The prices at Alan Horne Flute Dynamics are lower than many prices one encounters in the realm of musical instrument repairs. On the other hand, the prices exceed some others encountered elsewhere.
Why the variation from one shop to the next? Why are prices at Alan Horne Flute Dynamics such as they are?
One flute repairman cynically regaled the rest of us with the idea that the price reflects the repairman's confidence in his repairs. If that was the truth, you'd pay millions to have a spring hooked up again, at some shops.
The truth is that prices vary from service to service because of many factors. One service provider may have overhead, such as the cost of rental space or heavy tooling (or both), and that cost gets passed on to clients in the form of higher prices. Another service provider may have been in business for a long time, long enough to develop a large clientale, such that the provider doesn't have time for everyone that might come along; prices are consequently raised to discourage some demand for such a provider's services. On the other hand, service providers with low overhead and who are just starting out will charge less.
The prices at Alan Horne Flute Dynamics are set according to a) what it costs to perform a particular service and b) prices charged by other providers. It is important to note that each service takes a certain amount of time, and that time is charged at a 'shop hour' rate - here, it is $25 per hour in a Baseline Program and $40 per hour otherwise. Also, other providers' collective prices reflect a certain cost versus value - a 'market value'; thus the attempt is made here to see to it that the client gets more for their money than they would at another shop.
Please note that the quality of the service at Alan Horne Flute Dynamics is not reflected in pricing. With comprehensive services, your flute will be returned to you playing as well or better than it played when new.
Isn't it a relief to know that your flute of a lifetime, which could easily have cost you $10,000 doesn't have to cost you $10,000 more to be maintained for the rest of its life? This should be helpful to working musicians.