<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word"><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META content=Word.Document name=ProgId> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2769" name=GENERATOR> <META content="Microsoft Word 10" name=Originator><LINK href="cid:filelist.xml@01C60585.E9AE6EB0" rel=File-List> <STYLE>@font-face { font-family: Tahoma; } @font-face { font-family: Bradley Hand ITC; } @page Section1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; = mso-header-margin: .5in; mso-footer-margin: .5in; mso-paper-source: 0; } P.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; = mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } LI.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; = mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } DIV.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; = mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } A:link { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } A:visited { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } P.MsoAutoSig { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } LI.MsoAutoSig { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } DIV.MsoAutoSig { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } SPAN.EmailStyle17 { COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-style-type: personal-reply; = mso-style-noshow: yes; mso-ansi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: = 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; = mso-bidi-font-family: Arial } SPAN.SpellE { mso-style-name: ""; mso-spl-e: yes } SPAN.GramE { mso-style-name: ""; mso-gram-e: yes } DIV.Section1 { page: Section1 } </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US style="tab-interval: .5in" vLink=purple = link=blue> <DIV>Dean --</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>At how many cents off pitch do you consider a pitch adjustment necessary?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-- Geoff Sykes</DIV> <DIV>-- Assoc. Los Angeles</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr = align=left>-----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On = Behalf Of Dean May Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 1:54 = PM To: 'Pianotech' Subject: RE: How to explain a pitch adjustment </DIV> <DIV class=Section1> I find it = very helpful to “pre-sell” the pitch raise. When a new customer = calls we quote our normal rate ($85) and ask how long it has been since the last tuning. = We then explain that if the piano is real bad it could be up to $150 because = it will require more work to get it into shape. (My rule of thumb for charges = is take the worst note out of tune and add $1/cent = to my basic rate, up to the maximum of $150.) There may also be additional charges = for minor repair and/or adjustments. Most people do not balk at all at the = cost. They are expecting to pay more on a piano that hasn’t been tuned = for many years. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Then when I = get to the job I don’t ever have to sell a pitch raise. It is pre-sold. = They may ask if it is going to take the pitch raise, but they’ve already = committed to paying it or I wouldn’t have the appointment. = <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Being up = front like this eliminates the perception that you are just trying to = “upsell” a job. They know before you come = out what the possibilities are. Before I started doing this several years ago I = faced the same struggle you are. Since we started doing the pre-sell, I am = actually doing more pitch raises at a much higher = price.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <DIV> Dean<o:p></o:p> Dean = May           &n= bsp; cell 812.239.3359<o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272<o:p></o:p> Terre Haute = IN  47802<o:p></o:p></DIV> <o:p> </o:p> -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Geoff = Sykes Sent: Tuesday, December 20, = 2005 3:45 PM To: = Pianotech@Ptg. Org Subject: How to = explain a pitch adjustment <o:p> </o:p> <DIV> Greetings all --<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV>  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> Many pianos need a pitch = adjustment prior to tuning. Usually because it hasn't been touched in = five years. Therefore, like many of you I'm sure, I frequently find myself = having to explain to customers what a pitch adjustment is, and why their = piano needs one prior to tuning. I have found that car analogies often help when explaining things but I have not been able to come up with one that = would help with a pitch adjustment. Even after explaining, as simply as I know = how, the relationship of the incredible string tension across the plate = and why it needs to be equalized before a fine tuning will hold, I often = feel like I'm coming off trying to sell them something bogus. How do you people = explain pitch adjustments to your customers whose piano needs it so that = they not only understand what it is but why it's important that their piano = gets one prior to tuning?<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV>  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> -- Geoff Sykes<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> -- Assoc. Los = Angeles<o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTM= L>