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<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Hi List,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Wim got me to thinking about this =
one. In
a post he wrote regarding the rebuilding (or perhaps reconditioning =
would be a
better word, depending upon your perspective) of a Lester grand he
wrote:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial =
size=2>...if you
are going to do this to "make" money, you're wasting your =
time.
<BR>You'll never be able to sell a Lester grand for the amount of time =
you've
put <BR>into it. You'll be lucky to recoup the materials you've used.
<BR></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>I'm curious as to what might be =
going on in
other markets. And I would suppose a lot would depend on how you =
would
define "making money".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Let me give a couple of examples =
from my local
area. (Please bear in mind that these weren't 'learning =
experiences' per
say</FONT><FONT color=#000000 size=2>, we were in it for the =
profit. But
here goes...)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Last year, I took a 5'2 no name =
grand, (picked
up for disposal) new pinblock, new hammers, new dampers, new =
keytops/fronts,
restrung, and refinished, and it sold about 2 months after being done =
for
$8500+. (I did a wholesale deal with a dealer. He got the =
piano as
it was for $5000, and I had no further obligation whatsoever. He =
received
the rest for a sales commission, and his obligations to the customer =
(warranty,
a couple of tunings, etc.). I kept records of my expenses. I =
spent
$761.30. Which means if I spent 175 hours to do it, (which I =
didn't, but
I'm illustrating,) for $4238.70, I earned $24.22 per hour for my =
time.
Perhaps it could be construed as not being as profitable as the same =
time spent
tuning, but I'd hardly call it a waste of time. There's a lot of =
people
working at Burger King that'll never see $24.22 per hour. (And I =
AM
under-stating here.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Also last year, the shop I work for =
took a Mason
& Hamlin 5'8" grand that they picked up for disposal, gave it =
'the
works', as in complete rebuild, (new board included), and sold it for =
about
$18,000. They put in about $1600 in parts and materials, plus =
about 275
man hours. That's a $2650 profit above and beyond the customary =
charge of
shop labor at $50.00 per hour. Again, I'd hardly call that not =
making any
money.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Right now, also in the shop I'm =
working for, is
a 5'8" Baldwin grand. We're not finished with it yet, but the =
materials are estimated around $1500. We're guessing it will come =
in at
around 235 hours. The price tag is somewhere in the $16,000 range
(completely rebuilt), and again, I'd hardly call that 'not making any
money'. You can do the math.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>I don't recite these examples out of =
hostility
or vengeance, but I believe that telling someone that they 'can't make =
any
money' doing rebuilds can be a little misleading. I'm not saying =
anyone
and everyone can do what I've been fortunate enough to do. Some =
may not do
as well. Some may do much better. Yes, they can be a lot of
work. Yes, your profits won't be so great on pianos you've spent a =
lot
more time learning on, if you're considering your time at a full $40 or =
$50 or
$60 per hour. But with some experience, which you get when you do =
them,
your skills improve, your efficiency improves, and your bottom line =
hopefully
improves as well.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>I realize that different geographic =
and
demographic areas can be radically different. This is but a =
sample.
It just makes me squirm a little when someone says there's no money to =
be made
in...(fill in any subject). Much can depend upon perspective and =
the
approach used in your individual situation. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Just some food for thought. No =
offence
intended.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Brian Trout</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Quarryville, PA</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><A
href="mailto:btrout@desupernet.net">btrout@desupernet.net</A></FONT></D=
IV>
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