I think your fees are more than reasonable (other than possibly, as some have suggested, on the low side. Depending on your area). One thought (picking up on Susan's comments): it's very likely that the lady fully understood the cost and fully intended to pay it. But when her husband hit the roof at shelling out that much money on a @#$%@%$@ piano, you became the scape goat to cover her rear. I also liked Susan's suggestion of writing a non-irate, face-saving (their face) letter. In which case, you would consider foregoing the $30 as a business development expense. Pianotoone@aol.com wrote: > > 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 -- Jerry Hunt Dallas, TX USA
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC