Paid for Pitch Raises?

[Farrell]

I agree with what Dave has stated. I have found that there is a range of dealer-types - a few who want to take care of their instruments and realize they have to pay someone to do it - and at the other end of the spectrum there are those who nickel and dime everything and will only deal with beginner piano technicians because they know they can pay them a minimum.

I know that many techs find very good advantage to working with some dealers. My few experiences have been poor ones and I have chosen to simply not get involved with any dealers - my life and career are better for it. You may be associated with a dealer that will only pay minimum. It can be a frustrating experience.

I guess all I can suggest is to move as much in the direction that Dave describes and do some benefit-cost analysis of your relationship with this dealer.

Terry Farrell
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  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
   
  -----Original Message-----
  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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