Parts stock - (was Schaff buys American Piano Supply)

[David Ilvedson]

I order it when I need it!  You either want to have every possible item
around for every possibility or you don't.  I don't!  Looking up at my
supply shelf I see:  a few sets of keytops, set of ebony sharps, misc. key
cloth, felt etc.  Punchings, set of upright hammers, misc. action parts
(certainly not every possible item)  $500.00 tops.  I don't see the value in
having an investment in supplies hanging around taking up room.  Of course
that can change depending on what is coming up.  I may have several sets of
hammers but they are ordered or a upcoming job.  Now as I say this I don't
have a big shop, just 1/2 of my single car garage.  I do not carry
everything possible in my car.  Now this is me,of course,and I don't do a
lot of rebuilding so that probably is a big factor.  I remember Susan Graham
advising against stocking too much stuff and I took it heart.  I guess my
question to you is do you find you've got a lot of stuff that rarely gets
used?  If not,then I'd say your well stocked for your situation and thats
the key...

David I.


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf
Of Ted Rohde
Sent: Monday, October 02, 2000 5:20 PM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: Parts stock - (was Schaff buys American Piano Supply)


List,
    I'm coming out of the lurking mode on this one.  We stock AT LEAST $2000
in parts...probably a lot more if I stop and add it all up.  When I stop to
think about it...a few of each kind of butt, wippen, flange, temp
replacement hammer, bass string replacements for common pianos (P202, 243,
P2, Baldwin D, old Steinway M-D's, etc that are in colleges and they
commonly break...I despise universals), Protec, dampers, shanks, knobs,
touch up materials, polishes, boy... just goes on and on and that's just for
the road cars.  Then there's the shop.
    If y'all don't have to have an inventory, tell me how so I can learn
here.

Thanks!!

Ted Rohde - Central Illinois

~~~~~~~~~~~~~responding to~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boy, I sure don't have a couple thousand tied up in parts by a long shot...

David I.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf
Of Roger Jolly
Sent: Monday, October 02, 2000 8:37 AM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: Schaff buys American Piano Supply


Hi Susan,
                I'm going to play Devil's Advocate.
You are out of brass flange clips, and have to special order some for a
customer.
You return home and process the order.
You have paid for a phone call, and the shipping charges, plus a second
visit to the customer to install.
Even if they are next door neighbor's, there goes at least 1 hr of time.
The part cost but a few cents.  How much do you charge the customer for the
part?
You probably have a few thousand dollars tied up in inventory, who pay's
the interest on the money?
>From my own point of view, I either give the nickle and dimes parts away,
and see it as the cost of doing business, or charge a $20 minimum parts
handling fee. Now that could be seen as a grossly inflated mark up. But in
reality it's survival to stay in business.
Large ticket items we just double the invoice amount.  It's called profit.
I have a $10 minimum parts policy for things like 3 or 4 hammer shank's, if
you use common sense you will not be challanged.  You have to be fair to
yourself, as well as the customer.
We all end up in doing jobs that we loss money, so it balances out when we
can make it up in other areas.
Grining from ear to ear.
Have a nice day.
Roger