shop work

[AlliedPianoCraft]

I had someone doing outside work when my wife and I had a retail piano business in NY. He would do all the warrantee work and the pianos I didn't want to do. The problem of course is that they will take some of the customers. We had a strict policy of not giving out his business cards. Overall it worked out quite well. We got 25% of his outside work.

Al Guecia

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dave Davis 
  To: Pianotech List 
  Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 10:51 AM
  Subject: Re: shop work


  Has anyone successfully hired a technician(s) to handle the tuning and light repairs so you can move into more shop work? I'm looking into doing something like this, and in brainstorming, see that there are advantages and disadvantages. I think the multiple-technician business is seen more in the east coast. I only know of one somewhat successful business like this in the Pacific Northwest.

  Dave Davis, RPT

  ----- Original Message ----
  From: David Love <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>
  To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
  Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 7:24:07 AM
  Subject: RE: shop work

  I have a similar problem (if you can call it a problem) and have to make a
  point of blocking out shop time otherwise projects simply don't get done or
  I end up working 7 days a week (bad for the golf game).  Over time it's
  allowed me to reduce my geographical area somewhat and give up those pianos
  I don’t enjoy working on, not to mention those awful Steinway uprights.  It
  also makes it more comfortable to raise rates and shift to full service
  appointments.  I'm scheduling appointments out 4-6 weeks typically and
  encourage customers to book three months in advance, especially for anything
  important.  Right now I'm about half shop, half out in the field which I
  like.  The truth is you make more when you're not driving around but the
  field contacts bring more shop work and help expand your client base with
  more quality instruments.  As in all things, you have to find a balance.    

  David Love
  davidlovepianos at comcast.net
  www.davidlovepianos.com 


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: richard.ucci at att.net 
  To: pianotech 
  Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 8:51 AM
  Subject: shop work

  Folks,
   
  I currently service about 20+ residential and institutional accounts per
  week, all year long.
  First appointment @ 10am ,last @ 4 roughly. (9+ hours a day, with travel)
   
  How do you all factor shop work into your scheduales? Right now ,I work in
  some time on Sun> (my day off !)
  Thanks,
  Rick Ucci/ Ucci Piano




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