Not wishing to "cast any dispersions" on the subject of ethics, but the rule of thumb I use is this: if a customer found out exactly what the usual practice is, and what I've been doing instead, would I be embarrassed?
This "labor-saving" issue is a touchy one. I remember the first convention I went to. I was in a voicing class. Someone had worked out a way to do something related to voicing very quickly -- I forget what. And everybody was laughing with glee when it was suggested that it was possible to do the work which usually took three hours in a quarter of the time --- but charge the same.
I was totally disgusted.
The point for me is this: the usual rate is determined by combining the time required and the difficulty of doing the work. So if the time required and the difficulty are reduced, the fee should also be reduced. You are paid for your time and effort. If something (such as fragility of old parts), makes the time and effort required greater, you charge more, don't you?
Being semi-retired, where the hourly wage isn't of such immediate importance, I thought over the "explain the pitch-raise and charge for it" question. I always disliked doing this, since I had to explain to a customer that they would have to pay more than I had quoted. For most, it didn't matter, but for a few who had really struggled to come up with a tuning fee, it was really bad. So, I thought, "when I am old I shall wear purple" and I just took "pitch raise" out of my pricing lexicon. When I meet a piano 100 cents or more low, where tuning it to itself wouldn't work (if it were new enough to take the pitch raise, and especially if someone wanted to play it with other instruments) I just tuck in and go for it. Then I always explain that it will need another tuning to get stable (I suggest six months, or sooner if they are bothered by it), and I leave it up to them whether or not they want to do that. Then, as they exclaim over the time and effort expended, I tell them that the first visit they are getting a real deal, but when I come back and spend 1/3 the time and effort, they will still pay the same amount. And we grin and laugh.
And life is good ... the kind of people who scrimp and save and worry how to feed their children won't call me back later, but they get a little dose of pro bono, without knowing it.
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Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-27-2017 14:47
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: Ethics of using SmartTune
I believe the offensive message has been removed.
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Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413
Original Message:
Sent: 12-27-2017 13:48
From: Benjamin Sanchez
Subject: Ethics of using SmartTune
The fact that those who accused me of being "blatantly unethical" are unwilling to acknowledge my defense says a lot about their own character. Fine. I'll answer my own question.
Most technicians I talk to say they'd do a pitch raise if it's more than 8 to 10 cents off. So if a client has a piano that's -16 cents, I guarantee that every technician in my area will charge them for a pitch raise. Why shouldn't I? Just because I can do it in less time, using modern technology, than they can doesn't make it unethical. Besides, you all are missing a big piece of the puzzle.
Go to my website, look at the page entitled "Services." I use the "full service" method. The Pianist is my basic service packet, followed by the Maestro Service Packet. The Maestro includes piano tuning, light cleaning, and minor repairs (like the Pianist), but also includes one hour of pitch adjustment or regulation. So if I am going to charge them the higher price because their piano needs a pitch correction, but I can do it in less time than a given technician, why wouldn't I do some regulation in place of the extra time spent on the pitch correction? Chances are the piano needs it anyway. But if I get there and the piano is way off, say -62 cents, then I'd have to make the "primer pass" just like in the traditional way. In which case I cut down on the regulation time and allot whatever's left over from the pitch adjustment to time for regulation.
To be honest, the fact that I was accused of being "blatantly unethical" is more than a bit concerning. Without knowing all the facts of how I structured my business, I was accused simply because my method disagreed with the traditional style of doing things. Yes, I'm different, but I'm fine with that. If you've structured your business differently, then fine, I probably won't agree with you, but that doesn't necessarily make you unethical.
Over and over I've recieved private emails stating that "I don't get on the web because there's too many know-it-all's." One of the recurring themes on PTG-L is that we're losing members. With a trigger happy attitude like that, does anyone wonder why?
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Benjamin Sanchez
Professional Piano Services
(805)315-8050
www.professional-piano-services.com
BenPianoPro@comcast.net
Original Message:
Sent: 12-27-2017 12:20
From: Benjamin Sanchez
Subject: Ethics of using SmartTune
Hello All,
Following a suggestion, I want to start a different thread on using SmartTune mode (CyberTuner) for pitch adjustments. A little background first.
In my area, pianos very rarely move more than 4 cents either way. In about a year, they end up at about -2 cents or so. That's really mild, especially compared to other places where the pitch swings wildly.
So for a piano that's -20 cents, it's most likely not been tuned in about 10 years. Most clients expect that their piano needs a little extra work, and they're fine with paying extra for a pitch raise.
Also, I have three tooners that I follow up on a regular basis, and they don't tune octave 7 or below half of octave 1. Don't know why, but those sections NEED major pitch adjustments most of the time. (So yes, I do two passes.)
Notice that I'm only talking about first time clients here who haven't had the piano tuned in over 4 years. If someone had their piano tuned last year, then 99% of the time it won't need a pitch raise.
Just humor me on this next point: how far off does it have to be before you'd do a pitch raise, regardless of if you charge for it or not?
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Benjamin Sanchez
Professional Piano Services
(805)315-8050
www.professional-piano-services.com
BenPianoPro@comcast.net
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