This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Hi List, Wim got me to thinking about this one. In a post he wrote regarding the = rebuilding (or perhaps reconditioning would be a better word, depending = upon your perspective) of a Lester grand he wrote: ...if you are going to do this to "make" money, you're wasting your = time.=20 You'll never be able to sell a Lester grand for the amount of time = you've put=20 into it. You'll be lucky to recoup the materials you've used.=20 I'm curious as to what might be going on in other markets. And I would = suppose a lot would depend on how you would define "making money". Let me give a couple of examples from my local area. (Please bear in = mind that these weren't 'learning experiences' per say, we were in it = for the profit. But here goes...) Last year, I took a 5'2 no name grand, (picked up for disposal) new = pinblock, new hammers, new dampers, new keytops/fronts, restrung, and = refinished, and it sold about 2 months after being done for $8500+. (I = did a wholesale deal with a dealer. He got the piano as it was for = $5000, and I had no further obligation whatsoever. He received the rest = for a sales commission, and his obligations to the customer (warranty, a = couple of tunings, etc.). I kept records of my expenses. I spent = $761.30. Which means if I spent 175 hours to do it, (which I didn't, = but I'm illustrating,) for $4238.70, I earned $24.22 per hour for my = time. Perhaps it could be construed as not being as profitable as the = same time spent tuning, but I'd hardly call it a waste of time. There's = a lot of people working at Burger King that'll never see $24.22 per = hour. (And I AM under-stating here.) Also last year, the shop I work for took a Mason & Hamlin 5'8" grand = that they picked up for disposal, gave it 'the works', as in complete = rebuild, (new board included), and sold it for about $18,000. They put = in about $1600 in parts and materials, plus about 275 man hours. That's = a $2650 profit above and beyond the customary charge of shop labor at = $50.00 per hour. Again, I'd hardly call that not making any money. Right now, also in the shop I'm working for, is a 5'8" Baldwin grand. = We're not finished with it yet, but the materials are estimated around = $1500. We're guessing it will come in at around 235 hours. The price = tag is somewhere in the $16,000 range (completely rebuilt), and again, = I'd hardly call that 'not making any money'. You can do the math. I don't recite these examples out of hostility or vengeance, but I = believe that telling someone that they 'can't make any money' doing = rebuilds can be a little misleading. I'm not saying anyone and everyone = can do what I've been fortunate enough to do. Some may not do as well. = Some may do much better. Yes, they can be a lot of work. Yes, your = profits won't be so great on pianos you've spent a lot more time = learning on, if you're considering your time at a full $40 or $50 or $60 = per hour. But with some experience, which you get when you do them, = your skills improve, your efficiency improves, and your bottom line = hopefully improves as well. I realize that different geographic and demographic areas can be = radically different. This is but a sample. It just makes me squirm a = little when someone says there's no money to be made in...(fill in any = subject). Much can depend upon perspective and the approach used in = your individual situation. =20 Just some food for thought. No offence intended. Brian Trout Quarryville, PA btrout@desupernet.net ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/02/79/1d/ad/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC