<HTML>In a message dated 2/2/02 6:06:28 AM !!!First Boot!!!, jkanter@rollingball.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">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? 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. Reactions? || ||| || ||| || ||| || ||| || ||| || ||| || ||| || ||| jason kanter </BLOCKQUOTE> To charge for how much a piano is out of tune is not a wise thing to do. I don't think it takes any extra effort, or time, to raise pitch 10 cents as it does 50 cents, or even 100 cents. It is how accurately you do the pitch raise that makes the difference. And then, some pianos react differently to a pitch raise. I have done a 100 cent pitch raise, followed with a normal tuning in one pass, and the piano was fine. On the other hand, I did have done 25 cent pitch raises, and spent three times my normal time trying to get that thing to stabilize. I knew a piano tuner who charged by how long it was between tuning. (normal charge for 6 month, 1.5 for 1 year, 2 times for two years, etc.) I can't justify that either. I have had some pianos stay on pitch, even after 2 years, and some drop as much as 30 cents within 3 months. If we are to charge a "standard" fee for tuning, and extra for rasing pitch, somewhere along the line its all going to come out even. In the long run the average time spent is going to be about the same. That's from our point of view. From a customer's point of view, perhaps they might feel they didn't get their money's worth if you're in and out of there in 45 minutes. But I don't think that's going to happen very often. Charge the same rate for at tuning, and the same rate for a pitch raise. How much you charge, and at what point you want to charge for a pitch raise, is up to you. But a sliding scale would not be recommended. Just my view Wim </HTML>