I had a pretty simple boat lettering job that I did last weekend. The owner's wife (I know.... she was the owner too)suggested/wanted something that I didn't think was appropriate...BUT the customer is always right!!
I did the job..but took a pic of the job before adding the part that I thought was wrong..then a pic after. The "cloud stuff" was the problem.
Sent the customer the two pics by e-mail and suggested they reconsider the options.
I got this response today....
"Dave: I did call Tony Friday and Monday and had him remove the clouds. You guys are right -- it looks better without them. I think the white of the clouds is too stark against the dark blue, so it draws your eye and overpowers the letters. Thanks for providing the suggestion. I appreciate you (and Tony) giving me feedback on how things look, instead of just doing what I asked for and leaving it. I value your input, since I figure that you guys have much more experience with this than I do."
GAWD, I LOVE IT WHEN A CUSTOMER AGREES!!!!!!!! LOL
edited to say that I was paid in advance for the job. Price was $350. And yep...I am a ripoff artist!!!!!! BUT..I do what the customer wants..and I don't do anything for free!!!! How do I get away with it??? I am cute I guess. hahahahahah
[ April 08, 2004, 10:59 PM: Message edited by: Dave Grundy ]
Posted by Pete Sharkins (Member # 4525) on :
Dave, What did you use to do that job (vinyl, paint, etc.)? Looks great (w/o clouds)! Thanks, Pete
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Pete..all vinyl..tried to up-sell to SignGold but they balked at the price. Bummer!!
Shoulda had "Brian the Brush" help me out on the selling part!! LOL
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
Nice work.... looks great.
this is what makes my week about 3 grand
[ April 08, 2004, 11:36 PM: Message edited by: Curtis hammond ]
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Right on Curtis!!!!
I got a couple of them too this week..
And THEY are what really makes it all worthwhile!!!!!
"Pretty" is great..BUT money is even better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
Dave, very nice job and I agree . . . without the clouds mkes it very elegant & hi-class.
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
I am glad the customer finally saw it your way, Dave (which WAS better) But it still bugs me that you HAD to do it their way first! Some people just don't get it do they? I wish our clients could "see" what we mean, rather than having to be the Doubting Thomas. As long as it made you feel good, that is all that matters. Love...Jill (nice stash Curtis...when ya buying us lunch?)
Posted by Diane Crowther (Member # 120) on :
That's where the digital camera comes in handy. You do the designs on the screen, email them, and they can see before it's actually done that it's not going to work. A picture is worth a thousand words.
Just curious, Dave...why did you have to do the work and then take the picture?
Kudos on the price! Was that for the bow & stern, just stern, or just bow?
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
Dave probably did get the cloud removal approved with a photoshop mock-up... but he also probably got to charge $50 for removal by not admitting thats how he did it Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
The boat was 60 miles away so I wasn't about to drive over to take a picture, but I did have a template of the boat, a Tartan 10, that I have used for several others of the same design.
I did send the layout, with and without the clouds, for approval before doing any work. Wifey wanted the clouds so I did it that way. But as soon as I put the clouds on on one side I decided that it was better without. So I took a pic of both sides, one with clouds and one before the clouds were applied.
The manager of the marina, a good friend, peeled the clouds off at the owners final request. For free. Probably took him all of 5 minutes.
Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
That guy is making all marina managers look bad - doing all that graphic assistance for free - wtf is WITH those guys? I'm sure Dave is kicking a chunk over to him anyway . . . . . .
Posted by Diane Crowther (Member # 120) on :
That's what I figured - you didn't have the boat available until installation time. And a template will not give the same effect to the customer. We're currently doing a septic pump truck and being able to do the graphics on the photos we took makes it so much easier to show the customer what works and what doesn't. I don't know how we ever worked without the camera.
Again, Dave, great price!
[ April 09, 2004, 03:35 PM: Message edited by: Diane Crowther ]
Posted by Cam Bortz (Member # 55) on :
Making who look bad? I don't get it. The marina manager is going to mark this job up to the customer, right? So the marina is providing a service to a paying customer by removing the vinyl, not "doing something for nothing." That's called customer service, last time I checked.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Cam.....I was paid in advance BY THE CUSTOMER!!!! Not the marina. Think about it...How many marinas do you know of that pay in advance??????
The manager spent 5 minutes pulling off a bit of vinyl as a favour to me and a service to his customer. I very much doubt that he is going to add a charge for that 5 minutes onto an invoice for the $20,000-$30,000 that it cost to refurbish the boat.
[ April 09, 2004, 04:24 PM: Message edited by: Dave Grundy ]
Posted by Mike Kelly (Member # 2037) on :
Nice job, Dave.......but I don't think you ripped them off. $350. for both sides of a boat 60 miles away? I say they got a heck of a deal ........but after spending over 20 grand to refurbish the boat, they wouldn't go the extra mile for real gold? Shame on them.
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