pricing

[TOM DRISCOLL]

Just my opinion, but if you don't want to tune spinets--(Which of course is your right) then don't. You create a slippery slope in multiple price structures based on piano type. (Squares excluded of course-Sorry Joe)
    How many times have you arrived at the house to tune what the client described to find something different.
    "Sorry Ms. piano owner this is a spinet, not a studio --my fee will be $X more"
    Good luck with that one.
    My approach on let's say a Kimball Whitney is to not agonize over a tuning that will be unstable at best but to tune quicker and devote time to maybe adjusting blow ,lost motion and letoff ,lube a creaking pedal etc. 
    I'm at the house the same time as with a more careful tuning and the piano is so much better than if I used that half hour to retune the high treble.
Is  that piano a good instrument ? No, but a kid will have a better chance to succeed with his or her lessons after this approach and the work CAN  be satisfying.
    I had a nice call from a client recently thanking me for making the piano sound better than it ever has. 
    Realistically ,the thing still sounded like crap, but it PLAYED better and that's what she responded to.
Tom --I hope I don't have to tune another spinet for as long as I live --Driscoll RPT
    
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: richard.ucci at att.net 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 9:17 AM
  Subject: pricing


  I'm thinking about pricing tunings based not only by pitch adjustment,but also by piano type and age.
  Spinets and pianos older than 20yrs, highest fee, nicer pianos less etc.
  With more pianos and limited time, I would rather tune pianos that I could get better results with and less headaches.
  Any thoughts?
  RU/UP

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