Is this normal procedure?

[Susan Kline]

Hi, Phil

I think Zen covered this well, and I concur. However, what I would do is to
explain the time constraints to them ... what percentage of your time you
can reasonably give them without crippling your normal business, and how
many hours tuning their pianos will take you. Then multiply it out, and
tell them when you could finish their work. I would offer to be sure that
special needs are met, for instance, tunings for Christmas programs, or
tunings for teachers who are complaining, and ask them if finishing the
rest by "x-date" will be soon enough for them.

Probably the person suggesting the dates hasn't a clue as to how long it
takes to tune a piano, and isn't really in all that big a hurry to get them
done. Best to give them the information in a neutral, non-blaming way. I
think they'd freak right out if asked to pay more for rush work.

Good luck,

Susan

At 10:11 AM 10/1/98 -0400, Zen wrote:
>Let's see ...
>
>At 20 pianos a week (assuming 2 hours per piano including
>pack-up-the-tools-and-move-on-to-the-next time), that will take 7 weeks to
>complete the assignment at 40 hours per week.  Don't forget there is a
>holiday tucked in there that takes up about half of one of those weeks.
>
>Bid must be received by 10/7 ... I should think that work on these critters
>should be started not later that 10/7 unless they want to pay overtime
>rates (doubtful).
>
>They should be expected to pay drop-everything-else rush rates for an
>assignment of this magnitude on notice this short.
>
>Z! Reinhardt RPT
>Ann Arbor  MI
>diskladame@provide.net
>
>----------
>From: Phil Bondi <tito@peganet.com>
>To: Pianotech List <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Subject: Is this normal procedure?
>Date: Thursday, October 01, 1998 9:44 AM
>
>Good Morning Y'all (for Jim Bryant!).
>
>I just received a bid proposal for the school system here. It seems
>pretty black and white until you get to the end.
>
>137 Pianos (or more)..work to be completed by 12/1/98...bid must be
>received by 10/7/98.
>
>seems like a short time for alot of work, doesn't it?
>
>First they carefully list how many pianos are in each
>school..address..phone#..etc.
>
>and then at the end they make that statement..are they just covering
>themselves?
>
>For those who do this kind of work, does that seem like a real short
>time to tune that many pianos?
>
>thanks for the input,
>
>Phil
>
>
>