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I don't mean to sound like a constant complainer but this guy is really getting to me. A couple weeks ago I told you of a guy that works in a government sign shop and now runs his own on the side, well now I have word that he is going to my commercial customers looking for work. This is the guy that wanted to keep a good working relationship with me. JAKE
-------------------- Jake Lyman Lyman Signs 45 State Road Phillipston, MA 01331 Posts: 635 | From: Phillipston, MA | Registered: Sep 2002
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I'd tattle on his sorry ass. A well-placed anonymous "whistle-blower" type phone call is in order, if indeed he is using government equipment to produce non-government signs. Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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But say it like Lat used to do when he caught me doing something. "Oooooo........ I'm gunna tell!!" Please DO report him. Nobody in our family likes Feds at all. If I had something on every one of them, I'd tell! And if you don't want to tell, email me. I'LL tell!
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Going for it, is he? Will he be filing quarterly with Internal Revenue Service and the state tax collector? Got all his business licenses, permits and what-all that YOU have to put up with? I really loathe the idea of bringing in those dogs, but that's what they're for.
-------------------- Bruce Williams Lexington KY Posts: 945 | From: Lexington, KY, USA | Registered: Mar 1999
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jake, I on the other hand recommend you focus your energy on your own skills and your own business. If it's not this guy it will be another. You need to find what you have that he does not to offer other than price and sell that. This will also show you who is your loyal customers and who is not. You cannot change this guy, but you have the power to change yourself.
Keep the faith dude! Been there done that, still have the morons around too.
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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I know Bob your right and thats what I will do. I don't think that he is using government stuff to do his work, it just bugs me the whole keep a good reationship thing he was preaching. He asked me before if I would cave signs for him and I said that I would, this is when I thought he was going to just dub around at it and not go after my customers, I am rethinking that now, why do work for him that I could have had anyway. I can't see any sense making it easier for him to do those kind of jobs that I could have anyway.
-------------------- Jake Lyman Lyman Signs 45 State Road Phillipston, MA 01331 Posts: 635 | From: Phillipston, MA | Registered: Sep 2002
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I'd call him out on it, preferably in person so you can watch him slither when confronted with "exactly how do you figure your going after my customers and offering to do jobs for $25 less than I quote them keeping a good relationship with me?"
He's a serious contender for "Athol of the year award"
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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I'm sure most of my customers have been approached by other sign companies as well. Most established businesses are looking for good value, quality and service, most seem to remain pretty loyal and don't see a small price difference as a motivator to change. I wouldn't associate with a guy like that though, I don't know why you need to rethink it.
-------------------- Jim Upchurch Artworks Olympia WA Posts: 797 | From: Olympia, WA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Yes, I goto every one in town. And, I know the local franchise hates it when I get work he used to do. But, Its all part of the game.
However, This guy is in a different arena. He is STEALING from you and me and every one else if he is in fact using the governments equipment, supplies and time. I resent that with a passion. Plus, he has an unfair advantage and making money at our expense. It would be no less than an employee stealing a roll of vinyl and cutting jobs for side work.
-------------------- 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 work a goverment shop, and if he is using the goverment stuff you should report him. On the other hand, if he has set up his shop independant of his other work. Then there would be nothing to do but treat him as another signshop. Your quality in work will always shine through.
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Hang on here, before you jump the gun let's take a breather and calm down.
Is he specifically targeting "your" customers with the sole intention of stealing or luring them away from you? Or is it possible he's simply going after potential clients that just happen to be "your" customers?
When I need work I'll go out and look for it, and when I'm on the hunt the absolute last thing on my mind is who might be doing their work.
Let's be real here. Any time a client makes a switch it's because somewhere along the line someone wasn't gettin' it done for them. It might be product quality, it might be service, it might be personality traits (or a lack of a personality). It could be pricing.
Would you be happier if a client told you "Man, I like your work, I like your pricing and service, but your personality is so annoying I can't stand it and that's why I'm going with someone else from now on."?
A couple things are for sure though:
1. I don't get every client I approach because they might be happy with who they're using, and that's cool. I'm not gonna jump through hoops trying to win them over because...
2.) there are plenty other clients NOT happy with the people doing their work because there are a lot of half-wits out there in our line of work.
Reasonable clients can weed through the BS. Anyone that's been in business long enough knows what it takes to stay in business, and these people can recognize a flake trying to win/steal work when they see it.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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...and I don't mean to sound like I'm repeatin' what I told'ja on the other post . . .but anyone that will lie to your face & stab you in the back once will do it over and over 'til your dead . . .
Move entirely away from (any) realtionship where your allowing yourself to be victimized by this guy dude . . . Totally end doing ANY business with him. He is not a freind. Freinds don't lie. If you fell personally rejected by this, get over it.
True freinds watch your back. He failed the test of true freindship. Move on.
Cut your losses now.
If you continue to deal with him...your problems with him cease becoming his fault and the responsibility is really all yours....
B responsible for how you are treated . . . .
...Lessee....are there any MORE ways I can say it?? . . .ok.
. . .lol . . .sorry I get so preachy . . .
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
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"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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...That's probably a tad more time than I would spend with him. . .but your definitely on the right track . . .
BTW . . .What Ro' said.
And just one more tiny peice of advice . . .before you'd go tattlin' to the IRS (or anyone) about another person...are you 100% sure you're are spotless . . . 'Getting revenge' is not within the definition of ENDING a relationship, it's just another way of continuing it.
Good luck Jake!
-------------------- 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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always in my mind: "if a customer aggravates you once, it's most likely that they will do it again, (and again, and again).... steer clear of them as there are many more customers in the sea! It's absurd how society is teaching "friendship" values as such a wide gammut of prospects. My dad always said that if you can count the number of friends you have on one hand you are very, very fortunate.
I agree. It comes to a point that if it all adds up to something you don't believe in and there are enough factors to tick you off, then go ahead and take action. (I usually pray about these things as time seems to work them out.) Some people though are ignorant and maybe a personal word or private confrontation is what's needed, even if he was going about this publicly. Privacy in some matters is more effective and keeps things at bay later. I have won many battles privately.
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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Id do just that Jake. Although the others are right, you're gonna have them from time to time and they aren't worth the bother, he did tell you that he wasnt going to infringe on your customers. He needs to be brought to task for that. Im one of those types if I know for sure so and so gets a signshop to do their work, I wont go after them at all. If they call me, thats another thing. It keeps good relationships that way. Tell him what you think of him Jake.
-------------------- 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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Jake, I love stirring up a lil doo doo.. just send me the right numbers and I'll do the deed! "Dirty deeds done dirt cheap" Hey wait a minute! Some one stole my tag line and made a song out of it! Really, I say we all jump him!
-------------------- Gonzalo Curiel Peewee Signs & designs Oroville Ca 95965
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Some people will always want their work done cheaper and thats just the way it is, but thats only some people. There are those who'll always want quality and perfection and if you do this kind of work, you'll always have business no matter what you charge. Not being in the vinyl business myself, I can't offer much of any other assistance.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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I am not going to call the IRS or anything crazy like that, Thats bad news, I dont want those kind of people around no matter what, as far as I know I am 100% clean but the probably could find something on everyone here.
-------------------- Jake Lyman Lyman Signs 45 State Road Phillipston, MA 01331 Posts: 635 | From: Phillipston, MA | Registered: Sep 2002
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Really, I say we all jump him! 
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