---------- > From: Burnersman@aol.com > To: pianotech@ptg.org > Subject: wage increasing > Date: Saturday, September 13, 1997 7:59 AM > Dear Ed, I just went through the same thing in early August. I had been $60.00 for about 2 years and raised to $63.00 (5%). I don't like to raise but I felt I was slipping behind what I should have left over for fun things. Yesterday I tuned for a lady I hadn't tuned for since before 1982. She has since moved into the burbs (as have I) and her little Whitney spinet now has 3 daughters to play on it. She was not home from work when I arrived and I found the piano to be -23c low. I asked the daughters to reach her on the phone and explained that IF I raised the pitch to A-440 the piano should be tuned again in 1 month. She said she would and before I got off the phone she asked me why I raised my prices so much compared to what I used to charge. Whoa. How much more do autos cost as compared to before 1982. How about houses, how about anything? I did the best I could with the rage silently working at my skill level. I didn't tell her how much money she didn't spend on tuning since 1982 and a lot of other things I wanted to. I really hope she doesn't call back for the 1 month appointment. You have to make your work worthwhile to yourself as sometimes the client doesn't agree with your expectations. James Grebe pianoman@inlink.com > list > > not to beat what I charge into the ground again but every 2 years I'm in the > same argument with myself. Is it time to raise prices? > Aren"t you making enough? Where does the money go? > All things in moderation they say but in todays world there are just to many > things, or "stuff" as a comedian once put. > for some reason i always fill guilty at the increase so i figure my timing is > about > right.but for an hour in the home(i know there's more involved for one apt.) > our rates boggles my mind. > I don'T like to mess with lil numbers so my rates change by $5.00. > Sooooo my final argument to my self and those customers who do moan > (I sometimes think your price is right if at least 1/3 of those billed do > moan) > my final argument is cost of living increase. > so my list friends can any one please give me the cost of living increase > over > the last 2 years? > this would put my mind to rest and I could think worry about less complicated > things like did I kick the dog this morn. should I mow my grass on to my > neighbors > drive or should I buy that new Sears lawn tractor with plow wts. and chains > argh > argh argh (tim allen noise ). > Help if you please it is seriously on my mind > thank you > > ed c > akron o
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