Discounting (was - RE: A New One)

[arth]

I've been lurking, lurking!! But I thought I'd post something here. I made an agreement with a local teacher
to tune his piano once a year FREE. In return he sends me tons of  students. He has a mail out and I receive a
certain mention. He has a certain turn over, so I keep the current students (hopefully; even after they leave
him) but I get all the new ones as well. He educates them on the necessity of tuning, and even tells them that
they need to tune up.  I send out a little thank you note to every client (they love it, and the teacher likes
it too, he likes his students to be real pleased, after all, he's in business too). I would do this for every
teacher I possibly could. After all this business is about making money, isn't it?

henry artigue
new orleans (where hurricane george is probably headed)

Alan W Deverell wrote:

> I am definitely against unjustified discounting and here are some of
> the reasons:
>
> 1) The "standard" price should represent:
>
>                 The quality of the product;
>                 the costs of making/getting it to the market;
>                 the cost of establishing/securing the sale;
>                 the value of any after sales service/support;
>                 the cost of administering the sale/transaction;
>                 an appropriate return on underlying capital investment/training;
> etc.
>                 other industry specific factors.
>
> 2) Unless merited by valid and appropriate personal or commercial
> factors a "discount" can say:
>
>                 Yes, I'm charging TOO much;
>                 my product is not WORTH what I am asking for it;
>                 I would not have GIVEN you the after sales service/support anyway;
>                 my family can (deserve to) LIVE on less so your family have more;
>                 so, your customer needs/deserves a GRATUITY ? !!!!
>                 yes, "kick-backs" are an acceptable business practice;
>                 I can see that YOUR needs are greater than mine;
>                 I desperately NEED work and will meet any price/arrangement;
>                 I can survive the time distractions of "negotiating" instead                            of
> actually using that time for working;
>                 etc. etc. etc.
>
> I could go on... but, I have to spend SOME time working.
>
> AlanD (fighting to balance his distractions with work)
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org
> >[mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf
> >Of VOCE88@AOL.COM
> >Sent: Friday, September 25, 1998 8:31 AM
> >To: pianotech@ptg.org
> >Subject: Re: A New One
> >
> >
> >In a message dated 9/24/98 12:52:52 PM Eastern Daylight
> >Time, atodd@UH.EDU
> >writes:
> >
> >> List,
> >>
> >     I just finished a phone call with a piano teacher who
> >asked if I would give a discount (group rate) if she referred all her
> >students to me. In the past, I've given small discounts to multiple
> piano
> >situations and occasionally to teachers, but this one wanted a
> discount
> >for all her students too. Unbelievable.
> >     That's the first time I've been asked for a discount
> >since I've been in Houston. Most of the people I've tuned for were
> more
> >interested in good work than saving a few dollars. That's one black
> hole I'm
> >not going to get into again.
> >>     Just my opinion.
> >>
> >>  Avery (venting a little)
> >>
> >
> >Avery,
> >
> >     Just a thought - Would offering this teacher free
> >tunings justify her
> >crowd and satisfy her?
> >
> >Good Luck
> >
> >Richard Galassini
> >Cunningham Piano Co
> >1 800 394 1117