Hey all,

I was curious what everyone charges labor for stringing? Of course some racquets are much tougher and more time consuming than others. I still think its much better to have one rate instead of varying rates per racquet. This creates easier communication with customers and amongst customers when they refer you to others!

Currently I charge $12.00 in labor which I think is kind of low but I was curious what others charged? If customers use string I have in stock they get a better deal. Am I charging to little?

Thanks,
Brandon

I only string for a few friends throughout the year - I charge $15-20 + string ($3-4 for cheap monofiliment off the reel, to $15-20 for ordered sets of hi-end mulitfiliment).

But if your low-cost re-stringings gives your team an edge, allowing them to experiment and dial-in tension/string variables - then you're on the right track.

-Jim

I charge $14 for labor and double my cost for the string. Works out best with reels, doesn't work so well with Prince Premier, Technifibre, and other high end strings. I also let customers provide me with packaged string.

I charge $10.00 if the customer provides the string, $15.00 if I use my own mono. So far, any one that is willing to pay for multi has always provided their own string. If I provided multi I think my price would go up to $25.00 to make a decent profit.

What kind of Mono are you using? Think I priced out E-Force Platinum at about $6 per job. I have a couple that like to provide string. Others I think just want to get the racquet done and have the $. I really like those customers. ;-)

joedel

What kind of Mono are you using? Think I priced out E-Force Platinum at about $6 per job. I have a couple that like to provide string. Others I think just want to get the racquet done and have the $. I really like those customers. ;-)

Gearbox mono which is proving to be very popular in the Killeen/Fort Hood, Texas area. At 35-40 bucks a reel it's a fair price and profitable as well,

+1 on the Gearbox Mono. 660 ft reels for 40 bucks. I have been using the 17g and 18g for months and charge $20 a string job.

I typically charge $20 + the cost of string. If they bring their own string to me, I charge $15 (I rationalize it being I don't have to carry their string).

To turn the subject a little, I wanted to ask if any stringers have started using something from square.com? It's a little device that plugs into your smartphone/iPad/Tablet headphone jack and allows you to accept credit card transactions. It costs you 2.75% but if you allow it as an option, it keeps the customer from saying, "Oh, I don't have cash or my checkbook on me." If you consider a $25 string job, it'd cost $0.69 to use the CC, if you charged them and extra $1 for the CC convenience, it's a relative push.

Has anyone else started using this item?

Hmmm the credit card thing is interesting. I have never had an issue with peeps trying to pull the no money no check thing. Locally here we all are pretty tight and know one another really well. So I don't, well hope, I will never have a need for square.com. Sounds intriguing though.

Well as to price of labor I was comfortable with charging $12.00 labor and then whatever string would be added on top, either from my reels in stock or if they brought it to me. But no after the headache I had last night I may bump up my fees and make some adjustments because that Head Amp 185 with the IGS system took me 3.5 hours between understanding how it was strung and then stringing it. I am still battling between charging different rates for easier racquets compared to Head, Wilson & EForce racquets or stick with my original game plan of having one rate for ease of communication with customers. That Head racquet is sooo not worth my time to string at $12.00! And this was after I ordered the string for the guy so I had to do the legwork of getting the product and also wrapped two new grips and he also wanted the Gamma guard tape. Definitely a learning experience and will no longer quote a price like what i did for all of my time!

I also do a cheap $10 job with the Forten gut string for the guys who are cheap skates. It definitely has helped create more business.

Heres my game plan: carry 3 strings at all times.
- Pro Kennex Liguid 17 for multifilament (reason is I can get a great deal on it) and charge $22.00 putting my labor profit at $14.00
- A nice mono string, maybe that Gearbox mono above? Thoughts? suggestions on what to put here? Looking for a 660' reel at $40.00 and charge $16.00 for string job putting my total labor profit at about $13.50. currently I have Ashaway Superkill II for this.
- Last Forten Sweet 16 gut (cheapest ok'ish string out there) and charge $10.00 labor for cheap guys and total labor profit will be at about $8.50. Don't mind taking a hit here for my time and labor to create business BBUUUTTTTTT i need to have a disclaimer stating that if a racquet like this Head Amp I need to charge more like $12.00 or $14.00. As for the other two string jobs above I thinking make those just a clean rate for all racquets.

Is there any other strings you think I should hold in stock? My thinking is just a multi and a monofilament is good enough to keep in stock but the Forten is just so cheap so I figure that will add a third choice. If they want something else they can either bring it in to me or I can order it. How does $12.00 sound if they bring me the string and $15.00 if I have to order it on top of cost of string?? Still undecided if I should do the disclaimer thing for tougher racquets if guys decide to go this route. Thoughts??

And last, how much do you charge for installing grips? $3.00? $5.00? And any other racquet accessories? threading wrist teathers? installing grommets? etc?

,Brandon

Hi tkisling,

I have it and also have a merchant account. I prefer square to having a merchant account, since they don't slap a monthly fee.

Sometimes it's hard to swipe, but you're right it's a nice option for people that don't pay with cash, but think getting people to give you a credit card for purchase also has it challenges.

Good Luck,
--Joe.

So Ill Rball

Head Amp 185 with the IGS system took me 3.5 hours between understanding how it was strung and then stringing it. I am still battling between charging different rates for easier racquets compared to Head, Wilson & EForce racquets or stick with my original game plan of having one rate for ease of communication with customers.

I feel your pain with the Head sticks. I dread stringing my Meanstreaks. All I can say it gets better. Hopefully you can lock your racquet and have fixed clamps.

I would disagree with you about charging different rates. Customers talk to each other and if they find out your are charging different rates it would probably hurt you. Better to ramp up the price to where you feel comfortable and be consistent.

So Ill Rball

Is there any other strings you think I should hold in stock? My thinking is just a multi and a monofilament is good enough to keep in stock but the Forten is just so cheap so I figure that will add a third choice. If they want something else they can either bring it in to me or I can order it. How does $12.00 sound if they bring me the string and $15.00 if I have to order it on top of cost of string?? Still undecided if I should do the disclaimer thing for tougher racquets if guys decide to go this route. Thoughts??

And last, how much do you charge for installing grips? $3.00? $5.00? And any other racquet accessories? threading wrist teathers? installing grommets? etc?

,Brandon

Think you should see what your customers want. Sucks having a string sit on the shelf that no one wants. I like having a cheap, mid, and high level string. My cheap is E-Force Platinum 17. My mid is Ashaway Superkill II 16, and one of my highs is Superkill XL 17g. I keep a couple of Prince Premiers and maybe an E-Force Oxygen for certain customers that like them, but if the string doesn't move don't carry it, mark it down, or use it yourself.

Still disagree with charging for different frames, but that's just my $0.02.

I normally double the cost of the grip, grommets, lacers.

Have a good weekend,
--Joe.

I string for a flat rate of $15.00 that includes Forten competition nylon 16g string. If they give me the grips, teathers, grommet strips, head tape and so on, I install them for free.

I only use one string for all racquets, and I buy it on a 660 ft. reel for $17.00. I tried out various low end strings and found that the Forten played and lasted the best for players looking for LOW price stringing. This includes players ranging from "D's" to Elites. The players I string for are friends at my club and really can't tell the difference in strings anyways. I can go for months without stringing a racquet and then get a lot to do within a week.

For those player wanting certain strings, I send them to other stringers that charges $35.00 or more for stringing. I do have a reel of Gearbox Mono 17g that I use on my own Gearbox GB-125 and Prokennex Quad racquets.

I have a cheapo Gamma X-2 machine and can string the Head racquets with the IGS system with no problems. Most of the newer Head racquets are strung the same now, so after doing a few, they are pretty simple. I modified my X-2 to have a functional brake, and that helps a lot when doing the crosses.

People come to me because I offer "low cost stringing" and stand behind my work. If it breaks really quickly (usually from a frame hit), I will just restring it for free. If they don't like the Forten string (first time customer), I cut them out and give them their money back and send them to another stringer. This has only happen once in about 3 years.

I just string to kill time and make a little chum change for snacks and racquetball stuff I want to buy. I started stringing, because I got sick and tired of giving the stringing dude $35.00 a pop every couple of months.

I have typically 3 levels as well. I like the Ashaway Liberty 16 or 17 (17 is only available in reels). I can get that stuff for $.125 per set (from ATS Sports if you buy more than 5 sets at a time). I also carry Kennex Liquid 17 and my top end string is the Gamma Asterick. My most popular string is the Kennex Liquid. I start at $25 for the Liberty, $30 for the Liquid and $33 for the Gamma. I try to use a rule-of-thumb $20+ the cost of string +/-. My margin is a little better on the Liberty and a little less on the Gamma.

Just one question , everyone talks about the labor plus the cost of string, is the cost of
the string at what you buy it for or retail. I was just curious because there is a big difference on most strings.

tkisling

I typically charge $20 + the cost of string. If they bring their own string to me, I charge $15 (I rationalize it being I don't have to carry their string).

To turn the subject a little, I wanted to ask if any stringers have started using something from square.com? It's a little device that plugs into your smartphone/iPad/Tablet headphone jack and allows you to accept credit card transactions. It costs you 2.75% but if you allow it as an option, it keeps the customer from saying, "Oh, I don't have cash or my checkbook on me." If you consider a $25 string job, it'd cost $0.69 to use the CC, if you charged them and extra $1 for the CC convenience, it's a relative push.

Has anyone else started using this item?

Just started using Square.

Lots to catch up on TK;)

Manny

hooper

Just one question , everyone talks about the labor plus the cost of string, is the cost of
the string at what you buy it for or retail. I was just curious because there is a big difference on most strings.

It would only make sense if it's for profit ...the stringer should be buying at wholesale and selling it at retail.

If stringers are not buying at wholesale...contact me before your next string jobs.

Manny

Hey So IL Rball...... where are you located? Sent you a PM but have not got a reply.

I just read the article about paypal coming out with their version of the square device.

It says their fee is 2.7% (0.5% cheaper than Square.


Oh and Manny, I'd LOVE to catch up w/ chu but you never answer my calls or emails dude!


Terry

Hey guys,

@ Manny - I sent you a pm, please see inbox

So after feeling out all of my customers feedback it looks like this is what I have come up with for my rates:

Forten Nylon 16 - $10.00
A nice mono, thinking about the GB Mono - $16.00
PK Liquid - $22.00
they supply the string - $12.00 labor
I have to special order - $15.00 labor
grip install - $3.00

Everything else in racquet maintenance is free. I offer a warranty that is free of charge if the string job is faulty or breaks prematurely. I have a flyer with all my rates on there ready to email to all my customers. In your opinions should I further simplify my charges or do you think this is not too complicated and pretty straight forward? Thank you all for your input, it has helped greatly!!

First of all, I'm not a stringer, but just wanted to say I like your string selection and really can't complain about pricing. One funny note though, is that you're charging $12 if they supply the string, but only $10 for Forten supplied and installed. I think if that's the case, you should either charge $10 if they supply their own, or charge $12 for the Forten.

I also assume you mean if you special order the price is $15 labor + cost of string/shipping ?