Overcharge?

[Pianotoone@aol.com]

I live in a town in Michigan with a population of 7000, but do most of my work
in a neighboring town with a population of about 70,000

Recently I was called to service a piano which was 1/2 step or more flat.

When the lady originally called me she asked me what the cost would be and she
mentioned that the piano had not been tuned in some time.   I told her a
standard tuning fee was $60.00 and if the pitch had to be raised there would
be an additional fee of $40.00.

When I got to her home, explained that her piano was indeed way flat, showed
her the numbers on my trust SAT and explained that although I recommended it,
it was not absolutely imperative to have the piano brought to pitch.  She said
go ahead.

When I finished she said her husband had only given her $70.00 because that's
what she thought it would be.  I told her fine.  Just give me the $70.00 and
mail the rest to me ASAP.  I also told her that she would need anothe tuning
in about a month and that would cost $60.00.  But if she had her piano tuned
at least once a year after that she should not have any more problems like the
above.

Today her husband called me very irate and told me he had explained the
situation to several other piano tuners in the area and they said the maximum
for any pitch raise/tuning call would be $65.00  And furthermore if they had
to come back in a month that call would cost $30.00.

I know for a fact that the closest tuner to this client other than me is 25-35
miles away.

I have already written this guy off as a client, because in over 12 years of
this kind of work, this was the first time my fees have been criticized.  As a
matter of fact he is refusing to pay the addtional $30.00 that is still owed.
I have the wifes signature on the invoice showing what was due and what was
paid.  But I hesitate to take $30.00 to small claims court.

NOW THE QUESTION???  Do these fees seem out of line?

$60.00 standard tuning
$40.00 for pitch change (any amount at all over +/- 15c,regarless of the
number of passes)
And then another tuning in one month.

Thanks for the wisdom of the list.

Dick Day
Marshall MI