<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1264" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <DIV>If the repair(s) takes = more than five minutes, or it requires me to go out to my vehicle for whatever, then it = is time to add a separate repair fee. Works for me.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Terry Farrell</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>----- Original Message ----- <DIV>From: "Richard Strang" <<A href="mailto:rstrang@pa.inter.net">rstrang@pa.inter.net</A>></DIV> <DIV>To: "'Pianotech'" <<A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>></DIV> <DIV>Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 3:24 = PM</DIV> <DIV>Subject: RE: nickels and dimes do add = up, but...</DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV>> A very large percentage of new customers do not call me = because their piano > is out of tune, even though  tuning is what = they say they want. They call > because something went wrong with the piano = and what ever it is is driving > them crazy. That bobbly hammer, or = the bass damper that fell off, letting > the string ring forever. > =   I include some minor repairwork in the piano tune. How long does it = take > to adjust a couple of back checks? While I'm tuning, I might find = other > small things and I'll just fix and or adjust as I'm on my merry way tuning. > I always inform my customer about what I found and what = I did to correct it, > and everyone so far has seemed happy with my work. I = have never had anyone > complain about getting a little something for = nothing, and I feel good about > doing it too. >    = Anything over the simplest repairs is another matter. A bunch of > adjustments = calls for a complete regulation. Where do I draw the line? It's > a fuzzy = one, but there is one there, and I charge by the hour. I make a > quote, = and it is usually accepted. After all, what ever is wrong with the > piano = is driving the owner crazy right? They will pay to fix it, so = charge > 'em. > > Richard > > -----Original Message----- > From: <A href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</A> [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On > Behalf Of Steve = Borgstrom > Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 1:34 PM > To: Pianotech > = Subject: Re: nickels and dimes do add up, but... > > > The = below business plan thought is a great idea and I have not the > = foggiest notion of how to do it, how to word it, etc. > > Would anyone be = willing to share a copy of their business plan, > deleting or censoring = somehow anything they wouldn't want to share or > that would be = personal? > > How about a price list? I sometimes have a hard time knowing = how much > to charge, since I'm just starting up... > > = Please go easy on me if I'm asking for the moon and stars here, I'm > just = learning! <grin> > > Thanks! > Steve Borgstrom > = Brooklyn Park, MN > > > On Thursday, May 8, 2003, at = 05:58  PM, Owen J. Greyling RPT wrote: > > > Tom, > > = Simple..In a service business, someone ALWAYS pays. If you are working > > = on an > > instrument that doesn't belong to you, someone else = should be paying > > for > > that service...not you. If you are = not compensated for your work, all > > of it, > > YOU are = paying for the privilege of working on someone else's piano. > > Been = there, done that! > > This problem is easily and permanently solved by = sitting down and > > writing > > out a "Business Plan". You = will not likely make a conscious decision > > to give > > away = your earning potential, before you've earned it.when you are > > wearing > > your 'business hat". I'm not as harsh as I sound, honestly..but I work > > to > > hard to be poor. Bet = you do to! > > Regards, > > Owen > > > = >  ----- Original Message ----- > > From: <<A href="mailto:Tvak@aol.com">Tvak@aol.com</A>> > > To: <<A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>> > > Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2003 3:31 PM > > Subject: nickels and = dimes do add up, but... > >> > >> I have been wondering = how some of you handle the little incidental > >> things > = >> that sometimes need to be done on a tuning call.  I find it difficult > >> to > >> charge someone for = something that takes very little time, and I like > >> to do > = >> something a little extra if I can.  I think it makes the = customer > >> feel like > >> he is being taken care of and not = being taken advantage of.  But > >> then, where > = >> do you draw the line? > >> > >> One place that I've = drawn the line, is if the customer asks me to fix > >> something = that is bothering him.  I am more inclined to charge him to > = >> correct > >> a problem he is aware of and wants = remedied.  Even then, if it takes > >> less > >> than 5 minutes, = I can't seem to put it on the bill. > >> > >> And what = about things that perhaps only you have noticed?  Here are > = >> some > >> things that one comes across pretty = regularly.  Would  anyone care > >> tocomment > >> on = their policy regarding the following: (on a vertical piano) > >>         Tighten a loose = hammer butt flange to correct a floppy hammer? > >>         Tighten 3 loose = hammer butt flanges?  Five? > >>         Adjust a = leaking damper?  Three dampers?  Five? > >>         Adjust the lost = motion from a damper pedal? > >>         Ease a = key?  Three keys? > >>         = Adjust a backcheck to stop a double-striking hammer?  Three? > = >> Five? > >>         = Align a hammer to strike all three strings? > >>         CLP a sluggish = hammer butt? > >> > >> Would you:  A) charge him = for it? > >>          &nbsp= ;  B) just leave it like it is? > >>          &nbsp= ;  C) not charge him, but  let him know you took care of the > = >> problemfor him? > >> > >> Just curious how some = of you might approach this. > >> > >> Thanks. > >> > >> Tom Sivak > > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list = info: <A href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</A> <FON= T face=Arial size=2>> > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list = info: <A href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</A> <FON= T face=Arial size=2>> </BODY></HTML>