<HTML>Tom, I charge a flat rate for a basic 1 1/2 hour service call(though I charge= extra for pitch raises, no matter what).  If I can fit a few odds and = ends into that time frame, no charge.  I'll even go a few minutes over,= but once it gets past 15 minutes beyond the 1 1/2 hours, I charge at an hou= rly rate slightly higher than my service call rate.  I never charge for= anything I don't inform the customer about first, and I ALWAYS make sure th= ey know I did extra work whether they pay extra for it or not. Dave Stahl In a message dated 5/7/03 12:33:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time, Tvak@aol.co= m writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-= LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">List I have been wondering how some of you handle the little incidental thing= s that sometimes need to be done on a tuning call.  I find it difficu= lt 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 f= eel like he is being taken care of and not being taken advantage of.  But th= en, 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 take= s 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 to comment on their policy regarding the following: (on a vertical piano)        Tighten a loose hammer butt f= lange to correct a floppy hammer?          Tighten 3 loose hammer butt f= langes?  Five?        Adjust a leaking damper? &nbs= p;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?            B) ju= st leave it like it is?            C) no= t charge him, but  let him know you took care of the problem for him? Just curious how some of you might approach this. Thanks. Tom Sivak     </BLOCKQUOTE> </HTML>