<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2712.300" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>I for one, don't like this method.</DIV> <DIV>For one, how much time would it take to figure out the average = cents out of tune.</DIV> <DIV>In my neck of the woods, a piano can be out in certain areas (of = the piano), as much as 35c from Winter to Summer.</DIV> <DIV>I tell my customers to have it tuned once a year, around the same time.  This way I am tuning for the amount the piano is out of = tune,  not the seasonal change. I explain to them, it will probably sound = pretty bad through the Summer, as I also suggest it be tuned when the heat is = on.</DIV> <DIV>If the out of tuneness, bothers them during the non heating season = to install a Dampp-Chaser system.</DIV> <DIV>Through our Summers, the piano goes up and down in pitch, quite a = bit, as the humidity varies from the 50% to 90+%.</DIV> <DIV>I prefer the pitch raise and fine tune method. Each pitch raise is = a 1/2 tuning fee.</DIV> <DIV>I don't consider it a pitch raise for anything less than 20 cents, = unless the accuracy is warranted. This is determined by consultation with the = customer, determined by their requirements, ( i.e. little old lady for herself, = hymns etc.) ,or a concert situation.</DIV> <DIV>This method has worked very well for me, with my mainly rural = clientele. I imagine it would not work for you city guys, that only work on = grands.  :-)</DIV> <DIV>My customers are satisfied, with my method, and it works here, as = they have been calling me back since 1975. Mind you a lot don't do it yearly, some = have waited 10 to 20 years, and then ask me if I think it needs tuning, as it = still sounds good to them.</DIV> <DIV>Regards,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>John M. Ross<BR>Windsor, Nova Scotia.<BR><A href="mailto:jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca">jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca</A></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 2:01 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>