We recently had a new politician elected to our area. His "aide" e-mails us a photo of another politicians window lettering in another town and asks us to do "the same thing" on their new office window. OK. So I figure out what they want, send them a quote and wait to hear. He e-mails me several times, tells me he's on the road and is SOO busy but needs this done ASAP. He sets up an appointment to come in, but again, he is SOOO busy. Then I get this.... "Hey Jane, A couple of things. In the proof you sent us, I'm assuming you just put a random phone number on there. Ours is _________. Is it also possible to get our e-mail address on there too? Here's the other thing. I've been picking and poking at our budget...and I've only got about $75 to do this. Is there any way you can work with us?"
Now mind you that is about HALF of what I quoted him! So I responded: "Yes we can add the e-mail address and of course the correct phone #. And yes, as far as the cost, we can stay within your budget. We will just make the copy that much smaller and/or use white instead of gold metallic and/or not repeat the same info on the entry door. You can also get your own permit and save $5. Let us know what you want us to do. P.S. As per our earlier correspondence, you also need to provide your own vinyl state seal, right?"
So acouple days later, I get: "Hey Jane, I'm ok with putting the lettering in white (if we have to, and can see a proof)...but I really don't want smaller lettering. I know we have a budget and you're trying to run a business, but we're trying to do this with as little cost to taxpayers as possible (and we don't have much of a budget.) Let me know what you think."
REALLY, you REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT I THINK!?!?!?!
SO, by now we are all fuming and coming up with what we WANT to write back but here is what we said: "Sorry, that's the best we can do. Any additional spec work comes with additional charges and must be paid in advance. (We don't normally do sketches without a sketch fee.)"
AND in his wonderful style, he responds: "Hold on, you're telling me you want to change the design to stay within our budget but you won't let us see the updated design?"
SO Now I'm thinking...you little weasel! SO, ONCE AGAIN.... "We wouldn't change the design. It would be the same, just smaller and white in order to stay with in your budget. However, you have stated that you don't want to go smaller. We would need to shrink the size of the lettering in order to get the price down to $75.00. I'm sure in your position you are well aware of the struggles that small businesses deal with every day. We simply can't afford to do jobs at half price. That would barely cover OUR costs for doing this project. I'm assuming you are also well aware that time is money. We are simply unwilling to spend extra time needed to develop sketches and quote out hypothetical options, when it sounds as if we won't get the job due to our unwillingness to give you a discount. We feel the price we originally gave you is more than fair for what you are asking us to do."
Now we wait....What a great representative for our area!!!! Looking forward to how he will "help small businesses out" if this is his attitude!!
[ January 31, 2011, 03:40 PM: Message edited by: Jane Diaz ]
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
"Yes we can do it for $75, But you will have to extend Unemployment for another 26 weeks cause at that price we will be collecting it soon."
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Photoshop the oppositions election banner "vote so-and-so" onto the front of a photo of your business... and ask him if that proof looks better... hehe.
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Or tell him you would rather save the taxpayer money, by him taking the money out of HIS pocket INSTEAD of YOURS!
Posted by Elaine Beauchemin (Member # 136) on :
quote:Or tell him you would rather save the taxpayer money, by him taking the money out of HIS pocket INSTEAD of YOURS!
yeah! Posted by Nevman (Member # 332) on :
Nice Todd! Brilliant!
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Todd's suggestion is so simply brilliant...
the other angle is to start with an "If you really want your image look cheap and can't afford..." and see if he backpedals.
Are you sure he's not from Nigeria?
Posted by bruce ward (Member # 1289) on :
sounds to me like too much time has already been spent on this idiot. I wouldnt even respond to nay more emails or calls enough is enough
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
Todd wins the come back of the month. I am sure that is going to be a strong contender for the yearly prize.
Posted by Brian Diver (Member # 1552) on :
I'm with Todd and Bruce here, you've wasted way to much time and effort for this igit. Anymore, I just don't have the patience for that type of run around for that little money. Drop them like a bad habit!
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
Of course I share Jane's frustration with this guy....but as a hypothetical...what if all of the U.S. Congress was comprised of just such penny pinchers.
Posted by Joseph Diaz (Member # 5913) on :
There is a difference between penny pinchers and this guy. In most cases we can work with penny pinchers. If he were just a penny pincher, he would be okay with the smaller sign and more cost effective options we presented after he told us what his budget was. A penny pincher doesn't try to buy a Lexus for the cost of a Kia.
Even though we became suspicious after his response about the "budget", the only reason she continued to respond, is because we gave him the benefit of the doubt. As much as we would love to slam the phone down or give people attitude the moment we have a bad feeling about them, it is difficult to do that in a small town and not deal with the consequences.
Making money is important but so is having integrity and showing the general public that even us crazy sign guys can be professionals.
Besides we have had PITA penny pinchers become great customers after they realize how this is supposed to work.
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
Joseph...dealing with this kind of a customer is trying...I was just making a hypothetical for the sake of a little levity and not meaning to make light of the frustration you guys feel. Posted by Joseph Diaz (Member # 5913) on :
No worries Rusty. I know you weren't. I was just trying to make the point that this isn't the type of penny pinching you want form your elected officials. This isn't the type of penny pinching you want from anyone.
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
dammit Joe.. YOU are the kind of man that is going to put that kind of politician out of business some day! (and so is your whole family... but I could imagine that you might actually do it... forget penny pinchers.. imagine for a minute the entire US Congress made up of balanced, ethical, articulate & rational folks like the Diaz clan)
Posted by Jim Moser (Member # 6526) on :
quote:Originally posted by Doug Allan: Imagine for a minute the entire US Congress made up of balanced, ethical, articulate & rational folks like the Diaz clan)
We can make it so..... remember to VOTE !
Posted by FranCisco Vargas (Member # 145) on :
I would say, sorry at this point in time I cannot be of service to you. That's to much time back and forth for $75 bux. you guys have bigger fish to fry, no time for minnows...
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
FranCisco sums it up well.
Posted by Eric Elmgren (Member # 11536) on :
Nothing says rejection quite like a form letter, we use:
"We're sorry we cannot help you. Thank you for contacting A & E Graphics. Have a nice day."
For extra emphasis, misspell their name.
Yeah, I know it's weak, I'd really like to tell them to pound sand up their butt or take a flying ----, but it's also nothing they can wave at potential real customers to discourage them from contacting you.
Posted by Jean Shimp (Member # 198) on :
I hate it when that happens. You never can tell when someone is going to be such a PITA. I started sending price quotes first that they must sign off on before I will send a proof. I think it's helping to weed out the difficult people. I once had to do 3 proofs for a doctor's office glass door for "Office Hours". Then they didn't place the order. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. My policy now is that once the estimate is accepted I will provide a proof. The proof can be revised twice (minor revisions) at no charge. After that, revisions are an additional cost. This is for simple jobs for new (untested) customers. Posted by Tom & Kathy Durham (Member # 776) on :
Love the video. We all should have that playing on an endless loop in the shop.
Posted by Dan Beach (Member # 9850) on :
Send him the revision with the wrong information. Then again and again, see how much of his time $75 is really worth . . .
Posted by Mark M. Kottwitz (Member # 1764) on :
Oh, thats just classic. Love it.
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
Today I got this e-mail.... "How much smaller? This is a large window, and shrinking the design to the size of a quarter would just look silly. I'm trying to work with you, and I want to work with a local business, but I work for a state that's broke, and I don't have the authority to spend willy-nilly. I hope we can come to a resolution, and I apologize that the tone of our conversation has turned negative. pjp" Doesn't he sound apologetic and sorry for thinking we could just do the work for 1/2 price?!? I think I might just shrink the whole thing to the "size of a quarter" and send a sketch back to him. ...or just not respond at all is what the guys want to do.
Posted by Joy Kjer (Member # 3026) on :
The thing is, if you had started with a price of $300 and cut it in half he would probably now be contented, and have found it in his budget, to be paying half price at $150. The retail stores have cultivated the mentality that everything should be half the marked price. I would resend what you already told without further comment: "Sorry, that's the best we can do." Posted by Tom & Kathy Durham (Member # 776) on :
Maybe since they have no money, you could just ask him to trade for something like a new road in front of your shop. They could throw that in with another bill, spend the money, and no one would really know. just saying
Posted by James Chrimes (Member # 5864) on :
A real politician would hire a whole construction crew to replace the door with a smaller set which would make the smaller lettering look larger and then tell everyone how much money he saved because he got the lettering for less than originally quoted.
Posted by Jean Shimp (Member # 198) on :
This seems like a lose-lose situation. You've probably lost any profit on this job from all the time you've spent with him so far. And if you were to come to a compromise chances are after you do the job he will nit pick it apart. I would respectfully tell him you can't do the job and move on.
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Been there, done that. Whatever happens from this point forward, you lose. He has steered you into a position that, no matter what you do, you will appear as a crook, unpatriotic, or just about anything else that is negative.
Follow your best instincts.
[ February 03, 2011, 12:51 PM: Message edited by: Raymond Chapman ]
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
He doesn't care about patriotism. He only wants YOU to doubt your integrity and patriotism. A real patriot would be considerate of the financial well being of his fellow Americans instead of trying to manipulate them.
edited for clarification
[ February 03, 2011, 02:20 PM: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
Posted by Dan Beach (Member # 9850) on :
quote:Originally posted by Wayne Webb: He doesn't care about patriotism. He only wants YOU to doubt your integrity and patriotism. A real patriot would be considerate of the financial well being of his fellow Americans instead of trying to manipulate them.
edited for clarification
Politicians anymore pray on emotion instead of the well being of the populace. Grrrrr, I'm going to stop now before I start ranting too bad.
[ February 04, 2011, 09:11 AM: Message edited by: Dan Beach ]
Posted by Rick Beisiegel (Member # 3723) on :
Those long gaps in communication usually mean he is checking with others and laying the same taxpayer guilt trip on them.
Apparently the price he wants to pay you is still the cheapest he can find or he would have flown the coop.
Looks to me like you have $75 worth of art time before you even fire up the plotter.
Say goodnight Gracie.
Posted by Kathy Weeks (Member # 10828) on :
Ha, Jim - you hit the nail on the head!
If you've ever watched your public t.v. channel, that shows your elected officials in action, you'd soon find out that many of them are like children. I think that goes for their aides as well. I lump them in with realtors, and avoid them like the plague - icky! Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
"For half the price, please show me which half of the words would you like omitted."
Posted by Donald Miner (Member # 6472) on :
I kind of like Ian's idea. Just do half the copy in the original size, for the original price.
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
Got this today... Jane,
I have gotten approval for the original design and cost. How do we proceed?
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
In triplicate.
Posted by Dan Beach (Member # 9850) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jane Diaz: Got this today... Jane,
I have gotten approval for the original design and cost. How do we proceed?
They remove the windows and bring them to your shop for lettering, right?
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
It's a great life, isn't it?
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
LOL... good for you Jane. They must have cashed in all their beer cans. :-)
Posted by Steve Luck (Member # 5292) on :
Don't forget to ask for half up front and the rest on completion or no deal!! Gotta love living in Illinois. He must have brothers or cousins down here in southern Illinois too. Maybe you could make out a contract as well stating your price and payment policy.
They love that. It's the only way they know how to function in the real world.
Keep us posted on your progress.
Sign-cerely, Steve
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
Is this going to be white text on a white background. Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
Just for kicks tell him your a communist and see if he still wants you to do the job. Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
I emailed him back and he decided to get his own permit (and save the $5 we charge to go do that). Then I said as soon as I received the (full)payment and the state seal that he was going to provide and the weather warmed up, we would get the window up. (Mama didn't raise no fool!) Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
carefully and money up front.
Posted by Russ Wood (Member # 14058) on :
I joined this group becuase I knew I would be educated by the great bunch here, I had no idea that I would also be so well entertained! Great thread and certainly some great comments. Thanks for an enjoyable read. Russ
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