Paid for Pitch Raises?

[John Ross]

Paid for Pitch Raises?I'm with you Jon.
Most of my customers, are in rural areas. They have the piano tuned every ten years, if that.
Reason is, that is all they can afford.
A lot of times it is an old piano, and it is debatable, if it could take the overpull. So I do a single pass, if it is say 25c or less out.
I tell them, that in a concert situation, it would require maybe two more tunings.
I then say that it should be tuned in 2-3 months, as long as the heat is still on, (I don't do tunings in the summer, as they have no chance of staying, due to humidity changes)or in a years time.
Most of these people, would not have me tune for them, if I insisted that it required an extra charge for a pitch raise. 
Going by the criteria, that most people on the list seem to use, I would have to charge each time for a pitch raise.
I haven't advertised for years, and am kept as busy as I want to be. 

So I guess the point I am trying to make is, use your clientele, to determine the approach you should make.

I tune for a local university school of music, 18 years and still going. I also  do warranty tunings for the province's, only Yamaha dealer. Obviously these customers, along with some music teachers, do require the extra tuning. Although you would be surprised at the number of piano teachers, who are not interested in a pitch raise, if it is at an extra charge.
John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jon Page 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 6:14 PM
  Subject: Paid for Pitch Raises?


  >By that, do you mean that in non-concert or recording situations
  >you normally would not do more than one pass if the piano is
  >within 16 cents of the target pitch?


  Of course it would be a non-pitch required situation. Get the piano up to pitch
  with an appreciable tuning. Advise on how another tuning will make it better.
  If there is an immediate need, now; if not, later.  Their call, not mine.


  One pass for two reasons.


  1. Chances are they will not get it tuned again for another ten years. So I've
      not wasted my time.
  2. Pitch raising is extra, stingy piano owners think of dollars not tone/tune.
      "Tuning costs so much, it sounds fine..."


  I charge $125 / 1.5 hr for tuning/servicing.
  If I can get an appreciable tuning in 45 minutes to an hour, I'll charge $75
  and tell them it needs more work.  I'm not out to squeeze as many nickles
  out of them as I can. You have to realize, for most people piano tuning is
  a luxury; try to work within their budget.
-- 

  Regards,

  Jon Page
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