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I've had to do it many a time in the last 13 years. I'm considering doing it again with my main supplier of vinyl, paint and misc. tools. Too many "mistakes": Intermediate vinyl sent instead of HP, diffrent vinyl manufacturers substituted for what I ordered (unauthorized by me). Lately, the vinyl I've received (10 yd rolls) looks like it was measured out on the warehouse floor, covered with all kinds of debris. I have had to unroll it and wipe it down before I can use it! 15 minutes of wasted time. I'm tired of complaining to them, with no improvement. Used them for around 10 years, but I guess it's time to look for a replacement. I know how you feel.
-------------------- Tim Whitcher Adrian, MI Posts: 1546 | From: Adrian, MI | Registered: Mar 1999
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I did it after they reneged last-minute on a promised $500 meet sponsorship that left me high and dry. They still had the nerve to call me weekly and ask if I needed anything. It's a shame, cuz I liked them, but a promise is a promise. Bad suppliers cost us all money in the long run. Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I am sorta/kinda satisfied with my local supplier but not with their overall company.
I have some ideas that you might want to hear Mike...
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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I have a variation on that theme. Without naming names my favorite supplier has discontinued the two most important product lines to me that they carry. Now to get what I wish to continue carrying, I must go elsewhere.
It's a shame because they had that rare combination of good products, great service and good prices.
-------------------- Fred Weiss Allied Computer Graphics, Inc. 4620 Lake Worth Road Lake Worth, FL 33463 561 649-6300 allcompu@allcompu.com Posts: 427 | From: Lake Worth, Florida | Registered: Feb 2003
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The big supplier here sucks. I just ordered 10y of HP vinyl & they sent me 4 pieces some 2y, some 3y. I've ordered 2' sections of aluminum that are "un-square" by more than an inch. Could you belive it? I'm not gonna get into more because it'll ruin my day. It would be awesome if they had some serious competition.
-------------------- Felix Marcano PuertoRicoSigns.Com Luquillo, PR
Work hard, party like a tourist! Posts: 2275 | From: Luquillo, Puerto Rico, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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Last Friday I received some 3/4 inch gold snap trim kinked up in a two foot by two foot box. Think I'll look for an alternate supplier. Is there a company near me with order pickers who give a sh*t? This was the same company who packed quarts of One Shot in separate packages, each incurring an $8. UPS surcharge.
-------------------- Ron Costa Sign and Design 28 Ingerson Road Jefferson, NH 0358 Posts: 620 | From: New Hampshire | Registered: Oct 2002
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Had a few emails from heads and I just want to clear up that the supplier is not EM plastics, or ND graphics, both of whom I have a great deal of respect for, it is one of the Roland dealers.
-------------------- Mike O'Neill
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value. - Arthur C. Clarke
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Lately we've had a rash of suppliers quoting us good prices but charging us retail when they bill us. We've gone to a P.O. system to stop that. Brenda spends at least two days a month checking the prices and making sure they haven't double billed us for what we've already paid for (that happens a lot). Seems like she spends 80% of the rest of her time collecting on jobs. Sometimes I wonder if it's really worth all this crap.
I will definately have to give an attaboy to Ameriban; they are, by far, my favorite supplier.
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Ditto what Gene said about Harbor Sales...Held my hand when first dealing with them for a sign company...Treated me like a first cousin...instead of the Black Sheep that I really am...
-------------------- William "Irish" Holohan Resting...Read "Between Jobs." Marlboro, MA 01752 email: firemap1@aol.com Posts: 1110 | From: Marlboro, MA | Registered: Dec 2001
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quote:Bottom line is I can't work with suppliers I can't depend on.
I hear ya!
Had a supplier that I loved. You'd call & talk to the nice, knowledgable guys in the warehouse when you ordered, not some idiot who last week was doing filing and wouldn't know the difference between a plotter blade & an exacto blade. Everything went out when they said it would. If they questioned if they had something in stock, they'd put you on hold for a minute while they checked.
Then the other brother bought the place. Orders are wrong, don't go out when they say they will, stuff is put on backorder without you being told, don't even think about talking to them about something other than item numbers (you'd might as well talk to your monitor, it knows more than the order takers).
They were my main supplier for everything but substrates and wierd stuff. Now they're not even on my phone list.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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OK Gene and William, now that you let the cat out of the bag about Harbor, I'll be complaining to you when my orders get screwed up because they're too busy. I've been dealing with Harbor Sales, Ameriban and Grimco for about 13 years now and they are all very good suppliers. They care about you and would go through extraordinary lengths to make sure you're satisfied with their product. I can tell you a story about how I called Ameriban, after 5:00 on a Friday, to place a rush order. They came through for me because I needed inks delivered the following Monday morning. The inks were here at 9:00am on Monday. Harbor Sales came through for me on another rush job. When some panels were accidentally damaged in shipment, but the salesperson had new substrate cut immediately and he hand delivered it the same day, using his own vehicle. Fortunately, I never had any real issues with Grimco. Whenever UPS or FedEx damaged a shipment, I would call Grimco and they would make sure the replacement materials arrived the next day. They took care of the BS with the shipper for me. I've also found that you can have good and bad customer service reps with the suppliers too. In the past, I had dealings with a sign supplier that would occasionally screw up orders. It was because a certain cutsomer service rep screwed up the order when he entered the information into the computer.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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I'm about to fire mine as well, as soon as I find a replacement. Really nice folks, but when I call them for basic sign stuff, they have to look it up to find out what I am talking about!
And now they quit supplying 3/8 duraply!
When I ask for a fast dry background white, don't send regular bulletin white! And they don't carry lettering tape anymore, once they finally figured out what lettering tape was so they can say they don't carry it anymore!!!
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There's no advertising better than word of mouth. As a result of your recomendations, 12,000 sign makers are now aware of Suppliers their peers have given the thumbs up. That's not a bad deal.
Letterville relies on word of mouth too. If you would like to see your favorite Supplier here as a Merchant, tell the person who makes the decisions about this post. All you need to do is scroll to the top of the page, and look for the UBB Friend link. It's located right above Mike's smiling face.
Click on the link, put in your own personal text, and send it off to to the owner or marketing person. Letterville is the most effective way to reach so many for so little.
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
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Harbor is the best! I've come to realize to add a day to what they say when my stuff will be here but that's ok, I know! My salesman comes by every so often. I've had a few mess ups on their part but they have always made them right. I've also got many a sample from them, display setups and display boards! Grimco is great for odds and ends, also Trim USA out of NC. for tape and vinyl. The Trim USA salesman always comes by and gives great advice, a wonderful wealth of knowledge. I also have a great N. Glantz location in Cheasapeake, a few hours away from me. They had a open house a few months ago and is a great location and supplies. I guess I'm lucky to have the choice of so many good suppliers near me.
-------------------- 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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Harbor has been a good supplier. A goof-up here & there but they took care of it with as little red tape as possible.
I talked to my Glantz salesman about being a merchant here, he was suppost to talk to the powers that be but I guess that stalled.
Hyatts and specifically Mark Pfeil has been awesome to me. Pulled my butt outta the fire more than once. They're a merchant here & I keep telling Mark he needs to start posting.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Rayco IS a supplier here and they have always been, quick, friendly and efficient suppliers for us. We use Ameriban and Advantage for some things we can't get from Rayco, but Rayco have been with us from the first day we started up 26+ years ago. They really go the extra mile as a rule and get things out to us really quickly.
-------------------- 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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Living in the Los Angeles area does have an advantage! With a half dozen suppliers nearby, they can't afford the stupid stunts that the people are complaining about!
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
si.allen on Skype
siallen@dslextreme.com
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
Never mess with your profile while in a drunken stupor!!!
Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Orders are wrong, don't go out when they say they will, stuff is put on backorder without you being told, don't even think about talking to them about something other than item numbers (you'd might as well talk to your monitor, it knows more than the order takers).
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what lettering tape was so they can say they don't carry it anymore!!!
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