Yes, Punitive pricing backfires usually when they find out you are charging them more. I have 1 school district that I tune for here and I just got a check for 4 jobs I did in December, It is par for the course for them. It is just part of the landscape. James James Grebe Since 1962 Piano Tuning & Repair Creator of Handsome Hardwood Products( 314) 608-4137 1526 Raspberry Lane Arnold, MO 63010 Researcher of St. Louis Theatre History BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE! www.grebepiano.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "J Patrick Draine" <jpdraine at gmail.com> To: <pianotech at ptg.org> Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 6:49 AM Subject: Re: [pianotech] slow paying customers revisited > James,While I don't agree with the notion that any particular "$XXX is > overpriced" statement makes a lot of sense, given the many variables of > current economic conditions, geographic and cost of living variables, > expertise, etc. -- your suggestion that "Too much price fluctuation > confuses clients" hits the target bullseye. > I do not offer institutional discounts; payment within 30 days is great > but > can't be depended upon. > Punitive pricing -- "you're always late with the check" -- doesn't go over > very well. > Shawn, If the client is running past that, one can make a practice of > "keeping in touch" with the responsible parties and casually remind them > that you haven't yet received payment, but you don't want to project too > much nervous irritated energy at your client. > But hey, this is indeed an appropriate place to "blow off some steam" when > these things happen. > Patrick Draine > > On Fri, Mar 6, 2009 at 7:18 AM, Pianoman <pianoman at accessus.net> wrote: > >> $120 seems over priced. Are you going to price your self out of a job? >> Too much price fluctuation confuses clients. >> James >> James Grebe >> Since 1962 >> Piano Tuning & Repair >> Creator of Handsome Hardwood Products( >> 314) 608-4137 1526 Raspberry Lane Arnold, MO 63010 >> Researcher of St. Louis Theatre History >> BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE! >> www.grebepiano.com >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Magness" >> <IFixPianos at yahoo.com >> > >> To: <pianotech at ptg.org> >> Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 6:44 PM >> >> Subject: Re: [pianotech] slow paying customers revisited >> >> >> On Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 8:53 AM, Shawn Brock <shawnbrock at fuse.net> wrote: >>> >>> Thanks to everyone who responded to my ramblings. I am combining your >>>> thoughts for my solution. I have decided that I will stop giving the >>>> multiple piano discount to each of these churches. I was charging $110 >>>> for >>>> the first tuning and $100 for each tuning after that. I know $10 don't >>>> seem >>>> like much of a discount, but sense they each have 5 pianos I was taking >>>> $40 >>>> off the bill and to me that's a decent discount... So that's the first >>>> thing I'm going to do. My next solution is to charge $120 per tuning >>>> if >>>> I'm >>>> not going to be paid on the date that services are rendered. I >>>> understand >>>> that some large churches do have to jump through hoops to get a check >>>> out >>>> to >>>> a contractor but these people are just taking advantage of me. In each >>>> of >>>> the 2 churches the music director makes the appointment and he also has >>>> the >>>> ability to sign a check. In addition to this fact keep in mind each >>>> time >>>> I >>>> have turned in my invoice to the music director. I always get the same >>>> words from each of these guys, "I'll have this in the mail to you in a >>>> day >>>> or two." The day or two always turns into more than thirty days. Some >>>> times it has been 2 months! To me that's just B-S and making more on >>>> the >>>> job or not performing the work is the only way it can be handled. >>>> >>>> Thanks again, >>>> Shawn Brock RPT >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> *From:* wimblees at aol.com >>>> *To:* pianotech at ptg.org >>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 04, 2009 1:09 PM >>>> *Subject:* Re: [pianotech] slow paying customers revisited >>>> >>>> Shawn. >>>> >>>> With a big church, it usually not just one or two people who are >>>> involved >>>> in getting bills paid. Bills have to be approved the appropriate >>>> person, >>>> (choir director), then sent to the finance committee, which meets once >>>> a >>>> month, then the accountant, who approves the disbursement, and then >>>> finally >>>> to the person who actually writes the check. Once the check has been >>>> printed, it needs to be signed by the accountant, or treasurer, and >>>> maybe >>>> even counter signed. All that takes time, and, as you indicated, if any >>>> one >>>> of those people are sick or out of town, it further delays the process. >>>> >>>> Two suggestions. One, talk to the choir director, or music chairman, >>>> tell >>>> him/her your concern, and ask for his/her recommendation on how to get >>>> paid >>>> faster. >>>> Two, Put on the bill that if it is paid within 14/30 day, they will get >>>> a >>>> 10% discount. Or the other way around, say that interest at 18% will be >>>> added to bill if it is paid after 30 days. If they don't pay the extra, >>>> add >>>> it to the next bill. You can either itemize the bill, and put on it, >>>> "balance carried forward", or if you give them a discount for multiple >>>> pianos, don't give them the discount the next time you tune for them. >>>> >>>> As far as last minute tunings, add 25% to the tuning bill for >>>> "emergency >>>> service." They will either remember to call you sooner, or you'll get >>>> paid >>>> extra for going out of your way. >>>> >>>> Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT >>>> Piano Tuner/Technician >>>> Mililani, Oahu, HI >>>> 808-349-2943 >>>> Author of: >>>> The Business of Piano Tuning >>>> available from Potter Press >>>> www.pianotuning.com >>>> >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: Shawn Brock <shawnbrock at fuse.net> >>>> To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org> >>>> Sent: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 4:28 am >>>> Subject: [pianotech] slow paying customers revisited >>>> >>>> List, >>>> >>>> I know we had a thread going not long ago on slow paying customers and >>>> last >>>> year I had complained a little about some of the churches I serve. I >>>> have >>>> some >>>> questions that I would like to gather some answers for and some >>>> statements >>>> that may or may not be out of line (you tell me.) First: how long do >>>> you >>>> give >>>> commercial/institutional/church customers to pay the balance for your >>>> services? For most of these types of account I have been giving 14 >>>> days >>>> from the >>>> date of service to the date of payment due. That seems more than >>>> reasonable to me, after all the phone company and other utilities don't >>>> give >>>> you that >>>> much time from when you receive the bill to the due date. Perhaps I'm >>>> being unreasonable though? I have 2 churches that are my slowest >>>> paying >>>> customers, >>>> and they are maybe the richest churches I work for. Each has 5 pianos >>>> that >>>> get regular service and both are slow paying. Its funny... It seems >>>> that >>>> the people with the least amount of money are the first to pay, I find >>>> that >>>> those folks are the ones who have a check waiting on the date of the >>>> appointment... >>>> So back to the topic at hand. I had cut the slow payers back to a 10 >>>> day >>>> due date or a "payment due on date of service" instead of the 14 days I >>>> had >>>> been giving them. That hasn't seemed >>>> to help! Each time I work for them it never fails that I have to make >>>> numerous phone calls to get my money. They both have a long list of >>>> excuses >>>> that >>>> they run through (the accountant is on vacation, the accountant is >>>> sick, >>>> we >>>> misplaced the invoice, we thought we had 30 days, a check should have >>>> been >>>> in the mail to you, I will have to check with someone and get back with >>>> you) and so on. I could have understood this once or even more, but >>>> this >>>> is >>>> every time I deal with these people and I'm sick of it! These 2 >>>> churches >>>> were served in a 2 day period and now they are both past due by more >>>> than >>>> a >>>> week. I wouldn't be as quick to complain but we are talking over $1000 >>>> that >>>> is due to me and I could use it. Last I checked I still have bills to >>>> pay. >>>> So what's the answer? Maybe I should charge more and give them a >>>> discount >>>> if they pay on time? Or is that to complicated? Maybe I should just >>>> stop >>>> working for them? Damn! I'm sorry but when it takes people more than >>>> 30 >>>> days to pay that seems a little excessive to me. Its not like these >>>> people >>>> even have to pay taxes... One thing that fuels my fire is these are >>>> the >>>> same people who will call you and want you to come out to tune for a >>>> concert >>>> the same day, or the next day. They new about the concert months ago >>>> but >>>> didn't have the foresight to schedule the tuning. And then... They >>>> show >>>> you gratitude by paying in a month and a half! "We need you now and we >>>> will >>>> pay you when ever we want." Well, that's how it seems any how. Come >>>> on >>>> people and share your wisdom with me. I could use it... After all we >>>> are >>>> not just talking about $1000 which is in my opinion still a substantial >>>> amount of money. We are talking about 2 days worth of work and we are >>>> also >>>> talking about principles. If they couldn't afford to pay it would be >>>> different but at a glance you know that you are just getting kicked >>>> around. >>>> All comments and ideas are appreciated. >>>> >>>> Regards, >>>> Shawn Brock, RPT >>>> >>>> >>>> ------------------------------ >>>> *A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!< >>>> http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1219957551x1201325337/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID%3D62%26bcd%3DfebemailfooterNO62 >>>> > >>>> * >>>> >>>> >>> >>> I solved this years ago, I thought by printing on my invoices that >>> 1&1/2% >>> interest begins after 30 days and continues monthly until paid. >>> Last year I collected on a 3 tuning job along with a year's interest!! I >>> guess I didn't solve it after all. >>> Schools just ignore it entirely and pay when they get around to it. Most >>> others are reasonably timely and I've grown more patient over the years, >>> deciding to consider checks that finally arrive in my mailbox as "found" >>> money! (grin) >>> >>> Mike >>> -- >>> I intend to live forever. So far, so good. >>> Steven Wright >>> >>> >>> Michael Magness >>> Magness Piano Service >>> 608-786-4404 >>> www.IFixPianos.com >>> email mike at ifixpianos.com >>> >>> >> >> >> >
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