This will be read as the clients walk up to the door...
[ October 07, 2004, 02:15 PM: Message edited by: Nevman ]
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
I like yours better Do what they want Make client "delighted" Collect money Don't tell anyone
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
Professional sign person then says:
HEEEEY! Seein' as how you already know HOW you want it, all you gotta do is paint it!! You're really gonna save some money since you don't need me after all . . .see ya!!
Posted by Steve Aycock (Member # 3612) on :
I just got approval on a job from the customer after proofing the job 9 times. I got paid for the artwork but it's a major kick in the butt to make changes so many times fruitlessly.
Get this...did you see it coming ? All the changes they made came full circle back to my original proposed drawings. They don't even know it.
I'm never sure what's worse a customer that knows what they want (usually terrible) or the ones that don't have a clue what they want.
Steve
Posted by Rick Beisiegel (Member # 3723) on :
Had a similar situation on a big sign. When it was finished, she said "be sure to put your name on it for advertising...after all, alot of people are gonna see this sign" My thoughts exactly! How bout NO!
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
My favorite....
Customer showed up last week looking for a couple of small signs for his home.
Wants wood, 3/4 inch thick. Showed him MDO and he wants plywood. ????????????
Wants flat black with white lettering. Show him a few fonts and he says no. Simple block lettering, nothing fancy.
Asks the price. I tell him. He tries to barter it down. Showed him the door.
He's a loan officer. Looks like he'll give out money...just as long as it isn't his. Rapid
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
Do job, collect money, Be happy.
Humility + Gtatitude = Joy
It ain't a world class art piece. Its a window sticker. STick it on get paid. Yes you know what looks better, yes you worry about the reputation, yes you want the best for your clients. But he wants to show he is gratefull to his clients.
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
I like Shiela's response. Seee- YA~!
Posted by Darryl Gomes (Member # 98) on :
I just delivered some signs today. The customer asked what I need to make the signs. I told them I need artwork for your logo, approximate sizes, and if there are any colours that need to be specific, then I will come up with a design or 2 for you to approve, the deposit and then we start. She says.."we will design the signs, give you the sizes and the colours, all you need to do is make them".
I pondered this for a while wondering if I will see their design and try to talk them into something more appealing or just make the signs and take the money. I opted for the second, they liked their signs and I have a cheque.
oh yeah.. The layout was not horrible, just plain. My name didn't make it on the signs either.
Darryl
[ October 07, 2004, 04:53 PM: Message edited by: Darryl Gomes ]
Posted by Steve Aycock (Member # 3612) on :
I hate it when they do that. Usually they want to send you a picture of the sign in Microsoft publisher or the equivalent. What in God's name would posses someone to want to layout graphics in a wordprocessor I'll never know.
Glad the second option worked out for you.
Steve
Posted by William DeBekker (Member # 3848) on :
I always Like the part. "Want don't you put your name on the sign" and I'm Thinking to myself I dont even want anyone to know I made that sign.
But finally I'm getting to the point in the shop That I am proud to put my name on 90% of the work going out
Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
quote:Originally posted by Steve Aycock: What in God's name would posses someone to want to layout graphics in a wordprocessor I'll never know.
I suspect they think that is much more professional than having their nephew draw it in crayon on the back of the placemat at Eat & Park.
Posted by Darryl Gomes (Member # 98) on :
lol.. I recieved the design as an autocad file with a full-sized plot..just to make sure it was right Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
Hey, I LIKE Eat-n-Park....
Posted by Artisan Signs (Member # 3146) on :
I am in the process of working "with" a doctor on a sign for his office. He actually did a semi-decent job on the layout, but it isn't exactly what I would have done. I am going to throw a quick sketch together for him, and when he says "I like your design better", I will say, "that's why I don't operate on people"........He's a doctor, I'm a sign artist.
Posted by Nevman (Member # 332) on :
I will be doing his final choice as the sign.
The hard part is that this is not vinyl...The signs are 20"x28" blasted HDU. Putting so much effort into such a poor layout is what dismays me. But, they're payin' for it and it will take just as much time as my original version so ... on we go...
Posted by Brad Farha (Member # 931) on :
Customers routinely pick the worst design of three if you give them a choice.
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
quote:Customers routinely pick the worst design of three if you give them a choice.
Amen to that.
Posted by Cam Bortz (Member # 55) on :
Designing on a word processor is the adult version of crayons on a placemat. Only a word processor costs more than a box of Crayolas, so the results MUST be better... Right?
It's all relative. I've seen great sign layouts drawn on damp bar napkins to the sound of David Allan Coe in cheap roadhouses that reeked of Marlboros and stale beer. I've also seen drawings from high-dollar ad agencies, created on the latest-greatest Macintosh Artiste-Luxe 9000XX, hand-colored with Japanese watercolors on gesso protected by rice-paper overlays, that I wouldn't use to wipe my a$$, metaphorically and graphically speaking.
Machines don't design anything. You need a mind for that, and a mind consists of a brain, eyes, a perceptive and active imagination, fine motor skills, and the balls to use all of them at the same time. Which would explain why there's such a shortage of decent design work, or anything else worth a damn.
Posted by Dusty Campbell (Member # 4601) on :
I talked to a customer yesterday about lettering a box truck. I told them $800.00 and all you heads know that is a good price. Reply: I talked to a guy that would do it for $395 Me: The box needs painted too. I talked to Maaco and their price was $1500 without looking at it. I'll do it for $1200.00 again a GOOD price. Cust: I talked to a guy that will paint and letter it for $600. Me: Who did you talk to and what kind of paint job will they do? What kind of lettering will they do? Vague Reply: Someone in Roswell. Me: Mine will look good and last with your logo and a good design, but I can't do it that cheap.
I guess after they have the cheap one done I can up my price to remove it and repaint and start over again.
People.
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
LOL Dusty!! That's when you get to pat 'em on the back while you walk 'em out to their car sayin',
"MAN!!! $600??!!! Whatt'a DEAL!! Good for you!!"
and you wave bye-bye. Posted by Michael Latham (Member # 4477) on :
Love this thread! Two weeks ago I recieved many calls from the local universities police department. Homecoming was just around the corner (last saturday to be exact), and they wanted a banner. They had no idea what to put on the banner and after many talks I advised them to think about what they were trying to do/say with banner and let me have an idea what that was. They were going to sketch ideas out on a pad. They designed it! Their computer drawing was BAD!, but I could do no no changes, as is is what they wanted! They wanted a 3'x20' banner, drawing scaled 10'x20'. They didn't understand. I did a banner 3x10, nice! They didn't like it, they wanted their computer generated disgrace. I faxed them a thank you for the opportunity to bid, but respectfully decline. They called immediatly and begged! I explained again the problems of their design, resubmitted another change on mine, they accepted. The banner won first place in Design and the spirit award at homecoming. Mind you my banner only used elements of theirs but was almost totally different. I guess when you cut it to the wire and are over a barrel you can be pushed into a good banner.
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
GREAT story & PR Michael!! They will now refer others to you with the addition of praise for your design abilities and save you time with future customers, not to mention the recognition you received from the public on this!!
BTW: I hope they got a deep revelation of WHY they came to you in the first place
Did they fire, disassemble or mabey provide capitol punishment for, the "banner committee"?? . . . Posted by TransLab (Member # 470) on :
We did 2 welcome signs for the entrances to our town this summer. They asked for quotes on (1) 8' x 12' sign and (1) 12' x 16' sign. They couldn't get the budget past council for the 16' signs so they ordered a 8'x12' and a 4'x8' which I hadn't quoted on at all . I told them that IMHO the 8' was too small for what they wanted but they insisted and we did the two signs. The signs went up about a month after we delivered them, and they weren't installed for 3 days before I had a fellow (from the planning committee) in my office complaining that my 8' sign was too small, and that somehow it was my fault. Push shove - push shove. I didn't budge and the signs were paid for. Last week Council requested a quote on another 12' sign so I quoted exactly what I charged for the first one, (which did include layout). New sign got ordered yesterday, and I guess the 8' sign will be a trophy for someone. (but not me )
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