Hi everyone, I just got sticker shock. I've been buying my vinyl from Garston since they were called Signline (over 20 yrs I think) and know just about everyone there. Last week I bought (5) 10 yd rolls of A9 and a roll of clear r-tape. That's 50 yds of 24" vinyl. I was charged $489.00! Holy crap! I called and asked for a certain rep. that supports a lot of the panel jams and meets around here and he said that company policy dictates that because I don't buy the yearly minumum anymore, I must pay retail. That's easily double what I used to pay. I guess loyalty is a one way street. Does anybody have a good wholesaler (or merchant here) that deals with the little guy? If not, I guess I'm a paint only guy again.
[ November 20, 2006, 05:18 AM: Message edited by: Terry Baird ]
Posted by Mike Faig (Member # 6104) on :
Try Vinyl Sign Supplies in Quakertown. 800-282-0245
Posted by Jake Lyman (Member # 3280) on :
I use Garston for almost everything but vinyl and tape, guess I better pay close attention to the bills.
J
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hey Terry, They probably figured since you're still using Avery after they screwed a lot of people, they might as well screw you too Anyway, All Graphic Supplies, www.allgraphicsupplies.com is a supporter here and they have a location in Buffalo, NY. Maybe they can help ya. If not, my preferred vinyl vendors are Gregory - www.gregory1.com, Harbor Sales - www.harborsales.net, & Fellers - www.fellers.com
Good luck,
Checkers
[ November 20, 2006, 09:33 AM: Message edited by: Checkers ]
Posted by Randy W. Robarge (Member # 2022) on :
Terry, I usually use either Beacon Graphics (www.BeaconGraphics.com) or Fellers (www.Fellers.com).
Posted by Terry Baird (Member # 3495) on :
I had to use one roll to get a job out the door, but I'm returning the other 4 rolls and the app tape tomorrow. Tough luck Garston.
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
quote: company policy
I attended a public relations seminar a while ago. They said that using the "P" word has cost more companies more money over the years. When used it has the come to the hidden meaning of "screw the customer" or "as punishment" for some oversight.
The speakers said do not resort to using the "P" word for any reason. Especially when it is unexpected..It will cost far more than money made when sticking to "Policy". Here is another case of the "P" word costing this company more than they will ever know.
[ November 20, 2006, 08:46 PM: Message edited by: Curtis hammond ]
Posted by Michael Boone (Member # 308) on :
what did you expect.... They werent even smart enough to keep their best employee........
Posted by Rob Lenz (Member # 2994) on :
Terry,
I am not sure where you live, don't have an atlas near by, but if you have an N Glantz near you I would give them a call. I am a very small shop and they give me great service! They deliver to my door once a week no minimum. Check out http://www.nglantz.com.
Rob
Posted by Terry Baird (Member # 3495) on :
Thanks everyone... I took your advice and found the same vinyl and app tape (minus the white that I had to use) for $182.00 ($260.00 difference) with free 2 day shipping for any order over $75.00. I hope that any of you who use Garston remember this every time you order. I think it's time that they remembered who THEIR clients are! Loyalty is fast becoming obsolete.
[ November 21, 2006, 09:38 PM: Message edited by: Terry Baird ]
Posted by John Lennig (Member # 2455) on :
Conspiracy Theory... One Shot* has hacked into their system, trying to get you to come back to the Light(?? ) Side...*of course, in cahoots with Mack, those hair rustlers that they are. Think well, the Portal may well close for you soon!
but that's just me.
John
Posted by DianeBalch (Member # 1301) on :
TErry
Check your e-mail for another supplier within 100 miles of you.
Diane
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
Since it was Avery, they charged you $189 for the vinyl and was going to put the other $300 in reserve for your refund when their product failed. Do yourself a favor Terry, choose another brand!
Posted by Robert Larkham (Member # 2913) on :
I used to use Garston.....used to! If you don't meet thier $1500 minimum then you pay retail. I work full time for a large commercial shop now and don't buy a lot in a year. I use Fellars now. Garston forgot when I was buying 25 sheets of MDO at a time. One time I ordered $1500 worth of sign foam and they forgot to deliver it. Said they would make it up my way in another week.Garston can kiss my a$$. There is another sign shop 100 yard up the road from me but they will not deliver to me unless my order is at least $150. I DON'T NEED GARSTON and I guess they don't need me. PAINT WITH PASSION!!!!!!!!
Posted by Michael Boone (Member # 308) on :
I didnt read Terry asking for an opinion on what material to use........
Posted by Steve Shortreed (Member # 436) on :
Good discovery Terry. Did you tell them about Letterville, and the obvious benefits of getting involved with a whole Community of possible customers? Click on the UBBFriend link at the top left and show them this post.
And just to be fair, we all make mistakes from time to time. Sometimes the guy with the lowest prices goes out of business. It's gotta be tough making a decent profit in a World where the lowest price is everything.
Call me a softy, but I still believe in second and third chances. I don't personally know the people at Garston, but I'm willing to bet they are just trying to make a buck like the rest of us. I have a feeling the gang at Avery has even fixed their problem. Life goes on.
I wonder if there is a BB for disgrunted sign buyers? Can you imagine the comments about how much sign prices can vary?
Just thinking out loud at 2:30am
[ November 28, 2006, 02:33 AM: Message edited by: Steve Shortreed ]
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
Terry gave them a second chance by calling and asking them about it. They could have reconsidered and obliged him then. Clearly, he voiced his concern and disatisfaction to them first. They then played their "policy" card. My advice to Terry now, is to move on to a vendor who'll be better suited to his profit margin. We are in this business to make a living, after all.
I think the policy is ridiculous. Playing favourites and basing prices depending on the amount of business you give someone is unfair. Especially such a jump as wholesale to retail. You've got to be kidding!
I have a supplier (my mdo vendor) who now requires a 250.00 minimum before they deliver. That sucks when you only need one sheet, but I usually do it because I'll use the other sheets eventually. When I ask for the current costs on wood, they always ask for my company name ... hmmmm, maybe that means I'm getting MY cost on the wood, based on my sales? I dunno. There is one thing this company does now that REALLY bugs me though. When I call, I'm asked who my sales rep is. Appparently, clients get their own sales rep now, instead of the "old days" when you could just call in a few sheets of wood. If "your sales rep" is out to lunch, or on the other line, you actually have to wait for them to call you back before you can order your darn wood. How convenient is that?
Once I called and my sales rep wasn't there for the rest of the day, so I couldn't get the order done until the next day. Huh? I just wanna order some wood!!!! I ended up getting it elsewhere. I found it humourous when I came home one day, a few weeks later, and found a message on my machine by that sales rep. Apparently she was on a sales hunting exhibition, and called me with a "friendly hello" asking why I haven't ordered from them lately. Boy, I wish I was around to take that call.
I don't care to do business with people who make it difficult for me.
~nettie
Posted by Bill Lynch (Member # 3815) on :
"Playing favourites and basing prices depending on the amount of business you give someone is unfair." I don't know, we have minimum orders here. A customer this morning was upset that I wanted $30 for a little piece of pvc with some letters on it, and after I thought about it I decided I should raise my minimum to $50, but if it was one of my large regular clients (those who order thousands per month) I would have probably done it for less. Am I unfair? We do POP inkjet work and have a "retail" price for single jobs and a "wholesale" price for clients who order 100s at a time. Is that unfair?
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
I have minimums in my business too, and I can understand minimums in others. Although, I don't always have to like it. Fortunately, my long time sign suppliers don't have minimums.
I'll admit too, that I probably do little extras for good customers too ...on occasion, and as it suits my mood. Not as a "policy".
In this particular case I think it's pretty unfair to price vinyl at a cost so much higher than any other wholesale vendor would sell it to Terry. Like Terry, I'd switch to another vendor for sure.
Maybe "unfair" isn't the best adjective to use, but as a corporate sign supplier, I don't think it's a good "policy". I feel a wholesale distributer should be selling wholesale to everyone legitimately in the sign business industry.
I'm just glad my vendors aren't resorting to that policy. But then, if they were ...they wouldn't be my vendor. ~nettie
Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on :
I can definitely understand if in order to cater to high-volume businesses, they would set minimums. They could let all new prospective customers know this when they inquire about purchasing from them.
However, they should honor their long-time customers by still treating them fairly. To me, it's not good business to use ALL your customers, large and small, to grow yourself to a point that you can tell your smaller customers to basically 'kiss our butt, we don't need your business anymore.'
They obviously know by charging retail to their lower end (but very loyal) customers, they are going to lose most of them, and they don't care... it's just their "POLICY".
Just validates the fact that you need to price all your distributors against each other... calling them and telling them what you can buy from the other guy for... actively pressuring them for lower prices.
I don't do that now, I buy about 90% of my supplies from one supplier without ever checking prices at other places, but I'll regret giving them that loyalty if they ever decide to screw me like Garston is screwing their customers.
One day when they change their "POLICY", Terry... and the sales rep starts calling you again, maybe you'll have a chance to explain all this to them...
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
) Side...*of course, in cahoots with Mack, those hair rustlers that they are. Think well, the Portal may well close for you soon!![[Rolling On The Floor]](graemlins/rolf.gif)
but that's just me.![[I Don t Know]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
I ended up getting it elsewhere. I found it humourous when I came home one day, a few weeks later, and found a message on my machine by that sales rep. Apparently she was on a sales hunting exhibition, and called me with a "friendly hello" asking why I haven't ordered from them lately. Boy, I wish I was around to take that call.