<!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 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks to all for the input on my = little thing last week. The guy called me up asking if the rail was ready and asked how = much it was going to cost. I hate being put on the spot, but if I am I try to = quote high and come in low. Anyway I said $200. After reviewing things, I only = charged him $150. I put the thing back in a couple days ago - he is happy, daughter = pianist is happy, I am happy. And thanks again for the input, it = helped.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Oh, and it was not a Kawai, but rather = a Samick-made Kohler & Campbell.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=Piannaman@aol.com href="mailto:Piannaman@aol.com">Piannaman@aol.com</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, October 22, 2004 = 10:21 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Vertical Damper = Lift Rail</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 = face=Verdana size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12">Terry, <BR><BR>How old is the = piano?  Is it still under warranty?  If it is, I try to deal with the = manufacturer, which doesn't necessarily put the check in hand as quickly.  The = customer always appreciates it, since it's usually a little more challenging = for them to make a claim. <BR><BR>Itemizing what you've done and specifying = time per each task performed is what I do in a case like this.   = <BR><BR>Dave Stahl <BR><BR>In a message dated 10/21/04 11:02:54 PM Pacific Daylight = Time, alanforsyth@fortune4.fsnet.co.uk writes: <BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 = style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" face=Arial color=#000000 = size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10" BACK="#ffffff"><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px = solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" TYPE="CITE"><BR><B>Hello Terry, </B><BR><B>Whenever I am in doubt as = to how much to charge, I usually specify each individual action on an = invoice; i.e. copy exactly what you have listed in your post. That way the = customer has little defence. Sometimes I also state that the labour charge is = also a "nominal" amount (as if doing them a favour).</B> <BR><BR><B>Hope = this will ease your conscience.</B> <BR><BR><B>Alan</B> <BR><BR><BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff = 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" TYPE="CITE">----- Original Message ----- <BR><B>From:</B> <A href="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com">Farrell</A> = <BR><B>To:</B> <A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> = <BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, October 21, 2004 10:42 PM <BR><B>Subject:</B> Vertical = Damper Lift Rail <BR><BR><BR>I repaired a vertical damper lift rail the = other day. Typical thing where one of three little steel L-shaped = hookies that pivots in a flange broke off. I just made the appointment to = re-install the rail and the guy asked me what the charge was. I told him. He = didn't sound happy at all. I am expecting..... shall we say a difference = of opinions? My question (before I tell what my charge is/was) is how = much time would you charge at your normal hourly rate for such a repair?</FONT><FONT lang=0 style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" = face=Arial color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12" = BACK="#ffffff"> <BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" = face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10" = BACK="#ffffff">I'm in Florida and rates are pretty consistent here with most of the = mid-west. I typically charge $60 an hour for on-site service work and $50 an = hour for shop work. And I think I gave him a good deal = actually.......</FONT><FONT lang=0 style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" face=Arial = color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12" BACK="#ffffff"> = <BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" face=Arial color=#000000 = size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10" BACK="#ffffff">The piano is a = recent model Kawai.</FONT><FONT lang=0 style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" = face=Arial color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12" = BACK="#ffffff"> <BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" face=Verdana color=#000000 = size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12" BACK="#ffffff"></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></FONT></BODY><= /HTML>