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<DIV><FONT size=2>I have gone around in circles about the best way to =
bill for
my services that is fair to the customer, adequately compensates me =
for my
time, and allows me to provide the best service possible.
Inequities stemming from frequency of service, problem pianos, =
customer
expectations, combined with my desire to avoid having to explain every =
nickel
and dime operation that I see as necessary, have finally led me to
structure my fee schedule as a pure function of
time. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>My basic fee is now based on a 1.5 hour service =
call. In
that time, if the piano is serviced regularly, I can usually complete a =
tuning
in about an hour. That leaves me 30 minutes to do whatever else I =
see as
most pressing: lubricating, cleaning, voicing, etc.. If the piano =
requires
a pitch raise or lowering prior to fine tuning, I can usually accomplish =
both comfortably in 1.5 hours, usually with a little time left =
over.
If the amount of work required, or requested, exceeds 1.5 hours then I =
bill the
additional hourly. </FONT><FONT size=2>If the piano is a =
Steinway F or
some other such monster I will usually require the entire 1.5 hours if =
the piano
is at pitch to begin with (not my problem, they bought the stinkin' =
thing
without asking me). But generally, I can then leave the piano =
having taken
care of something other than tuning. The customer will be more =
satisfied
with the instrument and the instrument will better represent my =
abilities.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>In the past, when I have suggested that a piano =
needs
something to a customer, they have often replied, "Gee, why didn't the =
last
technician tell me that." The truth is that we get into such a =
mindset
that customers are unwilling to entertain the idea of doing something =
that
entails an additional cost, that we often neglect to do things that =
really
should be done routinely. Using this method I can, over time, =
address most
of the needs of a piano if the customer is servicing the piano on a =
regular
basis. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Going to this method required a slight increase in =
my fee and
I was a bit concerned about this at first. But I am finding little =
or no
resistance when I explain that the fee buys a block of time. =
Overall,
it has allowed me to reduce my appointment load on any given day to a =
maximum of
4 (before it was 5). There is less driving and less stress =
involved in
making it to the next appointment on time when I run into something
unexpected. I can deliver better service and feel more satisfied =
with my
work. Customers are ultimately more pleased with the instruments =
(even if
they don't know exactly why) which is good for referral business. =
I
suggest you all consider it. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>David Love</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>