The Letterville BullBoard: Overnight signs?

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Posted by Brad Funk (Member # 1351) on :

I have a couple of customers who always wait till the last possible minute to order a sign. Not just once in a while, but every time. I want and need the business, and have charged extra in the past for the rush work. We have talked about looking ahead for signs they know they will need, for events, etc. I would make the signs and not bill them until the event. But i still get asked at 6:00 pm to have quality signs delivered by the next morning. How do you guys handle this? I need the work, but sometimes its just not possible. Thanks for any responce.
,

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Brad Funk
Artisan Signs
Phoenix, AZ
www.artisan-signs.com

Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :

A local golf course used to do that to me every year! I think they learned that they were being unreasonable when I showed up with their signs (all completed) at 5:00 am, looking pretty haggard. I had worked all night to get them delivered on time for the tournament. They now give me more time.

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"surf" or "MoJo54" on mirc
Cheryl J Nordby
Signs by Cheryl
(206) 300-0153
Seattle WA.....!
signsbycheryl@hotmail.com
I had a life once. Now I have a computer. http://signsbycheryl.homestead.com/home.html
http://mojosignco.homestead.com/home.html

Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :

As long as you keep fulfilling their requests on short notice, what is to discourage them from calling again at the last minute?
We always need or can use the work but let them know in the future you cannot keep doing this on a regular basis, and when you do, make sure you charge enough.

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Wright Signs
Wyandotte, Michigan
Since 1978
http://www.wrightsigns.bigstep.com

Posted by Dave Draper (Member # 102) on :

Brad,

We have had to do that many many times.

Its called putting food on the table. Just take the next day off. Be happy they called you. You have to do the signs sometime anyway. What does it matter if it not exactly between 8:00 am and 5:00pm? Most people work faster when they are under pressure.

I got a customer who drops a van off on Saturday morning and expects by it at 8:00 am Monday morning....he NEVER warns me. Its ok with me, I just take Monday off if I need a break.

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Draper The Signmaker
Bloomington Illinois USA
Stop in and visit a while!
309-828-7110
signman@davesworld.net
Raptorman or Draper_Dave on mIRC chat

Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :

mo' money mo' money mo' money!

I usually charge 50% more for rush orders but I have charged as much as 200% more.

It depends on the clients. If they keep comin back to ya, keep crankin up the price on 'em. If the price wont discourage them, then take it as flattery, they obviously like you and your work.

I have a simple philosophy.. as long as they'll pay the price, I'll keep doing the rush work for them. I dont hold regular hours and any oddball hours required just means more freetime and money to play with.

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Mike Pipes
Digital Illusion Custom Graphics
Lake Havasu City, AZ
http://www.stickerpimp.com

Posted by Jerry Morrissey (Member # 203) on :

Call the on the phone once a week. Ask them what they have coming up. Stop by personally 1 time a month. They will love the great customer service & it will give you a better handle on their upcoming needs.

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Jerry Morrissey
Rapid Graphics & Signs
Omaha NE
402-597-3606
jcm@novia.net

Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :

I haven't been responding to many posts lately, but this is one I just couldn't pass up.

After over 40 years of doing this I have found that most people will treat you like you want to be treated (or that you let them treat you). For the majority of that time I worked nights, weekends, holidays, and missed out on family happenings to make sure the customer had what he needed. Much of the time the sign would still be in the shop three days after he "had to have it".

It seems the majority of response to this post is "just go ahead and do it" and charge extra. What happens if the night he needs the sign is your anniversary, or junior has a ball game, or your daughter is singing in the school play? I know that money is important, but there are a lot of other things that take priority over money.

Now I turn down jobs like this. And guess what? I haven't made any less money. And I have only lost a very few customers. I send them to a competitor that will possibly work all night to complete the job. But usually that customer comes back when he needs some more work, and usually with a little more advanced notice. It doesn't always happen, but if we keep doing signs overnight what is to stop the customer from ordering the signs at the last minute?

There are exceptions to every rule. If one of my regular customers truly has an emergency and it is obvious that it wasn't due to poor planning on his part, I will go out of my way to be sure that he is accomodated. They appreciate the effort. But to just keep doing the same routine over and over is out of the question.

As you get older what can be defined as an emergency gets slimmer and slimmmer.

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Chapman Sign Studio
Temple, Texas
rchapman@vvm.com

Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :

Amen Raymond. I neglected to say what I consider a rush order. Anybody that would stop in my shop and want it in 2 days. I would never let anyone drop off a vehicle unannounced or work overnight without extenuating circumstances. Their lack of planning is no reason for me to upset my and my customer's schedule. We are selling signs not blood plasma.

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Wright Signs
Wyandotte, Michigan
Since 1978
http://www.wrightsigns.bigstep.com

Posted by Mike Pipes [in a cubicle] (Member # 1841) on :

well, I've got no family and no life and I'd be sittin in front of the computer anyways so I may as well make 200% of what I would normally charge. =)

My work schedule (in my own biz, not while doing this contract work) is pretty light and usually allows me 4 days a week to do whatever I want, so I do have the time for rush orders.

Right now, Im 1500 miles from home though on contract, in someone else's office so I'm not guaranteeing ANY time frame on graphics orders at all. I've been pullin 18 hour days in front of a computer between the office work and maintaining/updating my website AND developing my own line of stock graphics (which really kick a** BTW).. hehe..

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Mike Pipes
-----trapped in a box with a computer and a slice of cheese-----

Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :

I sometimes have a simular situation which occurs with persons who want it either same day or the very next day.
So I think to myself, money come to those who make money come to them. I do it, I get paid and I eat then move on to the next project.
Sometimes its hard to have a battle of wits with unarmed persons. Its easier to do the job and check your ego at the door, then to have it attached to your shoulders without a pot to p-ss in or a window to throw it out of......

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HotLines Joey Madden
Pinstriper and designer of the Inflite'
See it go to work http://www.killerkoncepts.com
learning capabilities http://www.members.tripod.com/Inflite

Posted by Mikes Mischeif (Member # 1744) on :

There are two types of sign people. Structured and unstructured and both points have been made.

Franchises have those 7 clipboards on the wall for a reason. They Work 9-5.

Mike pipes and I have the unstructured "sleep late/ work late" flexibility. I personally don't have a shop to open at a set hour and when I did, it always had a note on the door with a business card rack glued to it.

I would'nt have it any other way. But life will change for me in 4 months as I become married and will ease my way into the 9-5 routine to keep those dates and get into the same sleep pattern as my wife.

Who knows, She may quit her job, and join me for the "work till it's done life".

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Mike Duncan
Lettercraft Signs
Alexandria VA

I have never let schooling interfere with my education - Mark Twain

Posted by Robert Salyers (Member # 5) on :

A couple years ago or so, this guy called me to paint some graphics on his truck. well it was Tuesday and his event was on Saturday and I already had a load to do. Well, like an idiot, I did it on Thursday, took the hood and dropped it off the following day. What can you expect... I did it in his driveway in the RAIN! Hell no I didn't sign my name on it! I've never even showed it to anyone! LOL The Deer images were ok but the lettering sucked BAD! For the first time shown anywhere in the same place with my name, is that truck...

here's the hood which was done at my shop

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Robert "Bobby" Salyers
Airbrush & Graphics Studio
Clearwater, FL
website:http://airbrushbobby.com

email: bobby@airbrushbobby.com

He put in your heart certain wishes and plans, in my heart he put other and different desires. Each man is good in his sight. It is not necessary for eagles to be crows.---Sitting Bull

[This message has been edited by Airbrush Bobby (edited January 24, 2001).]

Posted by Dave Ginley (Member # 1723) on :

Just last night I did a Semi-truck the guy dropped off the truck at noon and we had it done by 8 last night with printed graphics..and yesterday was an extremely busy day its race season and there coming in fast...We do this for a lot of truckers, these guys want to get on the road as soon as possible and they don't argue over price so a late night here or there is just fine..

Dave

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Ace of Signs
Selinsgrove, Pa.
www.aceofsigns.com

Posted by Robert Salyers (Member # 5) on :

I forgot!!! ...last year i did another overnighter ..this was taken at 4 am!!! No more though... quality suffers with anything done FAST, quality is achieved with time, care and attention.

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Robert "Bobby" Salyers
Airbrush & Graphics Studio
Clearwater, FL
website:http://airbrushbobby.com

email: bobby@airbrushbobby.com

He put in your heart certain wishes and plans, in my heart he put other and different desires. Each man is good in his sight. It is not necessary for eagles to be crows.---Sitting Bull

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