Parts Markup, was: $450.00 Bass strings

[David Ilvedson]

Because every other service industry marks up their parts.  All the supply
companies give us a discount with the mark up in mind.  I am in business to
make a living not just love pianos.  How many of you technicians have a
resale #?  I

David I.

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 3/5/01 at 10:30 PM Farrell wrote:

>"....why do we need to mark up parts at all...."
>
>1.  Expertise in selecting proper part. The client is relying on you to
not
>order a Young Chang hammer for the Steinway. Or if the owner really want
>the
>bass to be smooth and free of any goofy sounds - you won't order copies
>from
>Schaff, you will go to  GC or Sanderson.
>
>2.  If the part is not the perfect one, we need to return it, or sand it,
>or
>polish it, or bend it, or beef it up, or whatever. That takes time and our
>expertise - and it wasn't in the budget otherwise.
>
>3.  Some parts we keep in stock. I cost money to stock parts, so we charge
>money for that service.
>
>Maybe others will add more reasons. I'm too tired. Good night
>
>Terry Farrell
>Piano Tuning & Service
>Tampa, Florida
>mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <Yardarm103669107@AOL.COM>
>To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Sent: Monday, March 05, 2001 8:45 PM
>Subject: Re: Parts Markup, was: $450.00 Bass strings
>
>
>> Terry:
>> Here's a thought for you and any others who want chime in. I believe
that
>we
>> have lost the art of valuing ourselves and translating that value into
>the
>> costs we transfer to others for the services we perform for them. If we
>> really think hard about what we are worth as a function of what we need
>to
>> live happily in the world, then why do we need to mark up parts at all,
>other
>> than carrying costs?
>> Paul R-J
>>