<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=windows-1252"> <META content="MSHTML 5.50.4522.1800" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>Jason wrote:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>I am musing about pricing models for = tuning. Most tuners seem to charge a fixed rate plus additional for a pitch raise. = This seems to be equivalent to one rate for a one-pass tuning and a second rate = (less than double) for a two-pass tuning. What variations exist in your pricing models?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>I'm not entirely sure what you are referring to here. I = differentiate between a pitch-raise pass and a tuning pass. Generally, if a piano is 5 = cents or more flat it will require a pitch raise pass (that I charge extra = for) and then a tuning pass. If a piano is 4 cents flat, I will only charge my = standard tuning fee, but I will do two passes because I know that if I try to do = it in one pass, I will be disappointed in the outcome - so I will do a = two-pass tuning. If the piano is within 2 cents of target pitch, I will often = only do one pass - but I will then likely have time to do some other beneficial voicing/regulation, etc. My pitch raise pass fee is 50% of my tuning = fee. If the piano is 150 cents flat, it will definitely need at least two = pitch raise passes. I will charge 50% tuning fee (for the first pitch raise = pass), plus 50% tuning fee (for a second pitch raise pass), plus tuning fee = = 2X tuning fee total charge. And yes, there are grey areas between the extremes - = be fair and make your call.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>"<FONT face=Verdana size=2>Does anyone charge a sliding scale = based on average cents out-of-tune? This would enable a lower rate for pianos = that are very close to tune (average less than 2 cents flat); it would be = relatively easy to measure/calculate with an ETD; and it would further incent customers = to keep their pianos in tune. It might also tally closer with the degree of = effort to get the piano into proper tune."</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>When folks call for an appointment (new customers) I ask them to = play the piano over the phone for me. I at least want this info to plan = an appropriate appointment time. If I can hear that it is below pitch, = I tell them it will be tuning fee + 50%. I book appointment if they don't tell = me they need to talk to the wife, etc. When I tune the piano I do have a sliding = scale. If the piano is 5 cents or more flat I charge for a pitch raise. If the = piano is 20 cents flat (based on a few samples across the keyboard), I charge the = full 50% tuning fee pitch raise charge. If the piano is less than 20 cents = flat - like for instance an average of 12 cents flat - I will only charge = them $24 for pitch raising fees plus the tuning fee (from 5 to 20 cents flat I do = use the sliding scale of $2 per cent flat pitch raise fee - after that is just = based on how many $40 pitch raising passes).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>But I think the key here is that when I quote a price, I tell them = tuning a piano that is at standard pitch is $X. If it is significantly below = pitch, we need to do a separate pitch raise to get the piano to standard pitch = before tuning. The fee for doing that is $50%*X. Only after I get to the = appointment, and actually sit down at the piano and check it out - and find that it = is only an average of 10 cents flat - I will tell them that "gosh, it is not = quite as flat as we may have thought - I use a sliding scale when the piano is = fairly close - rather than charging you $40 in pitch raising fees, the charge = will only be $20". I have never had a complaint when I told a client that. I think = the secret is to always quote the high end of what you think the charge will = be. If you tell them later that the fee will be less......you will never get a complaint. If you have to tell them the actual charge will be more than = you thought..........well, all I can say is better you than me!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Those are my thoughts!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Terry Farrell</DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Ron N. wrote:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The problem I see with a sliding scale is that the customer can't confirm<BR>the criteria for setting the price. To them it will seem = either arbitrary,<BR>or based on their presumed ability to pay after you've = looked them over.<BR>People don't generally like being at the mercy of what looks to = them like<BR>the random whims of "service" people. If they know the base = price when the<BR>appointment is made, and the flat rate pitch raise charge if it = proves to<BR>be necessary, they have already made their peace with the invoice total<BR>before the appointment is even booked. Unless you're the lowest = priced<BR>tuner around, or the only one, credibility is what keeps you = in business.<BR><BR>Ron N</DIV> <DIV> <SPAN id=__#Ath#SignaturePos__></SPAN> </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"><B>From:</B> <A title=jkanter@rollingball.com = href="mailto:jkanter@rollingball.com">Jason Kanter</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> Saturday, February 02, = 2002 1:01 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Pricing Models</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Pricing Models</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>I am musing about pricing models = for tuning. Most tuners seem to charge a fixed rate plus additional for a pitch = raise. This seems to be equivalent to one rate for a one-pass tuning and a = second rate (less than double) for a two-pass tuning. What variations exist = in your pricing models?</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Does anyone charge a sliding scale = based on average cents out-of-tune? This would enable a lower rate for pianos = that are very close to tune (average less than 2 cents flat); it would be = relatively easy to measure/calculate with an ETD; and it would further incent = customers to keep their pianos in tune. It might also tally closer with the = degree of effort to get the piano into proper tune. </FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Reactions?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2><BR>|| ||| || ||| || ||| || ||| || = ||| || ||| || ||| || |||<BR> jason kanter * piano tuning * piano teaching<BR> bellevue, wa * 425 562 4127 * cell 425 831 1561<BR> orcas island * 360 376 2799<BR>|| ||| || ||| || ||| || = ||| || ||| || ||| || ||| || |||<BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML>