String Labor

[kac08]

I have been stringing in the same shop for about four years. I string around 50 racquets a month and the owner pays me $5 a racquet. She charges customers $22 for Gamma Syn. on the low end and $56 for Babolat Vs Touch on the high end. I am considering asking her for a raise. I would like to know how much you are paying stringers for their work or how much you are getting per racquet. I have over 15 years expierence stringing and have built a very strong customer base for my employer, however I am not certified by the USRSA. Thanks

 

[Stan]

You are underselling yourself. You need to ask for a raise. You should get at least double what you are currently making. AT LEAST! Don't give your services/skills away. Ask for $15.00 per stick and don't take anything less than $10.00.

 

[Masamusou]

You should be getting more than $5, but $15 is a bit much. I'm assuming you aren't the one that is paying for the machine, the equipment, the overhed. No employer is going to pay a stringer that wants $15 of a $22 sale.

 

[jj300]

Its unlikely you will get $15. However, there is no way I would ever get caught stringing for $5 a racket. Assuming you finish at least 2 rackets an hour, you are only making $10, for that go to a pizza place and deliver, free food, more exciting, and more money. Give us more details, is it your machine or hers? How much does she charge for labor to the customers? How fast do you string? You have a good case for getting more money, you are most likely the person that gets the people coming back because they enjoy their string job, if she refuses you get even threaten her and leave taking the people with you. Some people are stingy and need to learn a lesson once in awhile. Shoot me an e-mail kac08

 

[Pomeranian]

You should take a certification test to get an MRT. Check out this website to see what you need to pass. http://www.usrsa.com/certification/studyguide.html
It's a pretty easy test considering you have 15 years of experience.

 

[kac08]

Wow, thanks for such quick responses. It is her machine and she supplies the string, of course. I agree $15 is to much. She has raised her prices since I have been here but my wage has stayed the same. I can consistently string racquets in 25 min give or take.

 

[kac08]

She charges $10 if a customer brings in their own string. I would also like to say that I enjoy working for her and I enjoy stringing racqets, I just want to be compensated fairly for my services.

 

[Gaines Hillix]

She charges $10 if a customer brings in their own string. I would also like to say that I enjoy working for her and I enjoy stringing racqets, I just want to be compensated fairly for my services.

Are you receiving any other compensation? I was considering taking a part time job as a subcontractor stringing at some area big box stores and I was going to be paid $8 per racquet to start with an increase to $10 if everything worked out. IMO, $5 is too low if that is all you're getting paid, but if you are also being paid by the hour as a store employee and this is bonus money, so to speak, it's probably o.k.

 

[Kevo]

I normally charge $10 for labor, but I don't think $15 is unreasonable. I just like to be cheap enough so that everyone is a little bit extra happy with their stringing.

 

[ask1ed]

You should be able to string a racquet in 15 min. I don't string pro. I've had an Ektelon model D for 25 yrs. In that time I've strung only for myself, about 500 string jobs. $10/stick will leave her with $7 a lot of the time, not going to fly. Start selling more gut and more expensive string sets with more profit, and then you'll be worth $10, and only then.

 

[tennisadict]

hmmm maybe you can ask her to service you........jk

 

[CheapStrings]

The big picture

She charges $10 if a customer brings in their own string. I would also like to say that I enjoy working for her and I enjoy stringing racqets, I just want to be compensated fairly for my services.

kac08,
If you are getting $5 of the $10 the store charges for labor, I doubt you can get a bigger piece of the pie. The store has a lot of overhead and risk, which you don't share.

If you are getting an hourly salary of several dollars and add $10.00 for stringing 2 racquets, I'd say you are doing pretty good. You wouldn't earn as much if you bought your own machine and strung at home. You have stringing skills but do you think it would be difficult for the store to find and train a competent replacement for you?

What do your competitors charge? If your store can charge more than $10 for labor, you could ask for an increase. A lot depends on your location and competitors.

Does anyone know what the policy or pay is at the larger sporting good stores that do stringing in-house? I'm sure they pay an hourly wage but do they pay additional for each racquet strung?

 

[thetenniskid07]

You should get a $5 raise.

 

[kac08]

I do not get paid hourly to string racquets. The $10 is only when someone brings their own strings. Here is a breakdown of a racquet strung with the shops NXT: total price is 41.80, $5 goes to me, she probably paid $12 at the most for the string, so that leaves $24.80 to compensate her for the machine and whatever other fees she has, which isn't much since she doesn't pay rent or utillities for the shop.

 

[ragnaROK]

I agree with some others that you should be getting a little more, probably around $10. If she doesn't oblige, I'm sure there are other tennis shops around that can buy you better.