<  I  thought this was way out of line to quote prices for tunings.  <<
>
>      I am not sure why.  Right here in this town, there are advertised
> prices for plumbers, window cleaners, chiropractors, lawn maintenance, 
> gasoline,
> Lazik eye surgeons, attorneys,  and a bunch of others.  There is nothing 
> sacred
> about us tuning pianos.
>
>>>(by the way, they are way out of line for the area and circumstances) <<
>
>       I don't know what Lance's circumstances are, so I don't know how 
> that
> can be determined.  This country is built on supply and demand, (seen any
> change in gas prices over the last 10 years?).  Those La. prices are lower 
> than in
> L.A. (from what I gather), and about the same as I am charging in 
> Nashville.
> Even after growing up in Louisiana, I wouldn't want to charge less than 
> that
> to deal with the humidity, bugs, politics, and heat.
>
>>>I thought prices for work were sort of kept out of ear shot. <<
>
>    I don't remember any time that piano techs didn't know what was being 
> ch
> arged around them.
>
>>>I have no desire to apply for  this position and would recommend no RPT 
>>>do
> so. >>
>
>    What would you tell them,  that there is simply too much money to be
> made?  That a tradesman simply cannot in good conscience charge what their 
> market
> willingly pays?  We are not selling a cure for cancer.  Pianos are usually
> classified in the luxury market.  How about the interior designer that 
> charges $
> 150 an hour to hang window drapes.  Is he more artistic than the sensitive 
> ear
> deciding how many needles to put in a hammer?  I have more than a few
> customers that pay more than a tuning fee for a bottle of wine.
>    Perhaps it would be instructive to know that copier technicians charge
> approx. $ 125 and hour, (and that copier doesn't cost near what a grand 
> piano
> does).  They have far less invested in training and tools.  Or perhaps, an
> appliance repairman.  They generally charge at least as much as a piano 
> tuner, and
> rarely spend the time on a call that I do.
>    If we still have our health and the requisite skills, the sun is 
> shining.
> We better make hay while we can, because there are few pensions out there
> for us, and sooner than most of us think,  our ability to repair and tune 
> pianos
> will be gone.  Joint problems and arthritis abound in this field, so I
> suggest that all technicians strive to constantly increase their skills 
> and prices
> to go with them.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ed Foote RPT
> http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
> www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
>
>
>