Paid for Pitch Raises?

[piannaman at aol.com]

Hi Daniel,
 
I charge dealers for pitch raises, both in the field and in the store when I was doing in-store work.  You should expect to be compensated for extra time and effort.  Don't let yourself be taken advantage of.  It's a bad habit to get into.
 
You might think about setting an hourly rate that you're comfortable with, and the dealer is maybe slightly uncomfortable paying.  If you get paid hourly, you can do pitch raises, repairs, perhaps even some regulation if necessary without having to be penalized financially.  
 
If the dealer doesn't whine at you that he's paying too much, you might want to raise your rates.
 
Dave Stahl

Dave Stahl Piano Service
650-224-3560
dstahlpiano at sbcglobal.net
http://dstahlpiano.net/




 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: hacicspe at gmail.com
To: caut at ptg.org; pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Sun, 11 Feb 2007 8:21 PM
Subject: Paid for Pitch Raises?


Hi
 
I tune for a couple of dealers where I live, and when I started, they both told me that they've never paid any technicians for pitch raises. One of the managers told me to go ahead and charge accordingly when I had to pull a piano to pitch that was a half step or more either direction. But I'm wondering if dealers in other areas pay for "routine," pitch raises of, say, less than a half step.  
 
The owner of one of the stores explained that they don't want to have to spend more money than they have to on the used pianos in particular if they can only sell it for so much. I guess I do see the logic in that, but what about all the pitch corrections I have to do on the new pianos? I don't get anything for my time. 
 
I just can't stand leaving a piano off-pitch unless it's just absolutely not worth it.
 
Any comments?
 
Daniel Carlton
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