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<DIV>
<DIV>Richard,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Everyone's different, and different things work for different
clients. I book some six months in advance, some a year in advance.&nb=
sp;
Some can't keep a calendar that far ahead, so I send them reminders and
call. If I book far in advance, I always call to remind the customer w=
hen
I'm coming.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>After sending postcards, i'll usually call two-three times over a =
3-6
month period, and if I get no response, I leave a message telling them =
to
call me when they need my services. I put an x by their name,
indicating to me that the ball is in their court, and not to call them
again.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I try to be sensitive to the customer's desires in this regard. I=
don't like feeling like I'm another harassment in someone's harried life.&nb=
sp;
Most people are gracious and appreciate the reminders, but some are obviousl=
y
put off.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I know it's hard for us to face sometimes, but our place in most people=
s'
priority list is somewhere down below the annual cat innoculation. It
often takes a note sticking or little Betty saying, "mommy, the piano sounds=
funny" for the customer to get of her duff and call the tuner.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>It's taken awhile, but I've learned not to take these things
personally, even when they tell me they're using tuner X, who was recommende=
d by
their neighbor, teacher, guru, or priest. That's the nature of the
biz.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Hope this helps,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dave Stahl</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> dated 5/4/05 6:12:15 AM Pacific Daylight Time, richard.ucci@att.n=
et
writes:</DIV>
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<DIV>Got a call from a client I tuned a year ago for the first time, telli=
ng
me not to call back with any more reminders. She has my number and will ca=
ll
when she's ready(aroung the turn of the next century I guess).</=
DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I call clients once a week to schedual appointments,and leave a messa=
ge
if I get their machine.Short and sweet- "the pianos due, It's been a six
months,year,whatever , and I'll be in the area this week. Let me know if y=
ou
want to schedual.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I considering making the next appointment when I'm there an=
d
sending a reminder card two weeks prior, with the stipulation for them to =
call
and confirm. I still don't want to have no shows which means I still will =
have
to call many of them to confirm.</DIV>
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