posted
PLEASE!!!! Has ANYone out there had any trouble with magnetic material not coming off the customer's vehicle??? I have told my supplier about this, & he said I am the only one who has complained. The stuff I am using is Ultramag .030, & it is thicker than what I was getting before. My customers have been taking them off & washing as directed, & all of a sudden, it will not come off, & they are getting it off in bits & pieces! What would YOU do about this? Thank you so much!!!!
-------------------- The Word in Signs Bobbie Rochow Jamestown, PA 16134
724-927-6471
thewordinsigns@alltel.net Posts: 3485 | From: Jamestown, PA 16134 | Registered: Oct 2002
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-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
How often is this customer taking the magnetics off the vehicle? Sounds to me it's not often enough. I always recommend AT LEAST once a week, more often is better.
Here at home we kinda experienced something like your talking about. My wife got those little ribbons that are in support of our troops. She decides to wash her van, thing comes off in pieces. I asked her, so sweetie, how long had that been on the back of your van. Not long, then she starts to thinking.....gee, it's only been on there, ummm, let me see now, geesh, longer that she thought. This little critter made a mess.
I may be wrong here, and I am not calling anybody a lier, but it sounds like they have not been properly maintained. Just my .02 cents.
-------------------- Mike Berry New England Posts: 534 | From: New England | Registered: Jan 2002
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HAAHAHHA, suppliers always say you are the ONLY one to complain.
This topic has been revisited a number of times. Yes magnetics will adhere to a vehicle. I give a sheet that explains to wash and wax the rear side of the mags at least every two weeks because of this.
Its inevitable that someone will come in with a ruined mag or paint job because they never did as advised. It don't take long if the conditions are right. The customer will swear they cleaned and waxed. However, a stuck mag is a dead giveaway they didn't do it.
-------------------- 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 bet your customers are lying to you...they aren't going to admit that they left their magnetics on all summer long and have ruined their paint job. they need someone to blame. all of a sudden they will not come off...and the week before they did???? magnetics also fog clear coat. one of the many reasons i discourage magnetics and pretty much refuse making them....except for the occassional emergency. but i make it very clear...these need to come off weekly and be cleaned( & wax the backs). make sure the area you put them on is also cleaned weekly. i make it sound like so much work that its not worth getting the product.
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I try to discourage magnetics but the times I do them, I have a long sheet I of instructions that go with them. Do a search, I think it was Cheryl Lucas who posted a downright scary pict of magnetics that weren't cared for. It's a great deterant.
If I remember correctly, the magnetic was coming off in pieces, just as you describe and had destroyed the surface it was on. These were NOT cared for.
Ha Mike, those ribbons. My grandma said she wanted 1, but "someone" told her that putting a magnet on her car would make it rust. I laughed and told her magnets don't cause rust. Improper maintenance and cleaning causes rust. I expect in a couple years we'll see a lot of used cars out there for sale with a ribbon-shaped rust spot.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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I kinda grimace everytime I see one of those ribbon magnetics...they are usually on really nice cars or SUVs with wonderful paint jobs.
If sand gets under one...oooh...it's like driving with an orbital sander stuck to the vehicle. Not good.
I'm really gonna hate doing mags...I can tell...I got someone wants one already...I've went over the bad stuff once...I'll probably go over the list again, but I'll do them if he insists. Maybe I'll get the pic from that thread...that might help.
-------------------- William Bass wjb71@bellsouth.net Northwest Florida Posts: 636 | From: Pensacola, FL | Registered: Aug 2004
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Bobbie- Yes. I just had a customer last week bring in a magnet that stuck to his vehicle at different spots, leaving black magnet chunks on the van. It only happened to one side of the van/one magnet. I had never seen that before. I believe it is Pro-Mag from MSI. Don't know why it happened
-------------------- Phil Steffen, 29 Van Rensselaer St City of Saratoga Springs DPW Saratoga Springs NY 12866 Posts: 563 | From: beautiful Saratoga Springs NY | Registered: Aug 2001
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We do loads of magnetics here. The customer is always instructed to apply a coat of paste wax to the back of the magnetic and to the door where its going and to do the same thing every month at least. We also tell them that if they don't do it, their paint will be ruined and the magnetic won't come off easily. We also tell them that we can tell if they followed instructions or not. We learned this lesson a long time ago.
posted
Thanks to ALL of you. I have just recieved a call from the sales manager of my supplier, & they found they had complaints only in areas where it rained the most, causing the magnets to stick the worst across the top, which happens also to be where this guy said his was sticking. The manufacturers of this stuff NOW recommend removing them every 3 to 4 days when weather conditions are humid. I don't know what the rest of you think about that, but to me, it is a COP OUT. I sold a lot of magnets a few years ago without all this trouble. And YES, I DO discourage them GREATLY!!!!! I HATE them! And you know what? The customers DO LIE!!!!! Who in their right mind will want to buy these things now, with all this trouble you have to take, to take care of them??? I am going to print up my own sheet, & also mark on my reciepts that they were given the care sheet, & above all, I am going to tell them how lousy the magnets are FIRST so they won't want them in the first place!!!!!! I am really upset, but now that I have "vented" I feel a bit better!!
-------------------- The Word in Signs Bobbie Rochow Jamestown, PA 16134
724-927-6471
thewordinsigns@alltel.net Posts: 3485 | From: Jamestown, PA 16134 | Registered: Oct 2002
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Years ago, we did pretty good size magnetics that said, "win this car...dealer info" for a car giveaway. It was a new car and they put the mags on the car and moved it around town to sell their contest. A couple month later when they went to take the mags off....OOPPPSS! They wouldn't come off. They had to have the car doors repainted. Another guy bought a set and came back, mad as heck, they wouldn't stick. He had aluminum doors! We've seen ALL these problems above. I hate mags. We are very careful when we sell them (which is rarely) telling people the problems and handing them a sheet with "Tips for Magnetic Sheet Use".
-------------------- 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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I was talking to a friend about lettering his van...he's got 4 mags on it...while I was talking to him, for some reason he peeled the mag off in front of me...underneath it looked like someone had taken a sanding block and scrubbed around center of where the mag had been...bare metal shone thru. He quietly stared at the door for a moment and quickly reapplied the mag.
If he lets me letter the van..I will take a pic...it's not as bad as Cheryls pic there, but it's proof we're not kidding about this stuff.
You know it's got to be easy to ignore the care instructions...I would ignore them...I would always plan on doing it "tomorrow," you know?
BTW, I grabbed the pic, Cheryl; that's okay?
[ November 05, 2004, 03:16 PM: Message edited by: William Bass ]
-------------------- William Bass wjb71@bellsouth.net Northwest Florida Posts: 636 | From: Pensacola, FL | Registered: Aug 2004
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quote:I have told my supplier about this, & he said I am the only one who has complained.
How many times have I heard that?
Your customer probably hasn't been properly maintaining his mags though. It's too easy to forget. As for myself, I would get my wife to make them one of her big'ol notes that she plasters onto the instrument panel of my truck to help me not to forget to remember to pick up a gallon of milk or something.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7403 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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THANK YOU!!! I'm going to print out that picture to show to the nitwits who cop an attitude when I tell them I won't do magnetics.
JUST SAY NO!
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Bobbie, Ok, so the manufacturer has lived & learned and has now changed their recommendation to more frequent removal in humid conditions. Do they say anything about the already-done damage, damage that happened because people followed the recommendations in place at the time?
My favorite deterant to magnetics is explaining to people that white-background magnetics look temporary (on everything but white vehicles of course. lol) Temp signs send the subliminal message that their business is also temporary. In order to avoid that, we could paint the magnetic to match the vehicle (or close) that of course drives up the price and I'd hate to see them lose the magnetic and have to pay for a new set. Or, we could letter the door and cut/paint magnetic to cover it for times they don't want their name on the door. Then when (not if, WHEN) they lose 1, it'll save them $ because it's just blank magnetic material sprayed to match.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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When I worked in a Sign Shop in Orlando a customer ordered a bunch of magnetics advertising pianos and organs.
When told they were ready, he came driving in in a big motorhome that had been fitted out inside to display his wares.....needless to say, the body was aluminum.
-------------------- Rove Gratz Gratz Signs 342 Walden Station Drive Macon, GA 31216 rovegratz@aol.com Home Page: http://rove-342.tripod.com Posts: 861 | From: Macon, GA 31216 | Registered: Jan 2004
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No, Kissy, I don't think they want to re imburse me for that. I am not happy about this. You are right, what about the damage done while they were obeying instructions? The guy just came over & I helped him take them off, & the whole area along the top stuck, & you know what? There was not a lot of dirt behind it, it truly lookked like he was taking them off every 2 WEEKS, as the manufacturer had advised. I think the magnets are JUNK, & I think they need to fess up to it! My sales manager told me to give him the magetics & he will take them to his distributor & see what they say. I mean, seriously, I used to get stuff that was thinner, & I had sold a set of these to a guy in town, & he NEVER takes them off, & they pull right off his truck! He is in the same humid area, within 3 miles of the guy that returned his to me. My slaes manager of my supplier insists that it is the same stuff, but obviously it is not. It is MUCH thicker & stiffer than the old stuff.
-------------------- The Word in Signs Bobbie Rochow Jamestown, PA 16134
724-927-6471
thewordinsigns@alltel.net Posts: 3485 | From: Jamestown, PA 16134 | Registered: Oct 2002
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Is it just / mostly one customer? Could that truck or fleet be treated to a strong washing chemical that wasn't thoroughly rinsed/neutralized before the mags were put back on (if taken off!)or pick up something sprayed nearby?
-------------------- Bob Sheers 24 Hour Services Columbia, MD USA 410-995-3655 bob@go-to-airport.com Posts: 140 | From: Columbia, MD, USA | Registered: Sep 1999
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As a reply to your topic title . . .Are there any GOOD MAGNETS!!...???
No matter how you slice it, dice it, sugar-coat, who you blame or what excuses you come up with . . . .
magnets are INTENDED for TEMPORARY USE material ONLY.
It's like a someone wantin' a poly-banner to last year around as their permanent sign.
The problem is, even when you give 'em the instruction/maintenance sheet..the large majority of people just will not take care of them. They are just too high maintenance.
And if they are leaving mags on SO long that they become one with the surface, why are they not just having the lettering placed DIRECTLY on the vehicle in the first place??????
I give my customers such a drill about WHY they think they need mags . . .they are required to convince and prove to me that they actually do need them for a personal/commercial vehicle or for a one time thing they're doin'.
I charge MORE for mags than I do of course, for just puttin' the vinyl or paint on the vehicle. So that deters them too, me reminding them they're havin' to pay more for lesser quality signage.
(Unless there is a real, genuine need . .I hate mags . . . or cud'ja ya tell??)
-------------------- 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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regarding bad magnetics many problems the undustry is experiencing could be traced back to imported cheap magnets comming on shore ask your distributor if they know country of origin and you can bet that if it sells for a lot less than usa mfg prod thank the chinese for your mag failures cf barnes
-------------------- carter barnes Posts: 2 | From: cumming ga | Registered: Aug 2002
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Magnets are a very good temporary sign, I sell about 2 rolls a year! Each is given with a care sheet, each is waxed on the back before it goes out, each is made and balance like I would a real sign. I have had no-one complain yet. I love the markup on magnets. On the other hand I have seen pairs stay on all summer, I know what they are doing to the cars. If a customer wants to ingnore instructions it is their vehicle! They do not want to letter the doors for some reason, it is their choice. However, after reading this I may add a disclaimer to the invoice stating problems with magnets instead of just a seperate sheet AND telling them.
[ November 07, 2004, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: Michael Latham ]
-------------------- Michael A Latham Tee's Me Shirt & Sign 16462 Jefferson Davis Highway Colonial Heights Va. 804-835-3299 signdogopie@aol.com Posts: 379 | From: Colonial Heights, Virginia | Registered: Feb 2004
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I'm not ashamed of selling magnetics, either. It's my #2 bread-n-butter after Koro. The best kind are shaped to look like a logo. It's hard to tell that they are mags if you do them right. I have printed up instruction sheets that I hand out with every set, and luckily, have not had a come-back in 19 years. (knock wood) I do think the fault lies within the lack of maintenance by the consumer, Bobbie. I use that pro-mag stuff too. I used to love the magnetic material that Ameriban sold. But now I just get mine from Glantz, no delivery charges! And all the magnetic that I've used has a black backside, even the colored kind I buy on occasion. Good luck. Love....Jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I have a customer who purchased large magnetics for the sides of their van and a smaller one for the back door. I instructed them to remove and clean them once a week. It doesn't appear that they heeded my warning. The magnetics are always on the van when I see it. Surely the magnetics and vehicle have become one by now. Carter it's good to see you made it to Letterville. Thanks for the heads up on the imported magntic material. Judy
-------------------- Judy Pate Signs By Judy Albany, Georgia USA 229-435-6824
Live simply...Love generously...Care deeply...Speak kindly...Leave the rest to God. Posts: 2621 | From: Albany,GA,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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If you live in cold country like I do, you can also warn your customers about the tendency of mags to SHATTER if they get a hard knock or they are dropped. Just one more reason to dislike them! MUR
-------------------- Murray MacDonald OldTime Signs 529 Third Ave S Kenora, ON. P9N 1Y3 oldtimesigns@gokenora.com Posts: 781 | From: Kenora, ON | Registered: Jan 2003
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I love magnets, good money, so far no comebacks because of magnets. Just dumb customers - but you can't be responsible for dumb customers can we?But Coroplast - NEVER, hate the stuff!!
-------------------- Michael A Latham Tee's Me Shirt & Sign 16462 Jefferson Davis Highway Colonial Heights Va. 804-835-3299 signdogopie@aol.com Posts: 379 | From: Colonial Heights, Virginia | Registered: Feb 2004
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Jill, what is the brand of magnetic you are getting from Glantz? I have never ordered from them before. The stuff I am using is called Ultramag, & it is from Flexmag Industries. What does the end of your box say? I never had a problem at ALL with magnetics, as a matter of fact, I have a 5 yr. old magnet (the thinner stuff, softer, too) downstairs in my DAMP barn that still is fine, stuck to the old freezer. As a matter of fact, the freezer has rust coming out all over it from the dampness, but this old magnet pulls right off! I am about 2 hours North of you, & we have gotten a LOT of rain this summer. The company is blaming it on the humid conditions from this summer doing it, but come on, how was your summer weather? You aren't that far away from me! Was it humid & wet down there? Obviously You didn't have problems with yours! -and you are near Pittsburgh where all the flooding happened! Thanks so much for posting, Jill, thank you everybody!
-------------------- The Word in Signs Bobbie Rochow Jamestown, PA 16134
724-927-6471
thewordinsigns@alltel.net Posts: 3485 | From: Jamestown, PA 16134 | Registered: Oct 2002
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My magnetic experiences have been different, never had a permanent adhesion problem, actually quite the opposite. Made a few sets for the fire chief for his pick-up. Guess they looked to purdy because they kept getting stolen. Made some fo a neighbor for his pick-up, then later he put them on his excavator. They kept falling off because of all the oil, so he epoxied them in place. They'll never come off now. lol I discourage magnetics, and encourage them instead for (vinyl) signage on their vehicle, which is removable at a later time ( by me off course). If they need to cover up the signage then Sell them a chunk of plain magnetic, which is easily replaceable if it dissapears. I do this for paid Firefighters who have a sideline business, because their Chief does not want them advertising that fact when they are parked at the firehall. He knows about it, but just does not want to see it.
Roger, do you make a Rapid Magnetic Remover? lol
-------------------- "Are we having fun yet?" Peter Schuttinga DZines Sign Studio 1617 Millstream rd Victoria BC V9B-6G4 Posts: 521 | From: Victoria BC | Registered: Mar 2002
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Although I dont do a great number of them, I keep a roll in the shop for customers that do want them. Just like you all, I give them a care sheet and explain things to them. Just had a guy last week that came by wanting his vehicle lettered that bought magnetics a year ago. Said one of them blew off, and said it was his fault cause he didnt follow the directions. I dont really care for them, but if I dont do them, they'll go to the shop a couple streets over and get them done. Id rather keep them here. Coroplast the same way. If I dont do them , someone else will. Both are good money makers in between them custom jobs.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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Bobbie, I just checked my Glantz catalog (as I am out of mag right now) it is MSI by Magnum Magnetics, not Pro-Mag like I said earlier. We did have a crappy wet summer, and the flood too. No callbacks for me. Glantz DOES deliver up your way, call them at 1-800-642-4240. Love....Jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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