When I see a new white cargo van with the owner nearby I usually give them my card and a short sales pitch for a lettering or maybe partial wrap job. Sometimes it works. More often lately, they say "liability" "If my name is out there I'm a target to get sued". This kind of baffles me. If they have a minute I try to come back with "Maybe the professional image when you pull up to a customers place will outweigh any small chance of bad consequences". I have customers who will not have their new vehicles on the road without their logo on it.
I don't think I have ever been able to change anyone's mind once they have decided they want to be anonymous out there. I try to be courteous and friendly in case they think about it later. I think the liability excuse isn't the real reason. Maybe they have a bad reputation already and don't want to be visible. Maybe they don't want to spend any money or just don't want to be bothered with a sign salesman in a parking lot. I don't know but I can't help picturing a nice sign job on these vans and know it will help them. Most of my work comes to me without my soliciting it. I guess I'll stick with that.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
most dont want to pay more vehicle insurance......if you got a vehicle you drive(non-commercial) as soon as you put advertizing on it, it now becomes a COMMERCIAL RATE.........as for the liability crap......that all it is......but if you have an accident with you vehicle all lettered up......PEOPLE will more readily SUE A COMPANY.... then an individual.
Posted by Curt Stenz (Member # 82) on :
I have a friend that does plumbing and electrical work, mostly small remodels and repairs. He is not a 'cut rate' business and he does good work, master plumber and electrician.
He does not want any lettering on his vehicle because he wants to keep below the radar of the local city inspectors. Can't really argue with that.
Posted by Brian Dish (Member # 10782) on :
I know a few that are like Curt, and I have one friend that does commercial work and has more than he can handle so he doesn't want more people calling!
Posted by Chuck Peterson (Member # 70) on :
Good points. I only have a very low key look on my own vehicle. I didn't even have that for a long time but it wasn't about liability. I have a friend who works for a major oil company and they don't have lettering on most of their smaller vehicles. But, I would think if someone is starting out in a new business they would want to look established to instill confidence in potential customers.
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
The insurance thing is pure BS. Just wait until they need the insurance and the company denies the claim because... *GASP*... they lied and mislead the company as to the primary use of the vehicle.
Let's face it... A lot of people are just cheap... LOL!
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Often you'll find there is a business license required for every town you work or deliver to?
I know some that just stay as busy as they can manage without any advertising.
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
Bruce is right. Go ahead and use a personal vehicle for business and try to make a claim if you have an accident while using it for business. You know, if we could end all the insurance fraud, all of our rates could be reduced significantly and the insurance companies would still be able to make their outlandish profits. Same with taxes. The IRS admitted that if they could stop all tax fraud and get everyone to pay their fair share, income taxes could be cut in half.
Posted by Preston McCall (Member # 351) on :
Wasn't there a Supreme Court case about 20 years ago that stated that a local jurisdiction could not require someone from another to have a license to do business in theirs...as long as they had a business license?
I clearly recall reading about it and was only harassed one time by a local ordinance issue that I paid for the license and gave away half of my profit to that small city. Maybe run a search on this subject at some Supreme Court law case site.
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
I worked for a sign shop years ago and the company vehicle was unlettered. I asked the owner about it. He said he didn't to drive a vehicle all lettered up to the golf course every weekend, "it might look bad". I guess a nasty Ford with beat up ladder racks and covered in paint drippings was OK.
I was never big on soliciting business as I couldn't handle the answers I kept getting.
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
I had one that wanted magnetic signs for his truck. He wouldn't tell me why, but I saw his truck at the strip club a few times.
Posted by DianeBalch (Member # 1301) on :
I had a friend that had a mobile dog washing business. He was moving to an area where you couldn't have vehicles with graphics/lettering on it unless it was kept in a garage. He asked me about selling him magnetic material to cover the graphics . the other option was to attach a blank banner before pulling into his neighborhood
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
Didn't I just read a headline the other day saying that scientists have discovered how a chameleon changes color? I didn't read the article, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's a day coming when paint is programmable. Military equipment with adaptable camo.
Posted by Len Mort (Member # 7030) on :
In Massachusetts an unlettered vehicle with commercial plates will be fined. A vehicle with regular plates and ladders on the roof or pulling a trailer with lawn equipment will also be fined and can be impounded and towed as improperly registered, same if that vehicle has lettering for a business or service and non-commercial plates.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
Joe, if that were real instead of faked in After Effects it would be the ultimate bank robbers getaway car.
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
Joe, I copied the link address; I'll have to go watch it at a hotspot. I'm paying too much for data here. Thanks.
Posted by Bill Lynch (Member # 3815) on :
There can a lot of reasons for not lettering a vehicle, some quite legit, but saving you from getting sued isn't one of them.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
seen it to many times......lettered up truck company name on it.....minor accident.....the one that got hit presumes the company has boat loads of money....worked for a company with truck all lettered NAPA. with the stupid little hat on the roof even......delivery trucks with minor bumps....turns into lawsuit...... it like when some hits you and they are driving a mercedes benz...$$$$$$$$$ goes off in your head and ...now."iamgonagetme someadat."
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
After reading all that, I think I know why I like living in Australia now! Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
OP... thus the need for liability insurance.
Posted by Curt Stenz (Member # 82) on :
Dave, Don't be fooled by liability insurance as being the end all lawsuit protection, nor is forming an LLC a foolproof solution. Today, asset protection is a real necessity if you have any assets that you cannot afford to loose.
Posted by Bill Reusch (Member # 8028) on :
Years ago when I lettered race cars, and there was still some money to be made, I had a car owner tell me he couldn't get anyone to sponsor his car. He told me about a potential sponsor who was afraid that if a wheel came off and went into the stands he would be sued because his name was on the car. I told the car owner to tell him that he was just selling advertising space, a true sponsor would be dishing out money on a regular basis. He got the guy to pop for an add.
There really is all kinds out there. One guy tells me he doesn't care if somebody sees his truck at the tavern as that's where he gets alot of his business and the next guy wants magnets so he can hide them when he sneaks over to the neighbor lady's. Most of the time I think its just an excuse because they're too cheap to advertise.
Posted by Chuck Peterson (Member # 70) on :
http://www.shorpy.com/ This guy was arrested for "using a motor vehicle for advertising purposes"
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