you do 10 small signs(10 x 18)for a business, this particular one was a theme room motel, so each sign had a different theme so to speak. it was cut on mdo and i routed an ogee edge to dress them up. they weren't masterpieces but a bit of a PITA...just vinyl and paint...well i charged $450(which the check bounced)for the 10 and made my normal rate...got cash & apology after i went in pi$$ed...well now she has changed one of the rooms to a different name and expects me to do another sign for $45...i say to myself, kiss my a$$ lady...she also wants an aframe and another 3 x 4 sign. as much as i'm a sarcastic person i really do try to be professional....bahahahah. anyway, how do you folks handle stuff like this? i mean i can try to peel the name off the other sign but it will probably pull the paint off and it's a PITA to have to take my router out and do the ogee edge, paint another piece and design a new look for $45...sorry $45 doesn't make it worth my time. i was thinking that i would quote the whole job and charge like $75(which still isn't enough in my mind)for the small sign because i will be making money on the others. it's not like this person is a great $$ spending customer but i really don't like to burn bridges.
Posted by TJ Duvall (Member # 3133) on :
Just tell her the $450 was with a quantity discount, if she want just one it is more $$. Then charge what you need to get for just one and still make a profit. After all its not like you screwed up the sign and need to redo it.
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Tell her that if she wants to pinch pennies, peel the old letters off(if possible), clean it and bring it to you to put new stuff on, at a fee of course.
If it ain't worth her time, it ain't worth yours. Explaint to her like TJ says. Setup, quanity discount etc. If she don't understand...then she ain't an understanding person. Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
you are right...she isn't reasonable about other people making $. i've said this to her b4 and she looked at me like i had 3 heads. i will stand firm and if i lose her business...i really don't care...i was just curious what other folks do when they do these pita projects then the customer comes back and wants just one more...i guess it's kinda like your sandblasted dr sign wayne...only on a smaller scale. if it was a good customer that does alot of business then you have weigh things out...but these little piddly things i can do without...hate to seem snobby but i'm sick of not getting paid enough for the tiny stuff.
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Karen, Do the change on the small sign and boost the 3 x 4 ft one a bit to cover the difference.
Might keep her as a customer without you losing out.
Not the best policy, but, hey, any port in a storm.....
Rapid
Posted by goddinfla (Member # 1502) on :
Ask her what her room rates are for an hour, a day, a week and a month. She probably would better understand discounts for quantity.
Posted by ScooterX (Member # 2023) on :
Another option is to tell her there is a set-up fee, etc etc, but if she's willing to WAIT until you have a similar job, you can wave the setup. That way you aren't dragging out the router just to do her job.
After all, it will only take you a few extra minutes to do hers once you're set up.
Something else I often do is to make one or two extras when I'm doing the first job. I use them as practice pieces, samples, or for oddball one-off jobs. (I just did some nice looking parking lot signs, and the customer came back wanting "just one more" and I was glad i'd made the extras).
Posted by Dave Cox - That Sign Guy (Member # 3517) on :
I will usually take care of this problem up front when a customer orders a large job. I put on the invoice in parenthesis () "normal price per sign is $xx.xx this invoice shows a quantity discount of xx%... that takes care of any confusion the customer may have and they feel like they are getting a great deal and saving a ton of money...
ex. Real Estate company came to me and said we want 3 double sided hanging signs for when we sell a house. I gave them an estimate for black pvc D/F w/refl. vinyl of $98/ea or $82.50/ea if ordering 15 or more..... they ordered 35 signs! sheesh and they are loyal to me to this day because they "saved so much"!
Posted by mike meyer (Member # 542) on :
Have a small Letterhead gathering and book the rooms for everyone there, then leave her with the bill.....have everyone trash their rooms like a rock star...hahaha Go GET EM BUSH GIRL!
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
haha..i used to feel like a rockstar when: i used to wear my black jeans and ride my harley! now: i'm too fat to fit in them and i sold my harley last year! LOL!!! but...i'm on a diet and i'm cranky as hell so that customer better watch out unless she has a big honking lindt bar in her back pocket! scooter..great minds think alike! i actually made 12...she ordered 2 more after..now she must pay!!
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
I have a price list for my sandblasted signs which stipulates at the top of the page: Signs 2 sq ft and under are priced at $1 per square INCH.
Customer came in this morning, asked for a price, I first showed her the porfolio, she thumbed through that and then I showed her the price chart, she points to a 9''x8.75'' sandblasted HDU sample on the sales counter. "how much for one like that" I punched in the numbers: "$78.75." She says "for that?" I said "yes ma'am, and not a penny less...little ones are priced by the square inch" "if you get one two square ft or more with the fancy shape, it's $82.50 per sq ft." Yes, the piddly stuff will eat you alive.
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
I dunno, I've never understood the concept of "quantity discounts" unless they can be produced in a manner that will save me time and allow a lower price, like screen printing. The time savings in making ten signs, especially with different copy is neglible. Yea, you only have to plug the router in once, open the paint can once, etc., but what are we talking here a couple of minutes. I always price multiples as if they were one sign times X amount of signs. To give a "quantity discount" is another way of taking a pay cut. I twould be like a factory worker putting in overtime at time minus a half.
Posted by Linda Silver Eagle (Member # 274) on :
I agree with George! I've seen too many disgruntled signmakers complain and then justify the pita with, "...but hay, I get to do this XX times a year!" "It's a steady customer ...yahdee, yahdee, yahdee!"
It should be fun and profitable, not the main reason you need a therapist! LOL .
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
I go with the same approach as Dave which is to have the price I will charge for one pc. right on the first line of the invoice multiplied by however many they are getting. Then I offer a discount. I think the time savings on 10 over 1 sign is always there. Sure screenprinting is a more extreme example, but figure the time to take the order, schedule the order, go through each step, invoice it, be there for the pick-up... If the discount gets them to buy more now, it is worth a reduced price to me. I also know that they have a greater chance of finding a lower price on a larger order, but if I show them I am already trying my best to offer an attractive price, & recognize that this may be what they consider a sizable order, they seem less likely to consider "shopping"
Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
Don't lose this customer over a few dollars! Ask her to come in to your shop when you have the CNC running and let Her watch how it is done. Explain the way you help save her money on the first run. But this time you have to walk away from (Other Orders) to place Hers again. (A Single piece) But back logs the other promises. Ask her if her time is money? and announce that yours is too!
Don't bit the hand that feeds you!!!!! Just hold it because they are scared.......
[ July 11, 2003, 02:16 AM: Message edited by: Stephen Deveau ]
Posted by david drane (Member # 507) on :
If you are sure that she doesn't hold any influence then just tell her to take a hike like thus: "I'm sure if you spend a bit of time looking around you will find someone that will do your job for pennies but I really like to eat".
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
I said "yes ma'am, and not a penny less...little ones are priced by the square inch" "if you get one two square ft or more with the fancy shape, it's $82.50 per sq ft."![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)