This has been gone over on previous threads. There are basically two approaches. You can have a minimal fee for minimal service and charge for every additional item no matter how small, or you have a full service fee. For me personally, I find that trying to explain every $2, $3, $4, $5 or $10 dollar item becomes more time consuming (and quite honestly annoying to the customer) than the job is often worth. So I build into my fee enough time that I find on average I need to accomplish what I've found is necessary on most service calls to accomplish what I think is necessary. There are extraordinary circumstances that change the best laid plans. The other day, for example, I ran into a stripped player grand that was so filthy and needed to be disassembled in order to clean that all I got done in my usually allotted time was the cleaning. She paid a full fee and I had to reschedule to come back to tune the piano (which will entail another full fee). Along these lines, more involved work like a major voicing (filing, fitting, etc.), or regulation, for example, would entail a follow up appointment. I expect 1 - 1.25 hours for an appointment but allow 1.5 hours max and give customers beyond the first appointment an appointment "window" rather than a set time to allow for the scheduling unknowns. My basic fee, therefore, does have a small range and will depend, for the most part, on time. But my minimum charge for a service call always includes enough time for a few other things. They are not given away, by the way, customers pay for them and I do my best to deliver what they pay for. By doing things that way I feel that I can leave the piano in better condition consistently than if I have to haggle for every little item. Leaving the piano in better condition within the scope of a basic service call makes me look better, removes possible objections, saves time in explanation and avoids feelings of resentment for those customers who feel that the nickel and dime approach represents a "foot in the door" sales strategy that they might view as less than up front. 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 pianolover 88 Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2006 11:04 PM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: RE: myths Voicing, cleaning, regulation, keypin lubrication, and other important procedures are done for an additional fee. Yes, removing a pen that occasionally drops behind a grand fallboard, or easing a couple sticky keys is usually included in my standard tuning fee. But a full-service cleaning, for example, where all the keys and action are removed, along with various case parts, is definitley charged. Almost all first-time clients need this and other services which are not included in my "standard tuning" fee. If you start including lots of extra services at no extra cost, then your clients will always expect that and probably not be very pleased if you start charging for them at a later visit for these same services that you previously did for free . Terry ----Original Message Follows---- From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos at comcast.net> Reply-To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org> To: "'Pianotech List'" <pianotech at ptg.org> Subject: RE: myths Date: Sun, 24 Dec 2006 22:37:42 -0800 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 > > > > _________________________________________________________________ Fixing up the home? Live Search can help http://imagine-windowslive.com/search/kits/default.aspx?kit=improve&locale=e n-US&source=hmemailtaglinenov06&FORM=WLMTAG
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC