<HTML>Rick, Like Phil, I've had to struggle with dealers to get them to recognize th= at the pianos usually need more than just a "tuning" before they get deliver= ed(sometimes they don't even get tuned first, especially at University sales= or the like). Like Ric, I charge all customers--private client and dealership--for a 1= 1/2 hour service call in a customer's home.  On my warranty service ca= lls, I do mostly new pianos.  The dealer gets a low, bulk rate.  I= n return, I get the customer, as well as referrals for private clients. Though I can get a pitch raise and tuning done in that time frame pretty= easily, I do add an extra 10.00 for it, if the piano was never tuned in-sto= re(easy to tell: tuners put a small round sticker on the inside of the case)= .  It IS wear and tear on body and ears, and it shows unwillingness to = prep the piano in the store by the dealer.   If the piano was tune= d in-store, I don't charge(just as I do with private clients who tune their = pianos on a 6 month or yearly basis), because it shows an attempt by the dea= ler to get the piano ready. If I go over 1 1/2 hours, I charge an hourly rate, based on 15 minute in= crements of time.  It is half the rate I charge private clients. There are times when easing keys, lubricating, or regulating the lost-mo= tion is a must in order to prevent future "sticky key" calls.  I have e= xplained to the dealer that it is cheaper to do this in-store or on the firs= t service call than to have someone go back because the customer "has a stic= ky key."  One of them used to say "it's a warranty issue!"  NOT! &= nbsp;Since it takes so little time, it usually only costs the store a few ex= tra dollars and goes a long way towards keeping the customer happy with the = product, the store, and your ability to service a piano properly.   When dealing with REAL warranty issues, I like to deal directly with man= ufacturer's if possible.  Most have been helpful and prompt with both p= arts and payment. Hope this helps, Dave Stahl <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-= LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">I usually do a flat rate fo= r 1.5 hours of work.  If I can do a pitchraise and final tuning in that time then I dont raise my charge. If= I can get the tuning done and have time left over for other matters, then I pay attention to those. I always found it easier to justify raising my charge if I actually needed more time to finish any given job. RicB richard.ucci@att.net wrote: >Hi List, > >I've benn doing in home tunings for a local dealer for several years= now , and I'm wondering what others do in situations where the piano needs = a pitch correction of 25-40 cents. > >I've been charging a flat rate to the dealer and then keep the clien= t, but in the past the pianos were much closer to proper pitch. > >Should I be charging more to the dealer for the pitch raise ? I don'= t want to tune a piano in a new clients home not to proper pitch. > >Thanks, > >Rick Ucci / Ucci Piano >_______________________________________________ >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > >   > _______________________________________________ pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives </BLOCKQUOTE> </HTML>