Re: Do-it-yourself Piano Repair
By John A. Tuttle
I thought Ed Gloeggler's letter was well written and I hope a lot of "would-be" do-it-yourself rebuilders will take heed. However, back in 1975, after 6 months as an independent player piano technician, I realized that I wasn't charging enough for my services, so I raised my hourly wage from $18.00/hr to $24.00/hr. My current hourly rate is $65-$75/hr, plus parts.
I live in central New Jersey. I work on-the-road at least four days a week and service approximately 400 units a year in the Tri-State area, including Delaware and (very soon) Virginia. I charge $0.85/mile based on a one-way trip plus a $45.00 service charge to walk in the door.
Admittedly, my labor rate for total rebuilds, which I do in between the road work in the comfort of my own home, is less than the rate for road work, but I can assure you it's nowhere close to $10/hr, more like $40-45.
Just thought you'd like to know the facts.
Musically, John A. Tuttle
P.S. In case you think I'm expensive, you should know that the average independent plumber makes between $400-500 a day for eight hours work.
[ That's what _you_ earn on a good day on the road, John. But unlike
[ the plumber, you have shop work to sustain you! Your rates are about
[ the same as those charged by good techs in my region (So. Calif.).
[ -- Robbie
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John A Tuttle "Self-Playing Pianos" E-mail:tuttleja@concentric.net
407 19th Avenue 908-840-8787 (leave message)
Bricktown, NJ 08724 Rolls:1-800-870-8784 (leave order)
"We Keep Your Music Rolling" http://www.concentric.net/~tuttleja/
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(Message sent Tue 10 Dec 1996, 14:16:36 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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