On Mon, Jan 18, 2010 at 8:35 AM, Gerald Groot <tunerboy3 at comcast.net> wrote: > *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 <http://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 <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 > > > > > > > > > > ...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> : 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. > > > 21. Never lose your sense of humor! 22. If you don't know the answer to a question, say so! Then tell them you'll find the answer and do so, ASAP! 23. Always be willing to answer another technician's questions. 24. Keep an open mind -- 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100118/9851df1b/attachment-0001.htm>
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