myths

[Greg Newell]

Bruce,
         Generally I agree with your assessment of our craft and of 
taking the time to do a thorough examination and perhaps light 
cleaning of the instrument. If it gets too involved I request the 
additional time/money to do more if I feel the customer is amenable 
to "doing it right". Many of my customers want what you seem to 
disdain though. The "just tune it" mentality pervades as many simply 
assume you are simply after more money. If one is patient and willing 
to go slow over a period of years, however, their trust can be gained 
and more serious service can be given/sold. I like to remind 
customers that there is much more to the musical experience than 
simply pressing a key and getting a sound. I personally can't stomach 
the "in/out, get my check and go" mentality or when there is more 
supposed service given and more money charged but it still fits 
within the time slot of a normal tuning effort or service call. 
Generally I feel that if you're charging more it should take longer 
when it's all service based. Parts are extra, of course. My two cents 
anyway. I sleep pretty well.

all the best,
Greg Newell

P.S. For the who celebrate the tradition I wish you good holidays!



At 06:52 PM 12/24/2006, you wrote:
>Hi all,
>Look, I'm prepared to take some shtik on this point, but seriously, what
>is your hourly rate? You can't just walk into somebodies home, remove one
>or two panels from the piano, perform a minimal touch-up tune (as you've
>done the same thing only 12 months before), and then demand over one
>hundred dollars. Where's the value for your service. Ok, you're an
>experienced, trained craftsman (well some of you anyway), and there may be
>limited competition in your area, but how about keeping it real. Yes,
>overheads can be high, but try to keep each daily tuning list as close
>together as possible and reducing your advertising by encouraging referals
>from existing clients can certainly reduce costs.
>Working an 8 hour day, with travel extra (which is how the vast majority
>of income earners work) you can easily make $100,000- per annum, so how
>about giving your "client" value for their money, and keep a little
>respect as well. This business is not meant to be a "get-rich-quick"
>scheme. It might also keep out some of the quick-startup amateurs, who are
>in it for the money.
>Disassembling the piano gives you an opportunity to inspect all aspects of
>the action, frame and strings, enabling you to quote on maintenance
>repairs like hammer reshaping, or bridle tape replacing, and will
>definitely impress the client about your knowledge of the workings of your
>"craft". Hey, you might even learn something yourself about different
>makes and models, and it really only takes a few minutes when you build up
>the experience.
>The better you make the piano on your first visit, the less work required
>later.
>How about it guys.
>Bruce Browning - The Piano Tuner.
>
>
>
>
>
> > As in remove all the keys and lubricate keypins? No additional fee? You
> > can't be serious!
> >
> > Terry Farrell
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> >> <<My standard tuning fee includes removing action and keys, cleaning out
> >> all
> >> debris, lubricating keypins, where required, and checking for foreign
> >> objects.
> >> Compliments of the season to all,
> >> Bruce Browning - The Piano Tuner.>>
> >>
> >>
> >> I hope your "standard tuning fee" is at least $250! My "standard tuning
> >> fee" consists of a "standard tuning."
> >>
> >> Terry Peterson
> >
> >
> >
> >