One of the guys in my chapter charges for "a tuning, unless it turns into an assessment." He explains that if the piano is tunable, then great, he'll go ahead and do it on that appointment. If the piano isn't tunable, then it will need to be rebuilt, and he'll look at the condition and give them a quote.
He does quite a bit of rebuilding, so he knows beforehand how much it will cost. So, if that turns out to be the case, he'll spend the time explaining what rebuilding costs and if it would be worth it on this piano. As far as I know, it works for him... I've not yet had the opportunity to try it, though. In his case, part of the reason it works is because he knows exactly how much rebuilding costs currently.
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Benjamin Sanchez
Professional Piano Services
(805)315-8050
www.professional-piano-services.comBenPianoPro@comcast.net------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-27-2018 15:51
From: Willem Blees
Subject: Minimum service call fee
I Schedule a full service tuning, which includes minor repairs and pitch adjustments. I then go in to say that if in my opinion the repairs are more than what I think are minor, I get their permission to do the work. Then I end my conversation with, "if I deem that the piano is not worth fixing, I simply walk away and not charge anything".
It usually takes me only a few minutes if my time to condem a piano. By not charging the customer, there is a good chance they will call me again when they get another piano. If not, then I consider it a service to the piano community.
My attitude is that if you look at the big picture, and don't fret the small stuff, you'll be happier and make more money in the long run.
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Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
Mililani, HI 96789
Original Message:
Sent: 06-27-2018 14:47
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Minimum service call fee
I have established a minimum service call fee that one friendly customer, who I still provide service for, cleverly defined as what it will cost for me to ring their doorbell. Usually this is no problem. However, I had a new customer today that refused to pay. He had a 103 year old Krell upright that was literally falling apart. It was way beyond help. Even though I had explained my fees when he originally booked the time he balked even when I offered to drop my fee for that visit by 50%. I will never see this guy again so I just walked. So, today's question is: How do you legitimize a minimum service call fee, to a new customer, when there is nothing you can do for the piano? Or do you even bother attempting to collect?
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Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
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