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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>John Formsma<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Thursday, February 14, 2008
10:00 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Pianotech List<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: Valuing ourselves</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>>></span></font>I wish I was, and I'm
moving up steadily. As of right now, my fee is $85 and $40 for a pitch
correction. And, most of the guys in our chapter (<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Memphis</st1:place></st1:City>) are around that figure. I have
been raising my rates steadily. But keep in mind that cost of living is
much lower than in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cali</st1:place></st1:City>.
<font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>You might bump your price to $89. It is an
easy hike to make and the little extra really does make a difference. Then go
to a two tier price- $95 for out of county. The out of county people really do understand
about paying more. I’ve never had any out of county complain about paying
a higher price and I’ve been doing it for years. And that little extra really
will make a difference. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>You should also consider bumping your
pitch raise price. People who haven’t had their piano tuned for years are
expecting a big bill. I do a sliding scale- $1 extra for every cent above 10
that they are out- up to a maximum. For you I’d recommend a maximum of
$175. So if someone asks how much you charge, give them your standard rates,
then say, “unless they are really bad. If it has been several years since
being done it might be up to $175.” Communicate that if they are outside
a certain range in “in tuneness” that the fee will be somewhere in
there depending on how bad it is. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>You need to consider more than just time
spent in doing a pitch raise. They can be very draining and it is a lot more
wear on your ears, especially those boogers that are 100+ cents out. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>>></span></font>The numbers don't
lie. But I seriously doubt I would get enough work at that price.
It's a balancing act, and I'm never quite sure what my market will bear.
I admit very readily that while I love what I do, but I'm the world's
worst businessman.<font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Are you maintaining your customers in some
sort of computer database? Can you do a direct mail piece to them using mail
merge? Can you get a monthly report of who is due to be tuned? Getting a new
customer can be expensive. Once you get them you must maintain contact with
them.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>>></span></font>I do charge $60/hour
if I'm doing non-tuning stuff. I'm choosing not to work full time,
though. <font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>If you do quality work you should bump
that to $100/hour. You should make at least as much as you make tuning. You are
taking away time that you could be spending tuning someone else’s piano. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>>></span></font>I'm widowed, and have
two boys (6 and 41/2.) it takes a ton out of me to do piano service and
then come home to do my "other job" as a father and housekeeper.
It is rewarding, but I don't make any $$ doing it yet. <g>
But ... since I will be totally debt free in a few months, I'm slowing
down this year to home-school my boys while I work more selectively
(hopefully). We're starting this in March, so right now it's all on paper
and not in practice. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Nah. You started when they were born. They
speak English? How did they learn? It’s because you home schooled them
and didn’t even know that is what you were doing. If you maintain that
perspective when you start schooling them “for real” you’ll
be successful. It ain’t about forcing them through some curriculum and
completing workbooks. It’s about maintaining a loving relationship with
your boys, having them hang out with you as you go through life, and capitalizing
on the natural curiosity God gave them to explore their world. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>You’re doing some good stuff there,
John. God bless.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
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style='font-size:22.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:navy;font-weight:
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<p class=MsoAutoSig style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><u1:PERSONNAME u2:st="on"><font
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to hang to hang out with too!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoAutoSig style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=3
color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Dean
May</u1:PERSONNAME>
cell 812.239.3359 <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=3
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