billing

[David ilvedson]

> Date:          Fri, 15 Aug 1997 19:58:03 -0400 (EDT)
> From:          Les Smith <lessmith@buffnet.net>
> To:            pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject:       Re: billing
> Reply-to:      pianotech@ptg.org

I think Les has some good points, but let's remember when we are 
learning a new skill it will take sometime to be efficient.  
Don't overcharge the customer because of your lack of skill and 
experience.  Get an idea from the list on how long it might take 
and charge accordingly even if it takes you longer.  This is an 
opportunity to get paid something to learn/experience a new 
skill!  Can't beat that...

David ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA


> 
> 
> On Fri, 15 Aug 1997, Vanderhoofven wrote:
> 
> > I know that a doctor would go ahead and charge, even if his patient didn't
> > get any better, but I don't feel right in doing that.  My "patient" didn't
> > get better, and I feel that the customer should pay for results.
> > 
> > Any suggestions?
> 
> Yeah. The doctor goes ahead and charges, even if the patient DIES! Give
> the customer a break on what you charge for the pedal-work if you like--
> like charge him for one hour, instead of two--but charge SOMETHING!. Don't
> ever sell yourself short, or work for free. My feeling is that you gave it
> your best shot and that that deserves compensation. Sometimes piano tech-
> nicians have a tendency to forget that they are businessmen and women.
> A customer smiling, slapping you on the back and saying "Gee, thanks for
> the two hours of free work" won't pay your bills! 
> 
> In the future, if you come up against a problem like the upright sos-
> tenuto mechanism which you're worried about you ability to handle, claim
> time constraints, charge and get paid for the tuning and tell the customer
> that you'll have to come back the next time you're in the area. That will
> give you time to check with the list here, some other local techs, or
> even a text or two that will tell you what you need to know to perform
> the needed service. Then go back, do the work, AND GET PAID! :)
> 
> Les Smith  
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
ilvey
Pacifica, CA
ilvey@a.crl.com