<HTML>Terry, 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 us= ually a little more challenging for them to make a claim. Itemizing what you've done and specifying time per each task performed i= s what I do in a case like this.   Dave Stahl In a message dated 10/21/04 11:02:54 PM Pacific Daylight Time, alanforsy= th@fortune4.fsnet.co.uk writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-= LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"> Hello Terry, Whenever I am in doubt as to how much to charge, I usually specify ea= ch individual action on an invoice; i.e. copy exactly what you have listed i= n your post. That way the customer has little defence. Sometimes I also stat= e that the labour charge is also a "nominal" amount (as if doing them a favo= ur). Hope this will ease your conscience. Alan <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-= LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">----- Original Message ----= - From: <A HREF="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com">Farrell</A> To: <A HREF="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 10:42 PM Subject: Vertical Damper Lift Rail I repaired a vertical damper lift rail the other day. Typical thing wher= e one of three little steel L-shaped hookies that pivots in a flange broke o= ff. 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 expectin= g..... shall we say a difference of opinions? My question (before I tell wha= t my charge is/was) is how much time would you charge at your normal hourly = rate for such a repair? 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.......</FON= T> The piano is a recent model Kawai. </BLOCKQUOTE> </BLOCKQUOTE> </HTML>