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Comments within text below:
<p>Tvak@AOL.COM wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>
<p>I should provide some details to my situation: I've been listed
in the
<br>Yellow Pages for 3 years.
<p>I do send out reminder cards when a year has passed, but response varies
<br>greatly, it seems.</blockquote>
Do you phone them 2-3 week later to ask if they got the card? Sometimes
they lose it, or move, or throw it away and change their mind but can't
find it. If you got on okay in the first visit, they will be glad
to talk with you. If you think that they didn't call because they
don't like you anymore, you're throwing away a lot of money! Most
people lead very busy lives and ANYTHING you can do to help organize the
situation will be greatly appreciated!
<p>Tom, pianos should be tuned every six months because of seasonal humidity
changes that swell or flatten out the soundboard and cause a 5-15% variation
in the pitch of the notes in the middle of the piano. This normally
occurs within a month of the shift over from heat to air-conditioning and
back. If this is a dealer piano, you should strongly discuss this
with them when you do the first tuning. Most manufacturers recommend
2-4 tuning the first year. Remember, you know a whole lot more about
their piano than they do . Speak with confidence and they will follow
your recommendations. Use the information above to sell a Damppchaser
system to them. That will upgrade your bottom line considerably for the
day.
<p>Put additional work recommendations in a circled box in the unused lower
part of your invoice. Put the prices over to the left of the page
so you won't confuse them about how much they must pay today. Stuff
such as voicing, lost motion, key level and regulations of various degrees.
About 40% of these will result in extra business. One lady I did $2500
in repairs and adjustments over a 3 year period. One thing I do a
lot of is to offer a days work at a set price. Then I go in and improve
the piano as much as I can in 8 hours. Most of the time they like
the results enough that they have me come back later to finish up.
When I first started doing this I offered a discount, but found out later
it wasn't necessary. This appeals to people on fixed budgets.
<p>Incidentally, don't sell yourself too cheaply. Discount prices
for piano service is counter-productive. If you are too cheap, the good
customers will become suspicious and won't use you. All you will
get are the people with junk! You will not be able to steal good
customers from someone else on price alone. Most people pay several
thousand dollars for their pianos new or get them as inheritances.
A few bucks on a tuning won't mean a lot. The BEST customers are referrals!!!
<p>Schedule their next appointment <u>today</u> after you play your demo
tune and before you leave. Mail out a card reminder three weeks ahead
and confirm the week of the appointment. More people will keep the
appointment than not. Call again just before you leave your last
appointment. If you don't have a cell phone, get one. It's
crucial to this business!
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>
<p>I have had evaluations by 4 different RPTs who were all very positive
about
<br>my work. (One hired me to assist him at peak times; another passed
several
<br>clients to me and continues to send me referrals.) Our chapter
had Associate
<br>Tuning Evaluations in May, and the 2 RPTs assigned to me encouraged
me to
<br>take the RPT exam, which I plan to take next year at the convention
in
<br>Chicago. (I have to mention this because I don't think the quality
of my
<br>work is the problem.</blockquote>
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>Not that I'm satisfied with myself... )</blockquote>
Tom, don't even think that thought! You are the best tuner within miles
of their piano at that time. If you do, your customer can pick up on it
instinctively and may not trust you. Do your absolute best, and if
you find out later that something wasn't the best, make a note of it and
fix it the next time you are in there.
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>
<p>I work at a piano store one day a week where I do floor tunings and
preps,
<br>but I didn't count floor tunings in my monthly totals.</blockquote>
Can you talk them into some of their in home tuning?
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>
<p>So whaddyathink? Am I just impatient? How long does
it take to build up a
<br>clientele to support one's self?
<p>Tom Sivak
<br>Chicago PTG Associate</blockquote>
<p>--
<br>Warren Fisher RPT
Beginners & Lurkers
<br>fish@Communique.net
Basic Pianotech discussed
<br>1422 Briarwood Dr.
Ask any question.
<br>Slidell, LA 70458-3102
fish@gs.verio.net
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