I guess it depends on what you consider basic. I think Barbara, Carol, Del and I are suggesting that some things beyond just tuning are basic. My approach has been to never underestimate what the customer is able to perceive. While there may be a few who cannot tell the difference, there are many more who can but don't realize that a better sounding piano was a possibility. I think you'd be surprised at how often a little bit of voicing will elicit the "Gee, I never knew my piano could sound like that" response. It's that kind of response that often leads to a dialogue about additional work or, as Del mentioned, complete rebuilding. David Love davidlovepianos@earthlink.net > [Original Message] > From: Clyde Hollinger <cedel@supernet.com> > To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> > Date: 11/7/2003 4:11:29 AM > Subject: Re: Full Service Appointments > > Friends, > > Let me chime in here with another viewpoint. We need full service technicians > for those who can recognize and want that level of service for their pianos, > but we also need those who do good work but are willing to keep their services > pretty basic. > > I have customers who would never want to pay for full service because when the > technician is finished they can't tell the difference anyway. I heard such a > comment several days ago. People hate paying for something that has no benefit > they can recognize. > > When customers seem to be asking me for services I am not skilled enough to > provide (which rarely happens), I am very comfortable referring them to someone > who is more qualified than I. That basic honesty seems to go a long way. I > came into this profession rather late and did not have the benefit of formal > schooling or working in a piano shop, so I will never be qualified at the same > level some of you are. > > But I have been successful, too, judging by the referrals I get, many more than > I could ever handle, even though I suspect my charges are above the average. > And my income is above average also, while tuning only four days per week. > Yes, I service a lot of mediocre pianos and some rotten ones, but someone has > to do good work on them, too. > > I have tremendous respect for piano rebuilders, whom I think must know > everything about everything. But then again maybe they don't. Some of us in > the field become pros at things they never have to deal with and may not be as > good at as we are. So I maintain that there's room and need for all of us, > understanding of course that no one should be ripping off their customers by > charging for doing crappy work. > > Regards, > Clyde Hollinger, RPT > > Delwin D Fandrich wrote: > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Barbara Richmond" <piano57@flash.net> > > > > > David, > > > > > > Well, I must admit, I get rather passionate about the topic. It was my > > path > > > to success. You *could* say it was what separated me from the rest of > > the > > > boys. ;-) I certainly didn't lose any money on the deal--just gained a > > > good reputation and lots of loyal, regular customers. Don't get me > > wrong, I > > > charged for extras--it just depends on your definition of "extra." > > > > > > Barbara Richmond, RPT > > > Somewhere near Peoria, IL > > > > My practice (until I quit doing in-home servicing) was to charge a base fee > > for two hours. Then I did whatever I could do in those two hours. It worked > > quite well. And I agree about picking up numerous not-quite-happy clients > > from folks who were really quite good tuners. I also picked up quite a bit > > of rebuilding work from customers who had been asking their former tuners > > about various tonal and performance questions for years. They knew > > something was wrong even if their tuners did not. > > > > Del > > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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