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Piano Data Base

  • 1.  Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-26-2020 17:29
    Hello Folks,

    I'm considering changing/updating my client data base and client management program.  I'm looking at Gazelle and Pianocal or recommendations for others that might be worth considering.  Can anyone provide any helpful feedback?  Many thanks.

    Dan Alberts​

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    Daniel Alberts
    Connellsville PA
    724-628-4298
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  • 2.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-26-2020 17:41
    Hi Daniel.

    I am a Gazelle user and I highly recommend it. I hemmed and stammered for years before finally pulling the trigger 2 years ago. What initially impressed me about the software is how it handled the turnover from what I was using(Access 95) to import into Gazelle. Gazelle did not break a sweat, and it was in a better format to read in than what I was use to in Access 95! Since the turnover, there have been numerous improvements to the day-to-day operations of the software, and it is very accessible as far as a cloud-based format...3G might be a bit slow, but you will be able to input information. 

    I am unfamiliar with PianoCal but I do know it has been around as long as, if not longer, than Gazelle.

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    -Phil Bondi
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  • 3.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-26-2020 19:13
    Thank you so much, Phil.  I have been trying Pianocal, but I'm having a very difficult time launching the client emailing feature .  It is mentioned on the Pianocal site that some servers may not support Pianocal.  This has nothing to do with the quality of the Pianocal product, but it appears more with my carrier.  It is resolvable, but just more effort than what I might be willing to pursue.  I attended a class with Gazelle and they sure seemed like nice folks and very knowable.  I have well over 300 clients so I would be looking at the unlimited package.  I assume that you feel that the savings in time clearly offsets the monthly cost?  Again, thank you for taking the time to comment.

    Dan  ​

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    Daniel Alberts
    Connellsville PA
    724-628-4298
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-27-2020 00:17

    Hi Daniel,

    I've been using Gazelle for over a year now, and I absolutely love it! I can't speak about Pianocal, but my understanding is that it's a bit of an older system and may not work properly on certain browsers or servers.

    Your cost will Gazelle with be quickly recouped. Once it's set up it saves you literally a dozen hours a week in office work. It does everything from allowing the client to self-schedule to invoicing to smart routing (which may save a lot of time depending on your geography) to automated reminders by email, text, or both. 


    I used to balk at the price, but now I don't know how I lived without it. Gazelle only charges you based on your active client count. This means you could have 5,000 clients, but only 100 are marked as active. In this case you'd only pay $75 a month. If you have more than 300 active clients, you pay $150 a month. You control who's active and who's not, so it may take you quite a while to work your way up to the highest cost package.


    Yes, $75 or $150 per month is a lot, but if your business isn't bringing in that much there's a problem. You have two solutions: downgrade to the free package (which works the same as the other two, but with less active clients), or, watch the Gazelle School of Business videos and webinars! These are really awesome videos put together by the Gazelle team that can help your business grow and be less stressful, no matter what stage of the game you're in.

    Can you tell that I'm a fan, LOL?!?! Seriously, I really do recommend it. If you have any questions feel free to PM me and I'd be pleased to help.



    ------------------------------
    Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
    Piano Technician / Artisan
    (805) 315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Posted 10-27-2020 04:49
    Benjamin S. wrote: "Gazelle only charges you based on your active client count. This means you could have 5,000 clients, but only 100 are marked as active. In this case you'd only pay $75 a month. If you have more than 300 active clients, you pay $150 a month. You control who's active and who's not, so it may take you quite a while to work your way up to the highest cost package."

    I took another look at Gazelle recently out of curiosity - I'm trying to understand some of its features. My database has at least several thousand clients - and no doubt many of those are dead ends - they'll never have their piano tuned again for various reasons. But that leaves way more than 500 clients that I don't know how you'd want to classify them as anything other than "active". Can you tell me what happens when you classify a client as "inactive"? I ask that because I'm paying $35/month with PianoCal (which works very well for me) and I'm having trouble thinking of spending $150/month to get me one Gazelle feature that PianoCal does not have.


    ------------------------------
    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-27-2020 10:18

    Hello Terry:

    A good question. Perhaps, Benjamin might be able to clarify how Gazelle qualifies an "Active Client"?  Thank you for replying. 


    Dan Alberts 



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    Daniel Alberts
    Connellsville PA
    724-628-4298
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-27-2020 17:28
    Terry, if you don't want to the clients self book themselves, and you have control over who, when and where, the price is not $150. You need to return my call when you can.

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    -Phil Bondi
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  • 8.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-27-2020 18:29

    Hi Terry,

    When you mark a client as inactive, Gazelle will stop sending them reminders. It does not delete their data, just in case they call you later. Also, you have to mark the client as inactive, Gazelle will not. 


    An "active" client is one who either has an appointment on the calendar, or one whom you want Gazelle to send reminders to. 


    Hope this helps!



    ------------------------------
    Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
    Piano Technician / Artisan
    (805) 315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-28-2020 02:25

    Thanks for your clarification. It certainly seems reasonable. 


    Dan Alberts



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    Daniel Alberts
    Connellsville PA
    724-628-4298
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-27-2020 10:14

    Thank you so much, Benjamin. Your input is greatly appreciated. After reading your post I'm 99% there. Your enthusiasm has been transferred. I greatly appreciate the time that you invested to respond. Wish you all the best! 


    Dan Alberts



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    Daniel Alberts
    Connellsville PA
    724-628-4298
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Posted 10-27-2020 05:08
    Hi Daniel. I have been using PianoCal for quite a few years now and like it quite a bit. I have also taken a close look at Gazelle several times over the past few years. I have also had some business experience with some of the Gazelle personnel in the past. As far as I can tell, Gazelle and PianoCal share many features. There is one feature that Gazelle has that is absent from PianoCal: invoices. Because I haven't actually ever used it, I don't know exactly how the invoice feature works on Gazelle, but I presume it works much like a non-internet database program I used to use (can't think of the name of it) where a work order would turn into an invoice at the click of a button (and you could add items) - that was really nice. A program that generates an invoice is nice, not only because it generates an invoice quickly, but more so because the invoice also serves as a detailed record of the service call. I presume Gazelle does that. PianoCal does not. Other than that though, as far as I can tell, the two database services are similar. If you'd like more info on my experience with either of these, please contact me privately.

    ------------------------------
    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-27-2020 08:01
    Daniel,

    I created my first data base in 1978 for a Commodore 64.  That said, I would not go without Gazelle in this stage of my career. 

    I have no idea how PianoCal works and have been using Gazelle for 2.5 years now.  The invoicing is very nice, but doesn't function as a work order.  The appointment serves as a work order.  The client can create the appointment themselves online and give you a general idea of what to expect.  The appointment sends out confirmations, reminders both text and email (your choice which) when the appointment is confirmed by you, a week before the appointment, and the day of the appointment.  When you create the invoice in the home all the data you will ever need for taxes and record keeping is gathered along with the general invoice data.  

    The estimate feature is invaluable.  The customizable checklist is translated into a professional presentation.  But perhaps the biggest asset is the tech support.  It is sometimes minutes to respond to questions and issues.  Most of my issues are operator error and they are very gracious in helping.

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    Tim Coates
    Sioux Falls SD
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  • 13.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-27-2020 14:56
    Thank you for your input, Tim.  Greatly appreciated. I very well may reach out to you for more discussion.

    Dan​

    ------------------------------
    Daniel Alberts
    Connellsville PA
    724-628-4298
    ------------------------------



  • 14.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-27-2020 18:34

    Tim called out the one feature I forgot about: the estimates! 

    Estimates are so, so nice! Every since using them I've sold probably 10x more non-tuning work than before. I know, some of you are really good at selling, but I'm not. Using estimates allows me to present what the piano needs, in a simple way clients understand, sell the job, and not feel like a salesman at the end! Literally the very next day after the estimates feature came out I used it, for the first time, to sell over $2000 of work. Just that feature alone is well worth the cost! (Oh, and you get the rest of the program to use too!)



    ------------------------------
    Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
    Piano Technician / Artisan
    (805) 315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com
    ------------------------------



  • 15.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-27-2020 08:46
    HI Dan,

    Gazelle is amazing, I cannot say enough good things about it. Brilliantly designed, intuitive and easy to use. It does everything you could ever imagine, appointment reminders, service due reminders, invoices, self scheduling platform for clients, driving directions, email function, text message function. etc.  Each one of these features are easily customizable. If it seems expensive, it is not, it will save you time and bring you more business. They provide excellent customer support.

    Before I had Gazelle I tried Piano Cal, I would not recommend it. I would be happy to tell you why, but I prefer not to do that in a public forum. Please don't hesitate to contact me privately if you'd like discuss either of them further.

    David

    David Weiss
    Registered Piano Technician
    (434) 823-9733
    davidweisspiano@gmail.com
    www.davidweisspiano.com



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    David Weiss
    Charlottesville VA
    434-823-9733
    davidweisspiano@gmail.com
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  • 16.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Posted 10-27-2020 19:48
    I used Gazelle for a while, it is a good system, I just have a problem RENTING an application.  I have Square for credit card payments, they have a free app called appointments. Initially setup for hair salon, you just remove all their items, cut, style etc and replace with your own.  If you wish there is online scheduling etc. Uses the cloud so access is great. It also  has a built in database for clients with maps.  Best part.... its free, as long as they process your credit card payments.

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    Jeffrey Gegner
    Tipton IN
    765-860-5900
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  • 17.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-28-2020 02:41
    I have seen Gazelle and am impressed with it.  It is likely worth it's price.

    I have used an Access database for many years and at this point in my career I see no reason to change.

    I did re-write my Access database for my brother to make it more efficient for our purposes.  Perhaps I should post our current version in our files section for others to consider.

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    Blaine Hebert
    Duarte CA
    626-795-5170
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  • 18.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-28-2020 07:29
    Dan,

    I'd have to say David Weiss' comments are the most concise so far.  Benjamin's are dead on also.  I could see the writing on the wall as far as changing from a tried and true system I had developed.  I don't have time for tech support to solve problems with data base software, customers are harder and harder to contact these days, and I just don't want to spend so much time working a client list (rather be doing other things and enjoying life).

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    Tim Coates
    Sioux Falls SD
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  • 19.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-28-2020 07:40
    I started using Gazelle about 3-4 years ago. In my opinion, for the monthly fee, it is a bargain! With the self-booking feature I am spending a fraction of the time returning phone calls compared to the past. Reminders are done automatically - no more post cards. Invoices done on line - no more paper.
    One feature that I particularly like is the ability to handle customer contact via text. Some people use their phone for everything and would rather receive a text than an email.  Gazelle give you the ability to choose which to use for each client.

    ------------------------------
    Gerry Johnston
    Haverhill, MA
    gj@gjpianotuner.com
    www.gjpianotuner.com
    (978) 372-2250
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  • 20.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Posted 11-01-2020 00:36
    Gazelle is really good. Nothing else does what it does for the same money. Like Gerry says, ability to click a name and send a text or email is great. Plus, automated reminders for service due and upcoming appointments.

    I'm in my second year now. Last year, income was up $5K, more than covering the monthly fee. I don't call people any more because I don't like feeling like a cheesy telemarketer. If I did call, probably have more business. But I let Gazelle do its thing.

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    John Formsma, RPT
    New Albany MS
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  • 21.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-02-2020 10:17
    Hello John:

    Thank you so much for your added input.  Its becoming very clear.

    Dan​

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    Daniel Alberts
    Connellsville PA
    724-628-4298
    ------------------------------



  • 22.  RE: Piano Data Base

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-02-2020 10:18
    Hello Gerry:

    Thank you so much for your input.  Greatly, appreciated.

    Dan​

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    Daniel Alberts
    Connellsville PA
    724-628-4298
    ------------------------------