I guess the weird economy is having an effect on my customers.
Lately new customers have been coming into the shop with strange attitudes, mostly insisting on having impossible deadlines met. This morning was no different. I live in a small house next to my shop and office, and I heard a semi pull into the driveway, about 40 minutes before opening time (and yes -- my hours are CLEARLY marked on sign and door).
The phone starts ringing and ringing and ringing and ringing. I know it is the driver of the truck, but I answer anyway. After a brief hello I tell him that I don't open for another 40 minutes. (and I wasn't exactly dressed for going outside!!!)
Before I can say anything, he very politely says, "Well, I guess I'll just go somewhere else then," and he just hangs up.
Now, this is not a story complaining about idiot customers (well, it might be!!!), rather, it's a warning that since this has happened to me 3 times in less than a week (impossible deadlines, wanting to show up after shop hours, etc.), we as signmakers may have to adjust our way of doing business to somehow keep these jobs from driving down the highway.
Now it wasn't possible on this job or the last two I lost to keep them. The last two, for instance, were impossible deadlines that would have warranted cancelling two days worth of pre-scheduled work, working on the weekend, and cancelling a dental appointment made two weeks prior.
Still, my customers are feeling an economic crunch, and that seems to have put them in a poor frame of mind when they finally decide to buy a sign, and that makes some of them insane to deal with. And yet none of us want to lose work. Time to adjust tactics, perhaps???
thoughts???
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
Personally if a customer was good enough to drive to my shop/house I would have said Hold on there, I'll be right out! In my underwear if I had to.
Now that being said.. I do understand Impossible deadlines, I personally work with them all the time... Not all of them can be met however... but you try your best. If the economy is that bad where you or anyone else does business you have to step up to the plate... Good Luck Micheal!
Posted by Michael Gene Adkins (Member # 882) on :
Well, Neil, I thought about it-!!!! But it was pretty windy this morning!!!!!
Like I said, though, wasn't complainin', just realizin' that things are happening a little differently these days and we'll all have to adjust or go broke!!!
Posted by Bill Modzel (Member # 22) on :
If they want an impossible deadline, make it worth it. Tell them that you'll have to reschedule some work already in house and work after hours and you'll have to add a rush charge. Double your price to make it worth your while.
I've found that they are either thrilled and I have to work overtime or the "deadline" changes and I still may get the job. The trick it making the financial reward large enough that you don't mind doing it.
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
My current post on "what's up" talks abit about making adjustments in business for our current state of affairs.
I know what you mean about losing customers. In one way or another I am also. Some companies I've done business with thru the years are struggling with this economy. Some have gone under. Some have just retired. Some have become price shoppers and are sizing down with their wallets. Many are more apt to name their price at this stage of the game.
There is also an air of rebellion out there right now. I myself, as a consumer, understand it. We are all just tired of being ripped off, and are fighting back in some ways by tightening up our purse strings, demanding more for our money, and cutting back where we can.
There has been alot of exploitation taking place in our country, and folks are starting to revolt in even little ways against big injustices that have gone on, especially at the top level for too long.
hahaha.... don't get me started!
Yesh, we may be losing some customers out there for many unsettling reasons right now.
I suggest we go out in our underwear if we have to and snag those customers that are still knocking at our door ... at whatever hour they do it.
~nettie
Posted by Michael Gene Adkins (Member # 882) on :
I'm thinkin' about sleeping in my clothes from now on!!! Just in case I get the "3 a.m." phone call-!!!
Janette and Neil, on the other hand --- I dunno about those two characters......
You may be on to something Janette. Our customers may be having hard times that makes it difficult to part with their money, which in turn gives them a bad attitude, which in turn will force us drop our own attitudes and make whatever adjustments necessary ( as Bill said ) to insure that we can still get the jobs!!!
Posted by Nikki Goral (Member # 7844) on :
Todd, it is funny that you bring the dictation of who gets what when and where...Paul and I had that same discussion last nite.
After going to our church picnic planning meeting last nite, which I am the advertising chair and ENTIRE committee and receiving my budget for promoting the picnic, the discussion turned to cutting costs and maximizing profits. Basically, run the picnic as a business, not just an event.
So as I return from what was supposed to be an hour meeting, 2.5 hours later, my head reeling, I go back to work at 9:30 PM to letter a pickup truck and a dumptruck, both needing to be picked up this morning. Didn't get done, cleaned up and paperwork for each job filed until after 12:30 am.
How does this relate? Well, both of these trucks are good clients that need them during the day to make money. I am not going to tell them that they have to be done during "business hours." So yes, I work weekends and evenings to accommodate this, otherwise the dude with the vinyl machine in his garage down the street will get MY $$$.
So I get paid. good deal... but at the same time, belonging to an association, like a church, requires effort and people to help and make a committed effort. Everyone wants to go to the picnic, but no one wants to help or pay anything. Which makes it difficult for those trying to organize. Relation to the socialist system?
If we don't make money on our picnic,(sign business) or other events, we don't reach our budgetary numbers for basic operations for the parish... big deal who cares? Ahhh! Here's where the picking out of the pocket comes in....if we as a parish (business) don't contribute our assigned amount to the diocese (gov't) through the yearly appeal (additional giving fund drive)(taxes etc...)the diocese (govet) TAKES the money from our operating budget-we have no choice in the matter. So if our picnic committees (sign shops)do a great job at cutting costs and maximizing profits for the picnic (business) and the balance of the appeal amount is short (new taxes), all of our work for the picnic (business)is "wasted".
So for all purposes, the picnic as a "business" needs to accommodate "clients"- parishioners etc and their spending habits and demands....new ways to drive "business" to the picnic grounds.
talk about frustrating businesses...and we don't get paid....however it is interesting to see how ideas play out in real life when it really isn't your butt on the line....
Posted by Brad Farha (Member # 931) on :
I don't need or want those kinds of customers. Good riddance.
Posted by Nikki Goral (Member # 7844) on :
Although, I must qualify my statement too...my first few years in business, I worked 14 hour days, 7 days a week to "get established." I was exhausted and crabby... Now, I will schedule nights and weekends when I want to work. Maybe I have something going on during the week at my son's school. It gets scheduled in just like any other job, and I determine if it is something I really want to do and take my "weekend" time during the week...
Posted by Blake Koehn (Member # 5984) on :
Because of this whole economic thing... I do every truck that comes my way... Early, late, whatever I do it.
Does that make me like doing trucks? NO!
I love telling truck drivers(not truck owners or the one writing the checks) how much I hate doing trucks and as soon as I grow up and become a real shop I will quit doing trucks. I get cool reactions. Posted by Cam Bortz (Member # 55) on :
Stories like this remind me of a former customer who once told me "If you kiss enough a$$, eventually sh!t smells like money." My response was, "If you kiss everybody's a$$, it makes money smell like sh!t."
Michael, the way to deal with this is to letter the truck, then show up with it at midnite and bang on his phone til he answers, saying something like "Your truck is done. Pay me right now or the keys will be locked in my shop until I come back from vacation next week."
Seriously? I'd have a message on my phone that says business calls will be taken between the hours of 8 to 6 (or whatever). Period. Customers that don't respect your space or personal time are always the same people that lie to you and try to rip you off, they will jerk you around on money and everything else.
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
I guess we would look at their attitude....if they truly were in need and were kind about "Can you please help me out? I have to have this done and I have to drop it off now because ____" and they had a good reason, we'd accomodate them. But if they were rude and surly and acted like a child who wasn't getting his way, I can "be rude & surly" with the best of 'em! I just don't get why people think if they are rude to you that you are going out of your way to jump through hoops for them!?
I should add, we stopped working on Saturdays years ago. When someone asks if we work on Saturday, I say, "We try not to, but if it is really important we will do it. But you do understand Saturdays are time and a half, right?" That weeds out the "I can't wait!" people real fast.
[ March 10, 2009, 04:46 PM: Message edited by: Jane Diaz ]
Posted by Jerry Starpoli (Member # 1559) on :
Billie Holiday sang... The difficult we can do right now, The impossible will take a little while.
Posted by Michael Gene Adkins (Member # 882) on :
So many good points.
My dad has always run his salvage business the opposite of how I run my sign business. He has the attitude that he will let no sale get away from him no matter what-!!!
He has lots of money now, but the stress of it all finally caused him to have a stroke. He has his mind, but can no longer physically do the things he once could do only a year ago. At 62 he can't even drive himself to town.
He just could not seem to strike a balance between his business and his health, and ultimately it was not worth it.
Me? I just want to find that balance.
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
We work entirely mobile and have for the past 17 years. I wouldn't have it any other way. Nobody wakes us up. They get the answering machine.
That said, we don't keep regular business hours and have no problems with working Saturday or Sunday if necessary. We also have no problem with taking a few days off in the middle of the week if so inclined. See my post on the portfolio page. I've been in business for almost thirty years, I've worked for all sorts of clients. For the most part the 18 wheeler guys are the best customers bar none. One has to understand that the truck is their way of making a living. If it isn't on the road they are loosing money. They can sometimes, but not always, be in a hurry. We try to accomodate. What works for us might drive other folks crazy but it suits us just fine.
[ March 10, 2009, 09:17 PM: Message edited by: George Perkins ]
Posted by Chris Lovelady (Member # 2540) on :
Michael,
we used to run our sign shop off our property and the house was just a hop and a skip across the yard and i can relate. how customers feel like just come by at weird hours and expect that you have to work at strange hours because you live next to were you work though i did not like it it was the main motivation for me to move my business to a main street store front. my business has increased, i go home and i don't work week ends.
I have to agree with Cam...respect is demanded by my customer so i ask my customer to have the same respect!
Lovelady
Posted by Kent Smith (Member # 251) on :
While we try to accomodate our customers and their needs we also expect them to respect our time and limitations. We enjoy what we do but like them, we also have a life away from our work. Even in a slow economy, we operate much the same as we always have, giving our customers appropriate quality workmanship in a timely manner, within the bounds of a schedule that fits our energy and maintains our sanity.
Posted by bruce ward (Member # 1289) on :
I surely would not have went out there. your hours are posted and that should be respected. Do you think he could have went to the bank and pulled that? no.
Times are hard here too. Jobs are trickling in. one...by...one. Even the larger companies are slow and that makes them more available to jump in om my "local stuff" which was majority of my work. Good news though some smaller guys are selling equipment and calling it quits, we could get rid of a couple more.
I dont know if I see more arrogance in people and as far as I need it now, hell thats ALL i have ever seen
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Living 'out in the sticks' where we do, customers will call in on their way in to town, or on their way home from town, if at all. You get used to combining several jobs in the one trip, and you understand when others do the same.
That can have them arriving at 7 am, or at 8 pm. I don't mind, with a bit of warning. A few will tell you they've arrived while I'm still in my PJs! It doesn't matter- they're here to collect a job & pay me, not to judge my clothing!
Posted by Cam Bortz (Member # 55) on :
I know from my own life that most "business emergencies" are self-induced by failing to plan ahead.
A potential customer who shows up, without notice, off hours, had damn well better be nice about it. The very act of showing up an hour early and asking for an immediate response is ALREADY disrespectful; compounding that with "attitude" is absolutely unacceptable.
People who act like that do so because they get away with it. They were bullies and spoiled brats as kids and still are - and as adult they learn to avoid people that refuse to be pushed around, and constantly seek out anyone who they think will be a doormat for their obnoxious "me first" behavior.
Posted by Tony Vickio (Member # 2265) on :
I have a Home Based shop & people stopping by is part of the risk of having your business at home. You have to live with that choice or change it.
Having worked at many race tracks over the years the words "Impossible deadlines" has a whole new meaning. Deadline: paint a 30,000 sq. ft. grass painting four days before a NASCAR race! All they tell you is, "Live TV on Sunday and it better be there when the show starts!" The rain comes in on Wednesday & Thursday. The cars are on the track until 5pm Friday & Saturday. That means Friday & Saturday we work all night! Impossible Deadline met!
Last Sunday morning at 7:30am the phone rings. A very apologetic person needed some lettering on an existing sign for farm show he was in that day. Response: "When can you bring it up?" Got paid a "Healthy Sum" (cash) and to top it off, on Monday morning I found two cases of Budweiser at the shop door!
I've been in a very successful sign business for 27 years and I guess what I'm trying to say is that "I am here for my customers, they are not here for me!" That is not an easy statement to uphold but it has worked for me!
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
Michael, don't sleep in your clothes. Just go out and get cuter underwear .... like I did!
[ March 11, 2009, 09:51 AM: Message edited by: Janette Balogh ]
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hiya Michael, As you can see from the various comments, trying to find that "balance" is not an easy task. In your situation with the truck driver, I would side with the others and have tried to be more accommodating. However, since the driver wanted to start the job outside my normal business hours, I would have charged overtime for the entire project I too offer a flexible schedule and I'm willing to meet with and work for clients early in the AM, nights or weekends if the job merits the effort. Like Bill and the others mentioned though, I'll say yes as long as I'm paid accordingly.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by Dan Beach (Member # 9850) on :
quote:Originally posted by Janette Balogh: Michael, don't sleep in your clothes. Just go out and get cuter underwear .... like I did!
I imagine that approach will be much more successful with you than with Michael.
Of course, that may backfire on you and they will always come extra early . . . Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
I just can not believe some attitudes here.. I really can't.
Tony you are Spot on!
Just last week I had a customer, a local Airline who operates all kinds of Aircraft, they were in a bit of a pickle, a Dash 8 that was being painted arrived early, so they needed the stripes/ graphics, lettering registration done like right away, I said I wish I had known, I could have had it all preprinted and cut. I did not know that this Aircraft was coming.... I got on the Phone and the colors of the vinyl were'nt even in the counrty... at least a part of them were'nt, I printed the rest on the versa Camm. Long Story Short, we had the plane ready for application on Thursday, the client called on Friday morning, the day of the install and apologized, the plane had to be used, so I punched her in the face! No not really, I laughed and she laughed and said to me, "You know how it is Neil" I said after doing your work for over "25" YEARS! I certainly do know how it is.. we rescheduled for Saturday Moring....and we had the Plane ready for Sunday Morning.
"That is how I have kept this customer for over 25 Years!" Among other customers... I can't imagine saying "Too Bad! You never gave me any notice, now leave me alone! I have other customers work to do that took the time to call in advance!"
I'm sure that not everyone on here really believes in that attitude, in any situation, recession or not...I don't ramble very often but this worries me.
Posted by David Thompson (Member # 2395) on :
I can see both sides of this situation, on one side is customer service. If you bend over backwards you might get a customer for life out of the deal, but not too often. Years ago, customers were loyal to you, but in the last 10-15 years, customer loyalty is is a rare thing.
Now if you do bend over backwards, you have a very good chance of losing control of your business, after all, YOU own the business, not your customer.
When times are good, it's easy to blow someone off, but things are not good right now. If it was me and I only had to throw some clothes on and walk outside to talk to the guy, I would have. Chances are you might not had to do the job right away, but go over it, get a deposit and schedule the job.
In these times, if you don't jump on a job right away, there is a good chance that in a week or two the customer realizes he can no longer afford to have it done.
If there is one thing this reccesion has taught me, it's that I'm not as important or valuable as I thought I was.
[ March 11, 2009, 11:11 AM: Message edited by: David Thompson ]
Posted by Pierre Tardif (Member # 3229) on :
Damn customers!! We could do so much better in business WITHOUT them!
Life is so good!
Posted by Michael Gene Adkins (Member # 882) on :
I see everyone's point, and while I don't want to beat the issue to death, please note that the truck driver in the original true scenario hung up the phone and starting driving off before I could say anything about accomodating him.
I'm sometimes willing to do almost anything for a job, but I can't run outside in my birthday suit and chase semis down the road!!!
Not that Tony and Neil wouldn't!!!!! Plus, meeting some of the impossible deadlines people have put me under lately would have lost me jobs that were already on order--with good and reasonable customers. Sometimes you can only do so much.
Last Friday afternoon, for instance, a guy wanted me to letter a miniature windmill for him. miniature turned out to be the size of a truck bed. Trouble was, my schedule was already filled for the weekend and up until next thursday. He wanted it monday morning. The job simply wasn't possible for me. For others, maybe, just not my shop!!!
Like Checkers said, find a balance that works for you.
Or do like Janette and buy cuter underwear!!!
I'm thinking a pimp-daddy leopard print robe would look nice on me!!!
Posted by Brad Farha (Member # 931) on :
There is a big difference between going out of your way to accomodate a good customer with an urgent request and bending over backwards to accomodate somebody who doesn't value your time. All you have to do is know the difference. The latter will not improve over time - you either have to let them go, or learn to deal with frustrating customers as the norm.
Posted by Nikki Goral (Member # 7844) on :
I have the BEST idea yet!
Get PREGNANT!!! Really! You should see how accommodating ALL my customers have been since they found out. No one wants to tick off a pregnant lady or be non PC because she is...
Until the kid is out, then back to business as usual!
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
I'll pass.
Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on :
I feel pregnant. Does that count? I'm gonna try it on the next customer that's giving me crap and I'll let you know how it works.
/I gotta get serious about improving my diet.
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
It really all boils down to Aretha Franklin....R-E-S-P-E-C-T~! I will respect a customer who treats ME with respect. If they are rude.....back at cha!
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
If you read Michael's story, he says that the customer POLITELY said he would go elsewhere. He then didn't really give Michael the chance to "streak" after his semi to keep him. (thanks for the visual Michael. haha)
It may seem that the truck driver was out of line for his early hours, but again, he's a truck driver and I know they need their trucks for their living.
While it's clear that this trucker could of handled things better here, he still was polite about it, and just needed his needs met quickly.
I dunno about anyone else, but I'm not perfect either. There are just times I need a deed done and off my list, so I seek out the quickest avenues without always thinking things thru. Whether it be right or wrong.
So, I tend to give people some slack, like I hope they would do for me when I fall short on dealing with things in the best ways.
It really is about finding a balance. I think that people tend to deal with things as they "are" in any given moment at times. Again, not always the best ways, but hey, we're human.
Respect IS key. Blantant disrepect IS unacceptable. However, I can usually be quite generous in giving people the benefit of doubt, and some wiggle room in their blunders.
~nettie
ps: Jon, get that lard gut of yours over to the health post and post a goal "out loud" so we know you're serious and we can hold you accountable for that diet plan! he he he ...
[ March 11, 2009, 03:18 PM: Message edited by: Janette Balogh ]
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Hey, someone instituted the "fairness doctrine" and censored my posts. Hehehe. Change you can believe in.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Wellllllllllllll....it seems it is time to start cutting our customers some slack!
I just got off the phone with a long time customer. Needed a price on some signs for a new building that they are painting. They are normally a construction company, but are doing the painting.
I aske how come they are painting, his annswer was: "Remember? I started out in the painting game before we got into construction. Now every job we bid, there are 15 to 20 others bidding it too! We had a chance to grab the painting end of this one, and it will keep my crew employed!"
Sound familiar?
Posted by stein Saether (Member # 430) on :
yes, like i told the fishmonger, he couldnt afford my work, so id rather go fishing
Posted by Michael Gene Adkins (Member # 882) on :
Si ---
that was the intent of my post, to make all of us aware that our customers are going thru changes that might make them a little more difficult to deal with!!!
Stay sharp, and maybe you won't be chasing them down the road in your underwear!!!
I've bid some jobs I thought were too low lately, and the customers still didn't buy them. They didn't go anywhere else to get them either. They simply didn't buy them because they felt they couldn't afford them.
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
I knew that Michael....Customers are being a little more Demanding and unreasonable really.. we just have to adjust out attitudes along with them.
There was one guy on here a few years ago, who is now retired, I can't remeber his name, but he had a hard nosed attitude, not saying he was'nt a nice guy, but boy! He was a tough old buzzard ... it must be great to be able to have that many disposable customers.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
MICHAEL, YOU WANT MY GREEN SPEEDOS?????? MY SELF, i woulda walked out in my underwear, just to let the guy know..........he was early!!!!!!! then i woulda said come in and have a cup a coffee, WHILE I GET WOKE UP ENOUGH TO WORK))))))))) most a the people who come here, MY HOUSE & SHOP are same property, KNOW I DONT DO MORNINGS!!!!!!! gettin me to even answer the phone before 11 am, is a push. now, on the other side of that, i have people show up here at 7 PM..........to get work dun. i also do a lot truck for towing, plumbers, tree service, a/c shops. now these are mostly 8-5 pm, 5 day a week WORK VEHICLES. so i will work sat/sun so they dont have the trucks outa service when they are needed. so when i do this, i can take MON or TUE and do what i was gona do on the weekend........OR SPEND THE MONEY i got from workin the weekend))))) iam flexable that way, just dont DISTURB MY SLEEP TIME..........and we get along fine. the way the economy has been the last year, NOBODY GETS OUTA MY YARD........WITHOUT SOME THING DUN AND I GOT $$$$$$$$ IN MY HAND.
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
I don't think there's a generic answer for this situation. Too many factors involved....
Yes, the situation has changed. I have more than a few people stop by here in "off hours" lately. I also have my business hours posted clearly, but when you live over the store, people think you're always there in a pinch.
I'm less worried about holding true to the hours than I am of... 1: Losing the work 2: Being a little inconvenienced or 3: Thinking that it isn't going to happen from time to time.
I guess it's not so much your situation, but how you approach this with both parties involved. Not unlike a customer who has a specific due date, you're either going to agree to it or not. Sometimes it will mean a little extra work to make the date, but such is the nature of time. There's 24 hours in a day....some of which you allocate to you work.
It's not about how much time you lose, but how well your time is spent. And overtime isn't that bad a thing, now is it?
Rapid
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
lol . . . gee, Michael, your customers are just like the rest of the people . . . they need a bail out . . . if your gonna keep up with the politically-correct-Jones, you gotta help 'em out man! lol
On an (only slightly) more serious, and psycological note, I'm venturing a guess; these customers really want and need a sign, but, due to the economy, they resent not being able to pay for it right now. The only way to absolve themselves of the pressure is to 'attempt' to get a sign while consciously or sub-consciously sabotaging their own attempt at 'trying' to get a sign by doing things like coming by at obviously inconvenient times or whatever. The other guess might be, you were the second or third shop that did'nt respond as they desired. . . . . also, was there a full moon that week?? Posted by Sonia Grothe (Member # 10722) on :
Well there's definately 2 schools of thought here! As we also live & work from the premises, we try to retain our privacy & a professional working standard which means I will politely ask someone at the door outside of hours to please come back during business hours. Actually we take it a step further and request they make an appointment to come to the shop (also mentioned on our answering machine) This way we are not interupted when working on a deadline job, and we get to give the service to those who have done the right thing & booked in their jobs in advance (and are paying us our full rate to get quality work) No weekend work for me unless it's booked in well in advance. We are pretty formal with our "rules" or steps to handle a customer, and it works great! As long as you politley explain how you work, most people will respect your trading conditions. Of course there's always the odd one trying to bend the rules!!!
Posted by Michael Gene Adkins (Member # 882) on :
Very good assessment, Sheila-!!!
You win the prize-!!! Well, if there was a prize to win, I'd give it to you first, but I think anyone who took the time to read this thread and give their input deserves a prize-!!!
Posted by John Deaton (Member # 925) on :
Ive always bent over backwards(boy would that hurt)to help my customers,especially truckers. I will usually quit what Im doing to help one out, cause I know they need their rigs on the road to make money. Ill try my best to do whatever they need to keep their business, to an extent. We all do have other lives besides making signs,and want to enjoy our families and other such things, so time has to be set aside for this. Customers have to understand that we dont work 24 hours a day,and arent sitting by the phone waiting for them to call so we can go do thier signs. There are two types I dont like dealing with. Those that think they are my only customer, and those that want it done super quickly, but want to pay super slowly. Those kind cause stress,and lord have mercy, I dont need or like stress. I dont run into many of this sort, but occasionally do,and just deal with it the best I can.
Posted by Rich Stebbing (Member # 368) on :
When I had a one-man shop in an Industrial Park. I would occasionally still have to "go out" and paint windows, give an estimate, pick up something etc. I had this customer that was in a hurry for something and he made an morning stop to the shop and waited for awhile and then came back, and also made calls while I was gone, "BC" (before cell). Well I had never even gone in that morning as I had left that morning in the opposite direction to do a window promo. When he finally reached me later that day , he started spouting off about maybe me "sleeping in" etc. And I had another that asked am I ever there? I went ahead and letered my door to say: HOURS: By Appontment Only It did the trick! I would get people calling to ask for appointments! Unreal. Of course my fellow Sign Makers that it was pretty arrogant, but hey it commanded some sort of respect ...now excuse me,I need to get back to bed.
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