12. Treat your customers as you would have them treat you - with kindness
and respect.
13. Take time to explain why a piano changes tuning. You've done it a
million times before. Make it a millon and one.
14. Take time to answer any and all questions they might have and some have
a lot of them. You will gain more respect from them.
15. If they want to watch you tune, by all means, allow it.
16. Cut vacuum cleaner chords in half with a knife for silence. Just
kidding, checking to see if you're actually reading this or not.
17. Don't be afraid to ask questions of other technicians. Especially if
you're not sure what to do about the problem or if it is out of your league
of expertise. Don't just guess and screw it up.
18. Don't be afraid to get a 2nd opinion on something. Doctor's do it all
the time.
19. Customers are your lifeline. Treat them as such. Retaining them is
the most important and most difficult part of getting repeat business. One
unhappy customer will spread that unhappiness like a wild fire.
20. Dress properly. Casual is fine but, no holes in your clothing and
bathe.
21. ?
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of erwinspiano at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, January 16, 2010 8:45 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Running a Business as a business.
Jer...David
All good stuff
I'll add afew
6. Be the guy/gal that can fix,voice,or rewhatever anything with
excellence in your geographic area
7. Become an Rpt and learn to network with others for continuing
education
8. Have an informative Web site. A must these days
9. Always tell the truth even if you lose. Always in fahionable and in
season
10. Learn to delegate. Yes, its hard at first
11. Be Generous, however you define it.
regards
Dale Erwin
WWW.Erwinspiano.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Gerald Groot <tunerboy3 at comcast.net>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Sat, Jan 16, 2010 8:35 am
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Running a Business as a business.
There you go again, changing the point being made. " But if one wants to do
a favor and help someone out with a pencil, why not?" So, do it then. I
don't care.
"Let's not blow it out of proportion as the reason their business isn't
successful." Did I really say or mean that their business would fail due
to that one trivial matter, the pencil?
Ok, let's change the topic then as I did in the subject line.
1. Become highly skilled in whatever area of this business you choose to be
in.
2. Learn how to run and operate a businesses. One will be more successful
long term.
3. Have clear are precise written rules for yourself and your customers to
charge more fairly and honestly.
4. Have clear and precise written prices so neither yourself nor your
customer gets screwed.
5. Do a lot of reading and learn how to interact with clients properly.
This doesn't just entail reading about pianos and repairs.
It's easy so far, care to add to it?
Jer
-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org
<mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org?> ] On Behalf
Of David Love
Sent: Saturday, January 16, 2010 11:19 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] age-old question of what to charge for almost
nothing and running a business as a business
Nobody would argue with your first point. The nuances and individual
situations that determine just how that's done are what we are talking
about. The example you give of the $28000 a year person has less to do with
the discussion than it does with general competence. We haven't even
mentioned the importance of being skilled. The person who is meticulous in
their business practices, never misses an opportunity to charge for every
service and mile driven, still won't have any business if the service they
provide stinks. Similarly if one (notice I'm avoiding saying "you" to avoid
any misunderstanding) is rude to people then they are not likely to get very
far no matter how skilled and meticulous they are in their business
practices. The example of what owners allow their employees to do is not
relevant since we are the owners and owners do choose at times to bend the
rules. They just don't want their employees to do that. Neither would I.
In summary, of course one shouldn't be afraid to charge for their time,
expense and expertise. At the same time one should be flexible enough to
assess each situation on its own merits and make a decision without fearing
the consequences of a single act. Price structures are helpful (I have them
outlined and itemized for rebuilding and servicing as well as a set hourly
rate which is published). That can take the guess work out of making
estimates which can be tricky for the inexperienced and create situations of
price commitments that are unrealistic and may establish a history that one
may not wish to be held to. But if one wants to do a favor and help someone
out with a pencil, why not? Let's not blow it out of proportion as the
reason their business isn't successful.
David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com <http://www.davidlovepianos.com/>
...snipped
The only thing that I AM VERY HARD LINED ON is that more piano technicians
need to run this business like a business or learn how. Yet, many do not
run it as such. These same people do not know how to run it as a business
or in my opinion, do not take it very seriously that it is a business. They
need to stick to the principal of charging when appropriate, which is, most
of the time. They should not be afraid to charge and especially, should not
apologize for doing so. As another poster mentioned, the owners of other
businesses will not allow their employee's to show up for free or to charge
less for obvious reasons.
Here is a prime example of what I mean. I have someone in town here that is
constantly complaining about not being able to make a living. This person
runs their business more as a charity, treats their customers rudely, gives
discounts to everyone and is making less than $28,000 a year tuning full
time. His work load is now half of what it was last year and he wonders
why? Yet, I find out from this person that their prices have dropped or
have been the same for 7 or 8 years running, he doesn't even charge for a
service call, doesn't charge extra for driving 150 miles round trip, charges
only for his time, he's doing services for free in an attempt gain more work
which is not working, he's gaining more free clientele instead yet, he still
doesn't get it and will not listen to reason.
Jer
_____
avast! Antivirus <http://www.avast.com <http://www.avast.com/> > : Outbound
message clean.
Virus Database (VPS): 100116-0, 01/16/2010
Tested on: 1/16/2010 11:35:42 AM
avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2010 ALWIL Software.
_____
avast! Antivirus <http://www.avast.com> : Outbound message clean.
Virus Database (VPS): 100118-0, 01/18/2010
Tested on: 1/18/2010 9:35:16 AM
avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2010 ALWIL Software.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100118/acdbde47/attachment-0001.htm>
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC