The Letterville BullBoard: What Would You Charge?

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Posted by El Wi (Member # 668) on :

Just completed a window display for my friendly pharmacist and am curious as to how others would have priced the job. The display is composed of 2 sets of 4 coroplast 3D rectangles 8" wide, 3.5" deep and 16", 26", 36" and 46" high. Each of the 6 tallest have openings at the front and back (set up so the towers can be flipped over for color display variance)with built in ledges for product displays. All of them were laid front and back with vinyl. I have done my numbers but I'ld like to know how others would handle the costing... per display piece or as a total job.

I love the way that almost everything I do is never the same as the next but it sure plays havoc with price quoting and time estimation.
Out of curiousity, how many of you factor in "experimentation" time when doing a job that has 1, 2 or 3 ways that it could be completed and the first 2 weren't quite right?

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Liz Yaskowich
Lumsden, Saskatchewan

Posted by Robert Beverly (Member # 1907) on :

Liz

I cannot professionally respond to your request for price evaluation on your particular project because my experience is nill in that area, but I would like to comment on your "experimentation" approach

At my company, I have said and will continue to tell my guys, that Knowledge is power!...and the more they know, the more valuable they become. We also look at our projects that way!

Although our company would not survive if we concentrated on just the unusual, I for one love it when I am "Paid to Play!" and It seems like every time we successfully complete a very unique project, it not only gives us the confidence to move on to even more unique projects but it opens new doors to the applications of what we have learned...creating an even more obvious separation between us and our competition!
And it has been working phenominally for us to the point one day we expect to deal with only clients with open budgets!
How more ideal can it get?

Drmwvr

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Robert Beverly
Dreamweaver Studios
Arlington, Texas

Posted by El Wi (Member # 668) on :

Thanks for the reply Robert. Your response to my post was informative and very much appreciated.

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l.y.designs - signs & graphics

"in all you do, you WILL make a difference"

Liz Yaskowich
Lumsden, Saskatchewan

Posted by Tim Whitcher (Member # 685) on :

I don't have a good grip on what you're describing, but I would base this job on time and material, then add a mark up if there seemed to be "room" (added value to the customer, above and beyond time and material). If I'm expected to do all the design on a very custom type display unit, I bill the initial "set up" at my shop rate. If it's something I'm familiar with or a repeat order, this charge wouldn't apply.

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Tim Whitcher
Quality Signs & Design
107 E Adrian St
Blissfield, MI 49228
qualitysigns@cass.net

Posted by Louis A Lazarus (Member # 763) on :

I would estimate how long (man hours) it would take to do the job and multiply that by my shop rate. I would then add the material cost with a 40% (give or take) mark up. Total up the two and look at that number. If that number "seems" reasonable for the job...I would then submit the quote.

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Louis A. Lazarus
Milt's Sign Service, Inc.
20 So. Linden Ave. #5B
650-588-0490
fontking1a@aol.com

Posted by El Wi (Member # 668) on :

Tim & Louis,

Thank you for your response to my post. Actually, that is how I usually price my work... Materials + 50% markup plus hours x $45 shop rate. I did not factor in "learning" time (the time I took to do the joins one way ... they didn't look right ... took apart and started again) but still estimated the time count to complete the project at 5.5 hours (this included factoring, vinyl laydown, cutting and joining). That along with a material cost of $100+ came to around $350 + taxes. What has caused me to question myself is the fact that the project looks so simple..... But then again, it's like you all say...he's paying for what I know, not how I go!

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l.y.designs - signs & graphics

"in all you do, you WILL make a difference"

Liz Yaskowich
Lumsden, Saskatchewan

Posted by Wayne Marchant (Member # 1277) on :

Woops. Please disregard

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V.Wayne Marchant (pronounced marsh-ant)
Vancouver,BC,Canada
opticart@lightspeed.bc.ca http://www.signsplusmore.com

[This message has been edited by V.Wayne (edited February 15, 2001).]

Posted by Louis A Lazarus (Member # 763) on :

Liz,

"Joining"??? Do you mean that a connecting script was used and you didn't know how to "join" the open points? If that is the case...and knowing what you just learned...how much time would it take you to do the same job again? Although your customers ultimately pays for your time to learn "your software", you can benefit most by learning everything there is to know as quickly as you can and becoming as proficient as possible. When that happens...the job that used to take two hours might only take 15 minutes. The job still has a "certain" value and if you are able to do the job in less time than your competitors...you will directly benefit. It's still the same old story...we've all got computers instead of brushes...but we still sell the same product as everybody else....TIME... and that is what the customer really pays for...not the vinyl. Good luck and if you ever need any help...we're always here!!

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Louis A. Lazarus
Milt's Sign Service, Inc.
20 So. Linden Ave. #5B
650-588-0490
fontking1a@aol.com

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