In a message dated 98-11-25 02:14:59 EST, you write: << 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 >> I charge $75.00 per hour for all the work I do. I take 1 hour to tune a piano. When I do extra work in a customer's house, I base it on $75.00 per hour. If I take 1.5 hours to tune and repair, the bill will come to $115. When I do shop work, I base it on $75.00 per hour. For instance, I take 4 hours to hang a set of hammers. I charge $300 for the labor, plus the retail cost of the hammers, (2 x wholesale). This doesn't count shaping or voicing the hammers, and it doesn't count regulating the action. For those of you who are charging $75 for a tuning, but are taking 2 hours to tune a piano, you are only making $37.50 per hour. Have you ever thought about the expenses involved in your work and your home? Have you figured out how much money you need to earn to make a living? Try it once, and see if you are charging enough to make ends meet. Willem Blees.
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