Christmas "overtime" premium?

[Brian Holden]

This has really nothing to do with pianos per se - rather, it's a supply and
demand issue.  The same dilemas arise when calling plumbers, glaziers etc.
Your charging methods are what you feel comfortable with.  I would not feel
comfortable making a surcharge for urgent work, but then I wouldn't give a
discount either!  If the urgency is due to an oversight, I would impress
upon the customer to try and plan ahead next time around.  Always keep in
mind that when making surcharges, justified or not, you are treading on
shakey ground.  Customers immediately adopt a negative attitude - they just
do.  However, if someone were to require a tuning on New year's eve or
Christmas day, an extra charge is certainly appropriate.  I would feel quite
comfortable doubling my fee.  For what it's worth, I am regularly asked to
travel to tune a grand piano at a remote hotel, an hour and a half away.
They are always happy to pay three times the normal charge.  Brian Holden


-----Original Message-----
From: David Renaud <studiorenaud@qc.aibn.com>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Wednesday, 8 December 1999 18:27
Subject: Christmas "overtime" premium?


>Lets say your booked up too capacity and then some till Christmas.
>What is the consensus about charging a premium for short notice
>"emergency" tunings.
>
>For example:     Last week someone requests four
>concert tunings on 24 hrs notice. There are two grands to
>tune together twice for 4 hands concerts.  They are coming
>into town after sitting in a cold truck for a few days.
>They want them both done on the Friday and Saturday.
>Yes, they waited till Thursday to book a technician.
>I already have over 12hrs work both days, but it is possible
>and 5 min. from home. The usual people I call for help are busy.
>The client was insistent that they should get a discount for the
>second piano as usual, but I was insistent that I
>should not be doing it, but if they must have me I would charge
>my regular rate for each, no discounts.
>They reluctantly paid, but not without some tension.
>Worked out OK. Pianos were very nice. Easy tunings.
>
>So.
>In general is it wrong to charge extra for emergency overtime?
>Would most people walk away, avoiding creating ill will with an extra
>charge?
>How do you deal with promoters that order tunings like ordering pizza.
>I've heard of a technician charging $250 to go out on New Years Eve on a
>couple hours notice.
>
>                                All opinions welcome
>                                Cheers
>                                Dave Renaud
>                                RPT
>                                Canada
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