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<DIV> <STRONG><EM><FONT size=3>David</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT size=3> Really good post. This approach works
well for me as too. If the client trust you then I never have any squabbles
about the price. They know I will do what's best for
them.</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT size=3> Dale</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>This has
been gone over on previous threads. There are basically
two<BR>approaches. You can have a minimal fee for minimal service and
charge for<BR>every additional item no matter how small, or you have a full
service fee.<BR>For me personally, I find that trying to explain every $2, $3,
$4, $5 or $10<BR>dollar item becomes more time consuming (and quite honestly
annoying to the<BR>customer) than the job is often worth. So I build
into my fee enough time<BR>that I find on average I need to accomplish what
I've found is necessary on<BR>most service calls to accomplish what I think is
necessary. There are<BR>extraordinary circumstances that change the best
laid plans. The other day,<BR>for example, I ran into a stripped player
grand that was so filthy and<BR>needed to be disassembled in order to clean
that all I got done in my<BR>usually allotted time was the cleaning. She
paid a full fee and I had to<BR>reschedule to come back to tune the piano
(which will entail another full<BR>fee). Along these lines, more
involved work like a major voicing (filing,<BR>fitting, etc.), or regulation,
for example, would entail a follow up<BR>appointment. I expect 1 - 1.25
hours for an appointment but allow 1.5 hours<BR>max and give customers beyond
the first appointment an appointment "window"<BR>rather than a set time to
allow for the scheduling unknowns. My basic fee,<BR>therefore, does have
a small range and will depend, for the most part, on<BR>time. But my
minimum charge for a service call always includes enough time<BR>for a few
other things. They are not given away, by the way, customers pay<BR>for
them and I do my best to deliver what they pay for. By doing
things<BR>that way I feel that I can leave the piano in better condition
consistently<BR>than if I have to haggle for every little
item. <STRONG><U> Leaving the piano in better<BR>condition within the
scope of a basic service call makes me look better,<BR>removes possible
objections, saves time in explanation and avoids feelings<BR>of resentment for
those customers who feel that the nickel and dime approach<BR>represents a
"foot in the door" sales strategy that they might view as less<BR>than up
front. <BR></U></STRONG><BR>David Love<BR>davidlovepianos@comcast.net
<BR>www.davidlovepianos.com</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
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