[pianotech] Getting Some Help for Calling!

[wimblees at aol.com]

John

This might be something in which I am interested. Please give me some more details. 

How does she get to your place? Does she drive or are you on a bus route?
How do you pay her, per hour, or per appointment made? 
Did you write a script for her, or does she make it up as she?goes along?
Which organization did you call??
Now that you're paying her, do you get some sort of tax credit for hiring a "disabled" person?

Thanks?


Wim

-----Original Message-----
From: John Dorr <a440 at bresnan.net>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 5:30 pm
Subject: [pianotech] Getting Some Help for Calling!



Hello list,?
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This is really in response to the "Tuning in a Down Economy Thread", but since I'm going off on a (related) tangent, I thought a new subject line might be in order.?
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A comment I've often read here has been how calling is the most effective way to follow up on customers to book repeat tunings. I'll agree with that. I also HATE calling, too. I have someone do it for me. She's great at it. She's very gentle and pleasant to talk to. My customers really APPRECIATE her calls.?
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I just read a post where the writer said he USED to have someone do his calling because, like me, he hates doing it himself. BUT good people move onward and upward to bigger and better things. How true. I went through a lot of that whole thing, too.?
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THEN, a social services worker asked me if I wouldn't mind taking on a trainee. A disabled person. I could have her for NO CHARGE for about 8 weeks, I think it was. And if at the end of 8 weeks I didn't want to keep her, then I didn't have to. Welp, it's been over 10 years now. She's GREAT. She doesn't spell well, makes a certain amount of bookkeeping mistakes, and is sometimes frustrated by the computer, but she's Loyal, Trustworthy, Honest, and all kinds of other Boy Scout/Girl Scout-type goodness. She's also persistent and follows through on all the tasks I assign. (NOT MY strong suit!)?
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Her disability? (If you want to ask) I'm not sure. Some kind of respiratory thing, I think. She can only work for so long. And if I'm in the shop with any kind of chemical (high VOC) kind of thing, I have to keep the door closed.?
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I couldn't be more pleased.?
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So perhaps there's a similar program in your area and you could inquire about it. These people are very grateful for the opportunity to work. (We also hired one at the store I work at)?
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John Dorr?
Helena, MT?
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