I started at $25 in 1975. The first dealer I worked for (who was also a tuner) had been charging $20 for some time, and thought that $25 was "highway robbery" and that "no person should earn more than $75 in one day". Since he was retiring from tuning (I furnished the supply side of my shop with his stuff) his opinion didn't sway me much.
Interestingly, he would sign (in code) every piano he tuned, showing the date, what was done, and the charge. Of course I learned the code. I was able to track his basic tuning fee all the way back to the mid-forties when he was charging $3 a tuning (and I think $1 for a pitch raise).
One of my earliest mentors (Orman Pratt in DC Chapter) was charging $40 around 1978. I thought: "Wow! That's a lot!". Well, he gradually helped me to understand that a self-employed person needs to earn at least twice as much as he/she intends to "bring home". It took a long time for that reality to set in with me but I eventually got it. In 2014 went to 7 times the original, and approaching time to go up again.
Pwg
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Peter Grey
Stratham NH
603-686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2018 03:17
From: Blaine Hebert
Subject: Historic Tuning Prices and Inflation
I have my grandfather's ledgers and in about 1925 he first charged $2.50, with a family to feed he quickly went up to $3.50.
In about 1974 when I started I believe I was charging $12.50. That was in Dallas, Texas.
When customers complain that my prices have gone up I quote them my starting prices of $12.50.
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Blaine Hebert
Duarte CA
626-795-5170
Original Message:
Sent: 06-18-2018 23:33
From: Benjamin Sanchez
Subject: Historic Tuning Prices and Inflation
Hello All,
I'm curious. Looking at history and the prices we charged for back then. Or rather, our tuning forefathers. For those of you who are somewhat elderly, perhaps even "young at heart", how much did you charge back when you first began? And what year was that?
Also interested in historic information, if anyone know about how much they charged "back in the day."
Thanks all,
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Benjamin Sanchez
Professional Piano Services
(805)315-8050
www.professional-piano-services.com
BenPianoPro@comcast.net
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