<DIV>Michael:</DIV> <DIV>How long were you doing piano work, before you got to that point, of no ads, and no reminders. How about you others??.</DIV> <DIV>I go through my records monthly and call any one who is due. Some ask me to call another time, some book on the spot, some return my call a week or 2 later. I guestimate about 40% of those I call will do it again. Others say all is well. They usually call a year or two later. Some I just never hear from again. In some cases its just as well[clunkers]and others who knows!! Michael Gamble <michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2627" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> <DIV>I never have sent out postal reminders. Never. I just use the phone. Neither have I advertised since about 1976 - it's all "word of mouth" and recommendation. I'm not trying to blow my own horn here - it's just the way it is.</DIV> <DIV>Regards</DIV> <DIV>Michael G.(UK)</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr 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">From: <A title=toddpianoworks@yahoo.com href="mailto:toddpianoworks@yahoo.com">Matthew Todd</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">To: <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 5:09 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Subject: RE: reminders</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What is good period of time to let them respond?  Let's say their six month tuning is due June 15th.  Do you send the postcard a whole month before, the beginning of June?  Then how long do you wait to hear from them before you call them?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Matthew David Love <<A href="mailto:davidlovepianos@comcast.net">davidlovepianos@comcast.net</A>> wrote:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">First send a postcard reminder and then call only those who don't at first respond. Or, as I'm trying to do, start collecting email addresses so that reminders can go via email. David Love davidlovepianos@comcast.net ----- Original message ---------------------------------------- From: Don <PIANOTUNA@YAHOO.COM> To: Pianotech <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG> Received: Wed, 04 May 2005 16:32:48 Subject: Re: reminders >Hi Michael, >Why not start "rating" the owners and their instruments, then only contact >those with superior qualities. You will work less hard and enjoy life more. >At 09:33 PM 5/4/2005 +0100, you wrote: >>Hello Phil and List >>I have a card system which, when I've tuned/serviced a piano, goes into the >>system under 6months/12 months hence. Every month I e! xtract all the cards >>for that month and systematically phone all those clients, making >>appointments within local areas (to cut down travel). Anyone phoning me for >>an appointment gets first crack at the whip and becomes a catalyst for >>appointments to be made in their area. Any "particular" clients - those with >>a high musical criteria - are phoned accordingly and other clients in their >>local area are contacted. In this manner I have successfully built up a very >>busy practice over the last thirty years or so which has found me hard at it >>tuning eight-or-more pianos a day. That was up to about a year ago. >>Currently I have about 600 clients due to be contacted. So I have a problem. >>There just isn't enough time to service all those clients. Now at the turn >>of the month from April to May I have to add another batch to the waiting >>list. I think there's only one way out of this predicament.... retire >>gracefully and let them phone me instead, at the same time telling them "I >>only work mornings and never at week-ends except for concert work" Then I >>tell them my fee - not forgetting to add - "change of pitch and repairs are >>extra and charged on a pro-rata basis plus parts". If they buy that... well, >>another trip to the bank at the week-end. :-) Oh... and yes! Don't forget >>the power of the mobile phone. Not only can you use it as an alternative >>front door bell (most people at home do answer the phone if not the front >>door) but it also keeps you "in touch" with base. >>Regards from a dark Sussex Downland Village >>Michael G.(UK) >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Phil Bondi" <PHIL@PHILBONDI.COM> >>To: "Pianotech" <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG> >>Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 7:30 PM >>Subject: Re: reminders >> >> >>> Ric, I've gone from phone call reminders(rip) to postcard >>> reminders(better) to email reminders(best). >>> >>> Next I'm going to telepathically tell people when I'll be ringing their >>> doorbell. >>> >>> Seriously, whatever works for me won't work for the next guy..like Dave >>> Stahl..booking 6 months in advance is something I wouldn't do..why? >>> because it would make me sit by the phone and call and remind people that >>> they have an appointment on such and such a date. That may work for the >>> medical profession, but until piano service gets into the same league as >>> medical appointments, I'll stick with postcards and email. >>> >>> -Phil Bondi(Fl) >>> >>> >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives >> >> >>-- >>No virus found in this incoming message. >>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. >>Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.3 - Release Date: 5/3/2005 >> >> >Regards, >Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.P.T. >Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat >mailto:pianotuna@yahoo.com http://us.geocities.com/drpt1948/ >3004 Grant Rd. REGINA, SK, S4S 5G7 >306-352-3620 or 1-888-29t-uner >_______________________________________________ >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives </BLOCKQUOTE> __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com </BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE> Richard the "Piano Guy"