Hi Terry, If you only charge your hourly fee you are *out* your depreciation/fuel/maintenance costs. But I applaud you at least charging your hourly rates. At 03:08 PM 5/8/2007 -0400, you wrote: > I think I'm with you Jim - don't have a super-computer to check you >math ;-). When I agree to travel outside my normal area or to make a >special trip within my area (other side of the county when I don't have >any other tunings there on that day, etc.), I don't bother with miles, I >charge my hourly fee for my travel time. Period. Keeps things simple. >Terry Farrell ----- Original Message ----- From: JIMRPT at aol.com >To: cy at shusterpiano.com ; pianotech at ptg.org Sent: Tuesday, May 08, >2007 2:44 PM Subject: Re: charge for time? > In a message dated 5/8/2007 9:34:40 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, >cy at shusterpiano.com writes: I just find that mileage is an easy (and >fair) concept for customers >to accept, and since I'm still growing my business, I'm not at the >point of >charging for my time when I travel. > > I have been watching this thread and find that I can't keep from >commenting. All that we have to sell to our customers is 'time'. We >don't sell only tuning, we sell other services as well such as >regulation and repair, etc. What we charge for our 'time' is what >determines how well we do financially. If we don't do well financially >we will not be in business very long.......... We should set a >standard rate for tuning/service and stick to it...along with the >standard rate we should have a standard service area that is charged the >standard rate without regard to mileage/'time' considerations which >should have been taken into account when we set our rate to begin with. > Now lets say that you charge 50 dollars as a regular rate for >tuning/service...this out of service area would than be billed at >$63.50. Since a lot of us work in urban environments we don't travel >from place to place without a lot of travel time and it would not be >unusual for this extra 30 miles to add 45 minutes to an hour of time for >that appointment to your total travel time. Using 45 minutes >extra time and assuming you allow 1.5 hours for a normal service call >and you charge only your normal $50 plus mileage of $13.50 for a total >of $63.50.........which works out to be $63.50 (2.25 hrs) or $28.22 per >hour. hour X $50.00) or $50+$37.50 ..which is $87.50 and is in >line with your regular rates..........and comes out to....$87.50 (2.25 >hrs) or $38.89 hr. Your regular rate works out to be (at $50 per 1.5 >hr call) $33.33 per hr. So if you want to establish absolute equality >on this out of area call you would charge $33.33 X 2.25 hrs = $74.99 > So you can justify your charges of: $28.22 per hr. or $33.33 per >hr. or $38.89 per hr. Which is the fairest for you, your business, >all your customers and your family????? what the status of >'your' rates would be. I am not saying that this is the only way >to think about this situation but if you don't charge for your 'time' >you are not being fair with yourself' or to your regular rate. If you >don't charge for your time you are in effect giving this customer who >lives furthest from your regular service area a discount and shorting >yourself in the bargain........... Just some thoughts on the subject. > Jim B (FL) > > > See what's free at AOL.com. > No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. >Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.5/792 - Release Date: 5/6/2007 >9:01 PM Regards, Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.P.T. Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat mailto:pianotuna at yahoo.com http://us.geocities.com/drpt1948/ 3004 Grant Rd. REGINA, SK, S4S 5G7 306-539-0716 or 1-888-29t-uner
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC