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I had a lady that called me last week after she had seen a banner I had done for the local high school. She liked it and said they were having a "thing" at the local center in about three weeks and needed a banner or two. Said she would have the guy in charge call me. Fast forward to today. Guy calls, really nice fella. Says they are having a highly visible cancer rally and was wondering if I would donate a couple banners for it. Dont know why I didnt see this one coming. After I explained that I already did my donation thing for cancer this year, which I did, he asked me to quote a price on the banners, which I did. Said he would get back with me. Yep.... Nuther guy calls and leaves a message that they are doing a project for another high school and one of the coaches, and wanted me to contact them about working with them on it. I called him back, and he proceeded to try and sell me an ad on some towels they were doing for the football team. Dont know if I shoulda seen that one coming or not. Anyway, he ****ed me off, and I just hung up on him. Gonna get me an air horn.
-------------------- 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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Yeah, I had some broad from the PTO call me a few weeks back. She told me what a good artist I am & etc. etc. Then she proceeds to tell me what a great tax write off I'll get by donating signs to the Family Fun Festival. I told her I don't do free signs. (this is the same organization that I called two years back after seeing putrid-looking soccer stickers on mini vans....they told me they don't like to deal with local businesses after I offered them a good deal on good looking stickers) **** on em! Love.....Sweet Little Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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We donate things for causes now and then, especially for cause we feel close to. A few weeks ago I had a PE jock from the H.S. come by and ask very nicely if I would donate a banner for their "Hoops for the Heart" where they raise $ for the heart association. Sounded like a good idea and cause. Since saying yes, she has called 3 times to "check" on this banner. I assured her when she ordered it that it would be ready for the event (next week) but I guess she is worried. The last time she called, she wanted to know size and colors and details. I told her and she says, "Can't it be bigger?" Oh, you're using THOSE colors. I would prefer...." At which point I said, "Well, this is what I have on hand to donate. If you would like something specific that I have to special order materials for, we can charge you for that." And she says, "Well, I guess beggers can't be choosers." I wanted to scream...."DUH!!" Why do people feel that have to take advantage of you when you are trying to be a good guy!!?? If she calls again, I think I might become "too busy" but I really do want to donate for this event. She just has made me mad being so greedy!
-------------------- 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'm donating a sign for a house that is being built where all of the sale proceeds will go to benefit our county zoo. A lot of contractors are donating or discounting their work and materials and they will be listed on the sign.
The builder is a VERY good client of mine and I do a lot of work for him. Anyway, he said that I could go ahead and put my name on the sign as a contributor.
I politely declined and he couldn't understand my decision. What he doesn't know, which I do, is that if I put my name on the sign, every Tom, Dick and Dick will be calling me for other donations.
I learned that lesson the hard way.
-------------------- Pat Neve, Jr. 321-537-8675 Capt. Sign
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I think there is a sucker list circulating. I must be near the top cause I get hit almost every week. I just tell them I'll help you move furniture or cut your grass but making signs is how I make my living.
-------------------- 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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anytime i do something for a cause they don't know until they ask for the bill...then i say.."if you tell anyone i gave this to you, i will double charge you...cause i don't want anyone to think i'm nice deep down inside."
-------------------- 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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On the rare occasions when I donate sign work I request some things right up front.
First, I insist the customer not 'spread the word' that I donated the thing. This conversation always opens when they say something like; "OH! And you can advertise on it too!!!"
'No m'am. I don't advertise donations . . .'
HELLO!
Also, if you promote one cause, why not another? If I do, someone's going to cop-an-attitude about it, or try to put me on a guilt trip, unless I get well paid.... I never want anyone to know what I've donated to, or supported.
I tell them how much the work would normally cost, and ask them to reply to inquiries about who did the work & how much it costs by telling that price, and keep the donation price to themselves, THEN they can tell who did it.
They must honor the request, because I have gotten paying jobs behind such work.
If for some reason I do accept such a 'donation' job, I always offer to donate labour only, and they have to pay for materials, which I mark-up as usual, so I at least make that profit.
Also, being a single-working mother has it's advantages. People immediately understand you can't give work away and don't pressure you . . . .
Customer: "I was wondering of you could make a donation to us . . ."
Me: "Really...? Wow, I was gonna ask you the SAME thing!!"
-------------------- 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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quote:Originally posted by Jane Diaz: I wanted to scream...."DUH!!" Why do people feel that have to take advantage of you when you are trying to be a good guy!!??
Why not? It's not costing *them* anything. They assign no value because there's no financial impact to them, therefore they believe there's no financial impact to you and believe the sky's the limit.
Notice how her tune changed when you brought up money?
Notice how some "customers" will get a price quote, then they start wanting all kinds of special treatments and effects plus the kitchen sink but when you tell them that all costs more, suddenly they're happy with the original.
-------------------- "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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I learned a long, long time ago, when they come hunting donations, I write em a check for ten or twenty bucks ( like any other business would do ) and charge em regular price for the banner. Start giving away banners and the word gets out and you'll get hit up by everybody with a cause.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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Yeah, I know you are all right...I don't donate work a lot and I guess she just caught me on a day when I was feeling thankful what I had in my life and wanted to pass it on. I usually do like you said George, and just write them a check or if I DO donate something, I send them a bill marked "donation" so they know the value of what I have given them. USUALLY people appreciate what we are doing for them. Just had to vent on this particular lady. The one that is the easiest to turn down is the racers looking for donations or asomething for the benefit they are hosting! I want to say, "And MY hobby is quilting. Would you like to donate to my benefit I'm having so I can go and buy some material and make a quilt!"
-------------------- 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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This summer I discounted work to support community activities. Had I given twenty bucks, I would have made the "Donors" list, the several hundred dollars of discount they got alltogether went largely unnoticed.
I can live without the "Thank Yous", but business wise it would have been wiser to charge them full price and give a generous monetary donation.
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I once donated a banner for a charity event. Would have been $150. The following year they called and needed another one because they lost the other one. I asked them how much they thought it was worth. They said about $35. I told them I would rather donate $35 than make another banner. They went somewhere else.
-------------------- Chuck Peterson Designs San Diego, CA Posts: 1052 | From: San Diego, CA USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I don't have a problem up here in the north woods. Pepsi and coca-cola make banners for free if the person buys their product. Have been meaning to call these companies and ask when they got into the sign business.
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Budweiser, Miller, Pepsi and Coke do a large number of the banners around here as well.
I just sold a banner for $350 for a company Christmas party. Some people just have more brains than others. I starting to become a bigger brain person myself!!
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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I usually ask them to have one of their Donors specify money for the signs. They have purchased one of the most visible items of whatever "event" and they can put their name on it too! It gets them thinking a bit and sometimes it works.
This winter, I will be working on signs for a local "park" that will be receiving a donation of $2,000 - because I mentioned that idea to them. That's WAY more than I would have donated in services!
-------------------- Gene Golden Gettysburg Signs Gettysburg PA 17325 717-334-0200 genegolden@gettysburgsigns.com
"Art is knowing when to stop." Posts: 1578 | From: Gettysburg, PA | Registered: Jun 2003
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