How come, invariably.. Ministers alway's say that they budgeted exactly 1/3 less than the quote you give them ?
This has been my experience in every case. Do they teach that in Theology Class ?
Posted by Barbara Murrell (Member # 3879) on :
Hi Leonard, My experiences with ministers (usually high church of england) is that they are mean mean business men and not a great deal of theology there. So I think they must teach them this.
I recently had to do gold leaf on a blue vinyl strip with the new incumbents name because they wouln't pay for the whole sign to be done. So they had a faded tatty sign with a bit of vinyl stuck on it and nice lettering!!
Also have you found that they never say thank you. I alway just get a check in the envelope and nothing else at all. I guess that's better than nothing, but you do expect a bit more from men of the cloth. Love Barb
Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :
I think a larger majority attend that class from what I have encountered.
That and the Fred Sanford move of clutching your heart after hearing the price, the indignation of how dare I be any higher than the other bids and so on.
Lately it's been a dogfight with any bid over $500. I went to pick up a deposit on a $2,500 job yesterday after many weeks of conferring on this with design changes etc. As soon as I sit down, this realtor pulls out every negotiating tactic and cry of poverty I've ever heard. I suggested to him that tradition is you negotiate on the front end of a bid, not it's acceptance later on.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Guess it's time to give my version of "Pogerssively Worse" style of negotiations!
"How much for this sign?"
"$1000"
(Clutches at his chest, staggers, and gasps) "That's way too much, how about $800?"
"Nope...more like $1200!"
(Clutches at his chest again, staggers, and gasps) "That's not a better price!!!!!"
"You are right! Let's make it $1400."
"No! NO! NO!!! $1000! And not a penny more!"
"OK! That'll be with a 50% deposit!"
[ July 01, 2004, 04:57 PM: Message edited by: Si Allen ]
Posted by Joe Endicott (Member # 628) on :
My dad used what he called "the Preacher's Disount". Up 20%, then down 10%. I tend to stick with it.
You can figure that if you aren't dealer with the Minister (which is obviously fun) you will be dealing with a committee....ARGH. Lose-Lose.
At a shop I used to work for, we had a preacher drive up in a Corvette to get a "for sale" sign for his waterfront condo, and when we told him it would be $35.00, he says to the owner, "Well, I guess I'll put another diamond on your finger!"
Posted by jack wills (Member # 521) on :
We did a sign for a church and about 8 years later... The pastor shows up to ask us when we can make a new sign? We say, anytime. He says o.k. We say lets do an invoice. He says no, you should make a new sign for free because the sign has lost its new look and it should be guaranteed to be like the day it was put in the ground.Boss jumps in and says, O.K. you put a guarantee together on paper that I'll go to heaven and you got a deal. The day I go to heaven you'll get your new sign. GUARANTEED..............
Try that one on for size!
CrazyJack
Posted by PKing (Member # 337) on :
I have NEVER had a promblem with the Churches I have delt with,after referring to such Biblical cases as..."a workman is worthy of his hire" and "you father owns all the cattle & all the hills" As spoken by Jesus Christ
hope this helps
Posted by Mikes Mischeif (Member # 1744) on :
A Large percentage of my Business is with churches. Many have been "burned" by Sign people.
I leaned how to deal with committees (since I'm on one myself) and never have a problem because I know how to handle them.
Some preachers (especially the ones on TV, I could care less about) are idiots when it comes to business. It's your job to learn how ot deal with it.
I laugh everytime I see someone get the short end of the stick....because you let them.
In God we Trust, ALL OTHERS PAY CASH.
Learn it, Know it , Live it.
Posted by Leonard Sappington (Member # 4562) on :
Oh... I hold to my guns, and still get the job..
Today he told me he had another estimate, but still told me to go ahead with the job.
It just cracks me up... Everytime
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
It's the same deal in every other aspect of our lives...
You can not get what you do not ask for.
If you don't command a higher price you won't get it, and a minister won't get a discount if he/she doesn't ask for it. It's worth a shot so just ask!
Posted by Greg McRoberts (Member # 3501) on :
That's a good one Jack. Best I've heard for awhile. Posted by Jean-Claude Theriault (Member # 966) on :
I learned from dealings with some Asian-owned restaurants to add at least 50% to my price and offer 10-15% off as a discount. Gave another 5% when the 'no receipt' idea was suggested by the customer! Always questioned whether it was ethical in a sense but it was better to land the job quickly rather than having to negotiate on price for an hour.
But I did notice that you can't sit down and try to lower the prices they charge for food, been there and tried it!
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Most businesses draw from the passerby witha sign. You can frequently sense the quality of the product or service by the sign presentation. Do you think a church gets congregants this was also? Can you anticipate the doctrine or mannerisms from the sign? It might be different with this group. I've never been stung by them, never made much money from them either. Done lotsa churches.
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
Interesting to see Aisian Restaraunt owners and Ministers mentioned in the same post...for years they (both) have been the biggest pains in the butt to deal with.
I have always bid both high but I have to admit I don't negotiate with the "restraunt" owners...mostly because I know their boss isn't capable of sending me to hell!
I do however get 1/3 down and balance on completion from both.
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I guess that's better than nothing, but you do expect a bit more from men of the cloth. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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