[pianotech] price-negotiating customers

[Paul T Williams]

Oh Woah to you who quote any price over the phone!!!  I've learned this in 
many a hard way. Mostly, when I was new and in a "struggling" area of 
Whidbey Island Wa. I say "struggling" as 80% of the island just made 
ends-meet, and the other 20% are richer than you could believe. Of course, 
you can rarely tell this over the phone! (HINT)  I also tuned on the 
mainland; which included a ferry boat ride and long wait for said boat. 
NEVER give a discount to anyone!!! Nor give a price quote at all; but 
indeed a price 'range'.  The best you can do is explain that all you can 
do is give an estimate of $XXX-X,XXX.00. You simply can't tell what 
they're telling you about. The cold call customer has NO idea of what 
they're asking for.

Sure an exploratory conversation is worth the 10 minutes on the phone, but 
I foolishly got into many nasty situations because of it. Here's the worst 
I did: (just 5 years into the system and barely an RPT):  Coupon in the 
local (small) paper with a coupon for "$45" dollar tunings!!!!  NOBODY 
PAID ATTENTION TO "PITCH RAISES OR REPAIRS" WOULD BE EXTRA!!!!!!!!!! Man, 
that was a nasty thing to explain myself out of. 

Guess what??  NIGHTMARE ala Dracula!!  Not a cool scene, as you might 
imagine!

Also, people calling from the mainland asking for a discount for them "if 
you tune my neighbor's piano just across the street".  NOT An Option! Just 
don't do it. I did that too with horrible outcomes.  (just think of the 
worst, and that's it!) Hey! I was new and broke, and didn't know any 
better!

Now, after many many years in the biz, wow, now really is, I don't 
discount for anyone. 

My situation is much different now, and can quote a much different price 
for tuning. 
Paul





From:
Tom Gorley <tomgorley88 at sonic.net>
To:
pianotech at ptg.org
Date:
01/03/2011 12:55 PM
Subject:
Re: [pianotech] price-negotiating customers



Not only unfair to my other customers but unfair to my family.   "Ma'am, I 
charge a rate that allows me to barely make a living in an average house 
in an average part of town.  If I discount by $20 for you, then it will be 
like taking it away from my own wife and children and giving to you 
instead." "What would you think of a person who would do that."

I never actually said that.  But I have said it to other tuners.

   ---Tom Gorley


On Jan 3, 2011, at 8:58 AM, John Dorr wrote:

> that it would be unfair to my other customers to cut my prices for no 
good reason. (Typically the tire-kicker type responds 



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