Hi, I used to service elctronic organs, as well as servicing pianos. Some of the service manuals cost, $50 & up. Parts inventory is expensive. Other than churches, in this area, you can't even give an organ away. So since it was only 15% of my business, I let it go to someone else, about 5 years ago. There seems to be even less organ work now. So of course he has to charge a higher fee, to make a living. Regards, John M. Ross Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada DaleP34429@AOL.COM wrote: > > In a message dated 11/25/98 1:05:03 AM Central Standard Time, > JTTUNER@webtv.net writes: > > << Second thought, I think we piano tuners are in the wrong business! > > I had my electronic organ technician in my home today to repair my > Hammond organ. He was here almost two hours and charged me $130.00 for > his time (no parts needed). He told me that many organ technicians are > up to $85.00 an hour! He also said that most pipe organ technicians > charge from a low(?) $65.00 to $100.00 an hour. > > Now, are we in the wrong business??? > > Jim Turner >> > > Well, I am an electronic organ technician as well as a piano technician, truly > the mark of a misspent youth. Organ techs have a much larger investment in > service literature and parts in my experience. Usually they have to drive a > van to carry it all. It may well be that the organ tech who serviced your > Hammond actually makes the same or less than you do after expenses. Our > business bills organ service at a 20% higher rate than piano service for the > most part. It covers the additional expenses and inevitable call backs that > result from owner ignorance, acts of God, and mistakes. Your tech is right in > the ball park on his rates I believe. I know several organs techs who > basically have a $120 minimum service call for the first hour up to a 25 mile > radius. It is almost impossible to schedule organ work in a logical geographic > manner, so much time is spent on the road in between calls. In short, I would > be careful what you wish for, some old boy may sell you an organ business. > It happened to me as a callow youth and I haven't been quite right since. > > Dale > > Dale Probst > Registered Piano Technician > Ward & Probst, Inc. > Piano & Organ Service > Wichita Falls, TX
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