I would go out on a call to give a quote on a job. He'd go see them afterhours and undercut our price.
Needless to say, he was fired when we found out.
That sucks plain & simple, although it is not a new practice. Before the Edge, painters would do the same thing in paint.
The good thing to remember is this guy is reliant only on your talents, he hasn't any of his own. Which goes hand in hand with his integrity.
Don't let it bother you! If your customers want to buy from him then let em. I'd bet the farm he's not using quality materials either so it will fail fast.
Paint on Brother Rob, and if you're fealing like jumping off the ethical train just for a bit, go around and spritz his prints with lacquer thinner.
If not in real life, then in the mind!!!!!!
Revenge is sweet even if it is just a thought.
Now the flop: Don't get me wrong, I think that what you describe crosses the line, but just this side of crossing that line is this...
I remember reading a SignCraft article about generating new business. If I remember right, it was Bob Behounek (sorry, Bob, if I'm wrong). He described making sketches of existing signage... upgrading the design and then presenting the new idea to the client. I have done this as well and it can work when trying to drum up some new business. Then there's the guy that calls you for new signs or an upgrade of his existing signs. You will design something to replace the work that went into the original.
With digital cameras it's so easy to WHIP OUT a new idea for a client or prospective client. Just place the new idea over the old one.
But back to this guy... He crossed the line and I think it is cheesy. If he makes a bazillion dollars, it will then be "innovative".
1. if he is taking photos of your work and then showing the photos to other people for his commercial gain, then he is in violation of the copyright. you can probably have an attorney write a "cease and desist" letter.
2. if he is taking photos of your work and he is printing them on an Edge, then he's REALLY in violation of copyright, and you can take him to court and claim damages (probably up to the "value" of the customer, which is a lot more than the value of the single job).
3. if he's showing people your work and claiming that his Edge will do the same thing, only cheaper, then you could get him for libel on top of everything else. that would be a civil suit, and you'd have to hire a lawyer.
4. You might want to call your local attorney general and ask if they have any local enforcement against people making false product claims. (the Edge is wonderful, but its different than, not the same as, paint. obviously he can't do "the same" as paint).
[ February 10, 2002: Message edited by: Rob Larkham ]
What does this guy's final product look like? Good? Bad?
Let's face it, if he's photographing it, and then digitizing from the photo, and then selling it cheaper than you can hand-letter, he's an idiot.
However, I suspect something else might be going on. If we stop and think about it, what is he really doing? He's beating the bushes and trying to drum up some business for himself based on price. It might work, it might not.
The easy thing is to blame him if you lose some customers. My suggestion is to turn it into something positive. Use the energy wasted in anger and frustration to build your business. Use it to work on marketing your business and building your customer base.
I think to do anything else can be perceived as sour grapes no matter how justified you are.
Just something to consider.
[ February 11, 2002: Message edited by: timi NC ]
I'm the highest priced signguy around, and they know it. By the same token, my customers charge the highest price around for what they do also.
It all boils down to quality and service, the loyalty will follow these two atributes.
"Please Note : All Original designs, Artworks, Layouts & Signs, remain the sole copyright property of Walldog Signs. No part or parts of any Original Designs, Artworks, Layouts & Signs, may be reproduced without prior written consent from Walldog Signs. All Original designs, Artworks, Layouts & Signs are protected by Australian & International Copyright laws & any unauthorized reproduction may lead to prosecution".
I have since only had to press my case once with this, I won. you would be well advised to speak to your local friendly lawyer, LOL , on how copyright laws affect your area.
there is nothing worse than one person using anothers skill & ability, without compensation or permission, in an attempt to "make a name "for themselves.
it would be easy to just ignore, as on member replied, but the other side of that is : "Äll that evil requires to triumph, is for good men to do nothing" Winston Churchill(I think)
Don't allow this behaviour to continue as to do so is to give it a tacit legitimacy. How you approach this problem is up to you, from a simple phone call to the offending party & calmly state your position on the matter , maybe you can work a deal, to full blown legal action( sounds terrible I know , but only you can decide on how to remedy the sitiuation)
Anyway that how I see it, for what it's worth
hope it all works out for all of you
The customer wouldn't want a digital image of his existing crappy sign, he wants a fresh one. So it makes no sense that he would be "freshening up" an existing sign. My 2 cents.
