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Being in the middle of my customers motorcycle paint job, he decides to contact me and want some lettering added, of course he thought id just throw it in for nothing, he was wrong (he-he), when i told him the added cost, he backed down, not that it was a big cost, but proceeded to tell me he was talking to his buddy and his buddy had told him that a custom bike shop in the area has a painter that would paint and airbrush/graphic a bike for $400.00 total, i asked him, tank or tanks and fenders? he said yeah i guess!! Being that the customer and i already decided his price before i accepted the job, i think he was trying to say i was charging too much, in other words, he was trying to knock some $100.00's off his own bike!!! Any comments?!?! This is what i half to deal with this week!!
-------------------- Brian Antonik@adelphia.net Posts: 11 | From: Nanticoke, Pa. | Registered: Feb 2004
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Don't let it get you down, it's bad behavior on your customer's part. Chances are his buddy said "that guy's charging you too much" and he got to thinking and worrying about it. Best thing you can do is show him why your work is worth the money in simple terms that he can then go and tell that to the person who got him derailed. He'll be grateful to you for helping him save face, and if you do it well enough, he'll even be able to one up the buddy - then you'll have a lifelong customer who will pay whatever you ask, and his buddy will start talking about you.
[ March 24, 2004, 11:30 PM: Message edited by: Mark Smith ]
-------------------- Best Regards, Mark Smith EstiMate Sign Pricing Software It's Not Luck. It's EstiMate.™ http://www.EstiMateSoftware.com 1-888-304-3300 Posts: 724 | From: Asheville, NC, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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My two and a half cents....this is AMERICA and I love it, We are talented, professional, artists, and we can charge however much for any job as we would like as long as your customer is aware of it, there is no better time to get rich than RIGHT NOW, poverty sucks. Hey start bidding them all at $10K I have seen many harley paint jobs that excede 10K you don't have to do as many transactions, you don't need to work 80 hrs a week to make a buck, that's the beauty of an art business we are paid for our talents, CHARGE ACCORDINGLY.
-------------------- Dan Streicher Slidell, LA Posts: 445 | From: Slidell, LA | Registered: Feb 2004
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Stop working on the sheet metal immediately and call him up and tell him to come pick it up. Time is money and persons who bust your balls for a better deal usually don't do anything good for your reputation. When persons bother me in the middle of my work and play games, I just stop and tell them to take it somewhere else.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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Joey, that is at times a tempting way to go, but do you charge for what you've already done?
I feel like I'm about to run into a similar situation, but I havn't started the work yet. It's helped me to think more clearly about why I charge what I do. If I have to explain it to the customer, I might say something like this: "If the only way I can get work is to be the cheapest shop around, then in order to stay in business, my goal would have to be that of being the cheapest shop around, and that's not my goal. I want to offer a service that others can't, that works better as advertising and/or image, therefore is worth more than what I'm charging."
I may need to polish the wording, but that's exactly what I'm thinking: my goal is not to be the cheapest shop around.
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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.......You DO charge. Just tell him: "since we are already in a verbal contract to such a degree that I have actually started the work, you will have to compensate me for the time/materials I've already got in it, THEN yo can take the bike else where"
No other kind of business in the world would consider doing ANY less. Why in the world would you??
In the future, consider using paper contracts, get signatures, or at the very least discuss this potential situation up-front, before anyone ever brings a vehicle in your shop.
Remember: CTPM
Customer-Trouble Preventive Maintenance
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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James, my train of thought going into my work is more important then listening to some begger bullsh-t me. Only once or twice I had to eat it so to speak, piece of mind means everything to me. Ya stop, ya give'm a bill, he pays and goes out the door. Don't sweat the small stuff. I've been called a psycho, a nutcase and just about everything, but my work speaks for itself, its good, clean and different. I get alot of referals from dealerships as well as past customers. They say that I'm a little eccentric but once ya get past his accent, the work will be perfect.
I do what I have to do for self preservation as well as reputation and I get top dollar for it.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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Kinda the same thing happned to me this week. The customer wants me to paint two palm trees on the storefront for free! Some wannaby artist (horrible work) said he will do for free so he can put his name & number nearby. She says I could do the same.
Reminds me of lettering racecars for free, But you can put your name ot it!
I think I'll pass, I am busy enough!
-------------------- Rob Thomas 3410 Ketcham Ct Beautiful Springs FL 34134 Posts: 965 | From: Bonita Springs, Florida USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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I wouldn't even entertain the idea of working without pay...I work for one reason TO MAKE MONEY, yes we are lucky to be in industries that we enjoy doing artistic work, but if I am going to work for free it;s going to be working on drinking a beer. If you present yourself as profesional and charge accordingly (assuming you have the skills to back it up) you will be paid accordingly, without question. I don;t know about you but I wouldn't want the cheapest doctor, or a discount lawyer.... stick to your prices, once you establish your hourly rate there is really only a couple of ways to do a job "cheaper" you either negotiate better deals on materials (which in our industry the cost of materials is so low compared to the selling price of a project) or you develop ways of doing your work quicker while still maintaining professional quality work....or you have to accept that you will be paid less money to do a job than you should be making, I won't do that, I need to be paid a set price to do the level of work that I do. It costs what it costs.
-------------------- Dan Streicher Slidell, LA Posts: 445 | From: Slidell, LA | Registered: Feb 2004
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That's a good one-if I follow that woman's train of thought, then her PC should be free because Microsoft puts their name on the entry screen...my car should be free because it says "Porsche" on it... If she wants a freebie tell her to go to the dollar store and buy those metal letters. what an idjit.
-------------------- Steve Burke Cascades Inc NS Canada
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving isn't for you Posts: 359 | From: NS Canada | Registered: Jan 2002
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The agony of a bad paint job far outlasts the thrill of a getting a bargain.
ITs all in the anticipation..
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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I like Joey'sapproach. If you lack customer confidance, why continue? I don't want to do a job to find someone not completely pleased in the end. Although this is not always the outcome, it must be expected while doing the job. Anything less is doing less than your best.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6736 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Reminds me of the time I was striping at a bike meet. I had bikes lined up and Jane was taking down particulars and handlin' the cash. I got to this one guys bike, and he was anxiously awaiting with his entourage. They were all drunk and he started in by telling me he wanted something that looked like Von Dutch's work. I said I could only do what I could do. He said, "Well go ahead, then."
I started on the front fender and moved to the tank, and there he was with his nose on the fender. I came close to throwin' paint on him. He wanted to know if I could extend one of my lines about a 1/4" or so. He was trying his darndest to impress his friends.
I went to the table, grabbed some thinner and wiped the fender clean and said, "N E X T!!!" He said, "Come on, Buddy!" I simply told him it was not to be, that sometimes you can't crawl into another man's head to see what's what.
He was utterly embarassed and left in a huff, but I didn't give him the satisfaction of belittling what I do. I got a resounding round of applause from the other bikers who were standing around, because even they could spot an a$$ when they see one. The point is you will feel great after you deal with a bad customer in this manner, and you will continue to feel great years later. Even though you might be out your time, word will have it you do not tolerate bad customer behavior.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2108 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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Another great quote that I have posted on the wall by my desk is: "We have no quarrel with those who work for less. They know what they are worth."
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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