A florist business that is also giving me their storefront signage to do, has asked for foam cut-out letters for the inside walls. What I don't like is that they want to paint and install the letters themselves, I just cut them out. Never mind the painting, but the font is Blizzard, and you can just imagine how the spacing would turn out... Would you just let them do a bad job and think "it serves them right" or would you give them guides and instructions and so basically teach them how to do YOUR job? Any alternatives?
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
Someone once asked if I could sell them a brush and paint so they could stripe their own car, I did and then started my next project!
Posted by Source Signs (Member # 1164) on :
Lotti, Ask them to supply you with some exotic flowers and ferns, so you can arrange them yourself. Can you/would you then ask them for instructions and a print out of how they are supposed to look?? Would they oblige you? A tough situation....I'm just thinking out loud! Some customers have no scrupples! Sue
Posted by John Martin Robson (Member # 1686) on :
I try to educated my clients, as best as I know how, let them in on the pro’s & con’s of the choices they are making……….most of them appreciate that.
I think we have a responsibility, not only to make signs, but to consult our clients about them too……….at least that’s the way I feel.
my accountant does it, my mechanic does it, my dentist too…………they all consult me.
[ March 10, 2002, 06:50 PM: Message edited by: John Martin Robson ]
Posted by James Caley (Member # 2743) on :
NO,.....NO,......and NO!
Posted by VICTORGEORGIOU (Member # 474) on :
Why would you assume that a they cannot kern out a set of letters?
Craft stores sell loose letters. Crafty people lay down letters all the time.
If you don't sell them the letters, the franchise down the street will. You may as well keep the business in house.
Vic G
Posted by Steve Nuttle (Member # 2645) on :
We did some vinyl for a local cab company a while back and they insisted that they would install it themselves. Well the other day on my way home from the shop I happened to be behind one of their cabs! I laughed all the way home! Oh well. You try to tell them but sometimes they get what they asked for.
Posted by Marty Happy (Member # 302) on :
Hi Lotti....
That's a tough one especially in a small town. At the risk of losing the job I would tell them that I only do work that I have complete control over from start to finish. If they do a bad job of installation it could reflect badly on you. Admittedly you can train a competitor if you give them too much information and tricks of the trade that you earned honestly. Then again, after attempting the same they may gain an appreciation for your professionalism. Somehow there must be a way of delicately informing them that there is a knack to properly installing such letters that only comes with education and experience and that it wouldn't be fair to yourself for giving away that honestly acquired knowledge. Does a plumber or electrician show a potential client how to do his job. Tell them that you could install it quicker than it would take you to describe the operation. Maybe you can make the letters with the proviso that you supply them a mounting pattern at a certain extra cost. At least that would ensure decent letter placement.
I have on occasion been asked for the similar 'favours' and those jobs get put on the backburner and I never seem to get around to them for obvious reasons.(LOL)
[ March 10, 2002, 07:19 PM: Message edited by: Marty Happy ]
Posted by signpig (Member # 994) on :
YES, YES, YES, and YES!!!!!!!
Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
Our studio is in the business of making money, not worrying about our image created by others with the bulk items we sell. Cut the copy........take the money.....close the door and get on with the next project.
Posted by Linda Seymour (Member # 1904) on :
I would stress the need for proper preperation and installation of the letters.If that doesn't faze them; Run through the supplies needed: primer, paint etc. for a one off exercise. Anyone with common sense would then realize that it wasn't worth the stress and ultimately a professional job is cheaper all round!
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Provide service to your customer. It seems easy to provide them with a pounce pattern for spacing and placement, and you could get another $25 for it
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
Sell them a do it your self kit. Let them have it.. Lots of sign companies do it all the time. Besides, how much will it cost you just to cut out the letters and ad some profit? Charge that and go on to the next project. You can make more just cutting out the letters and selling them.
Maybe they feel like the job is not big enuf to bother you with. Maybe they want to give you a little extra work but don't have it in their budget for a full featured job. Maybe they have more time than money. You don't know their motivation. Alway pick up the cash when some one lays it on the table.. IMHO...
For vinyl...I really like it when someone comes in and asks for a "do it yerself" kit. of cut vinyl letters with appy tape. I get $8 - $10 /foot for 24" vinyl. I use scraps when ever i can. Easy profit, easy job, no gar ron tee ...lots of repeat business. Lots of referrals.
[ March 10, 2002, 10:00 PM: Message edited by: Curtis hammond ]
Posted by timi NC (Member # 576) on :
After ya cut the letters make them a pattern so they will get the kerning right & charge them properly for what they "need" to do the job right.
Posted by Santo (Member # 411) on :
I gotta agree. It seems like we have a lot of posts here where our members often do not want to do the installs. Others want to hold on to the installs, especially the easy ones. Value selling to clients will include solid advice, when they are about to take on a problem install and encouragement to do the ones they need to do to save some money or upgrade the sign. I'm with the people that say make patterns for a price.
Posted by Lotti Prokott (Member # 2684) on :
I wanted to hear the different opinions, thanks. I will go with the advice to sell them a pounce pattern. It's funny, it bugs me when one of my customers wants a cheap job, but then I guess I do that very same thing to others too.... You also made me realize that it is really not a big deal at all. Having happy customers is in the long run more profitable than a few extra dollars now, right? Thanks again, and have a grat day.
Posted by Kathy Joiner (Member # 1814) on :
Lotti, Florists are floral designers. Most of them have great taste and a good eye for design. Building an arrangement that will hold up is a little like signs , there are tricks of the trade. When you consult and advise them I feel they will listen because they are as familiar with construction of their goods as you are. Good luck! You may be surprised when you see what they have done with your letters!
Posted by ScooterX (Member # 2023) on :
a few things might happen: they might discover that putting the letters up is more difficult than they thought it would be, and they'll call you anyway.
OR, if you're afraid the badly spaced letters could reflect badly on you, then you could offer to sell them the letters, and then negotiate a trade for the install -- a lot of flowers for an hour of installation time.
i find that the more time you can spend with a customer -- at their place of business -- the more ways they eventually think of using your services. when i visit clients after a few months "just to see how the sign is holding up" or "just to see if they got any comments on the signs" the customer will ask about some other sign project they've been thinking of.
give the customer what they ask for, and then sell them what they need.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
quote: Having happy customers is in the long run more profitable than a few extra dollars now
Wise words. Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Hey Lotti,
Sell away! I had a similar situation recently. A builder wanted to get some molded letters for a subdivision sign he was going to build. I did his last signblasted sign, but he wanted to go the molded letter route this time.
I ordered the letters, marked them up for profit, and just delivered them to him. He said he could handle the installation, and frankly, I believe he could. He was an experienced builder and detail oriented. I figured, Hey, no problem. Easiest money I've made.
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
...lots of repeat business. Lots of referrals.