myths

[David Love]

Sounds right to me.  Basic service should include tuning plus a little more
and fees should reflect that.  In 1 - 1.25 hours I can easily tune the piano
(without a pitch correction), vacuum out the top of the piano (grand), open
and pull the action out to inspect, clean debris, lubricate (as I described
in an earlier post), check the pedal adjustment, touch up the voicing and
tighten the bench (if it needs it), ask about the kids...well, maybe not ask
about the kids.  For that I charge a fairly high hourly rate (based
partially on where I live--San Francisco) but I also get a fair amount done.
I add 30 minutes fee time for a pitch correction.        

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of justpianos at our.net.au
Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2006 3:52 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: myths

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
>
>
>
>