posted
I drove through our small town last night and counted 33 signs with bad bulbs, ballasts, or transformers. There isn't a local shop that advertises for service work, so since we have a bucket truck I'm ready to fill the need.
I have no clue what a reasonable charge would be for a service call with a truck would be to change out these pieces.
$50 plus bulbs/transformers?
any ideas?
thanks
-------------------- Jerry VanHorn, Pres. Pure Sports Designs, LLC Pro Sign Design / United Wholesale Signs www.prosigndesign.comwww.unitedwholesalesigns.com West Liberty, OH 937-465-0595 866-942-3990 Since 1990 Posts: 925 | From: West :Liberty, OH | Registered: May 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
My subcontractors charges me $35-$60 service call...depending on how far away. He then charges labor by the hour and materials by the piece.
Jerry, do you know if you have to be a Lic. Sign Installer to change ballasts or transformers? My guy is. Then think about the extra liability insurance that you will need to carry. Don't think that you will need extra coverage...what if you drop a screwdriver, sign, etc on the car that happens to be right underneath the sign that day.
Just something to think about. There can be a lot on money to make doing this service...just make sure that you have your butt covered.
It just amazes be all the lights out in signs for weeks, even months, and business owners don't do anything about it.
[ February 17, 2006, 10:30 AM: Message edited by: Laura Butler ]
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
| IP: Logged |
I respectfully disagree with Laura. If you worry about "what if's" you'll go nuts! Go for it! You can start out by hiring a licensed electrician as a moonlighter. Getting your own license will require classes, OJT, or both. But, I imagine it would well be worth it.
Edited to add that in Laura's defense, obviously, reasonable precautions should be taken.
[ February 17, 2006, 10:33 AM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3485 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
It would be even better if you crammed all the service calls onto the same day, then you leave the shop once, knock a good portion of 'em out and save the time of having to run out to do each one individually.
-------------------- "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
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm pretty good at taking risks. I roadrace motorcycles!
Bruce gave me a call and we discussed a lot of the things that go along with this type of work. I think I will check into what, if any, licenses I would need to do this kind of work locally.
We discussed some prices of $75 per call. If I stop in and make a cold call to tell them they have issues with a sign and fix it on the spot, I will do it for $50 plus materials. I think most people don't realize they have a problem.
any more ideas or comments? I appreciate them all.
-------------------- Jerry VanHorn, Pres. Pure Sports Designs, LLC Pro Sign Design / United Wholesale Signs www.prosigndesign.comwww.unitedwholesalesigns.com West Liberty, OH 937-465-0595 866-942-3990 Since 1990 Posts: 925 | From: West :Liberty, OH | Registered: May 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I agree Mike. I am looking to take a day next week to do it. (as long as it is greater than 50 degrees and sunny!)
-------------------- Jerry VanHorn, Pres. Pure Sports Designs, LLC Pro Sign Design / United Wholesale Signs www.prosigndesign.comwww.unitedwholesalesigns.com West Liberty, OH 937-465-0595 866-942-3990 Since 1990 Posts: 925 | From: West :Liberty, OH | Registered: May 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
We used to do it. The licensing/liablity issue is a consideration. The last person to touch a sign is the one they sue. The biggest issue I had was that working on some of these boxes was a nightmare. A ten year old box that was poorly contructed and maintained can almost cost more to get running than it's worth. Yes, most times it's a relamp/ballast call, but not always. We've had jobs that had dead shorts, burned wiring, incorrect power feeds, bad timers/light sensors etc. Plus around here a day spent up on a sign in mid january or mid august is not fun. Then there's the payment issue, I've had many people get really ticked when what should have been a simple relamp turns into an all day troubleshoot/repair, with the accompanying change in cost. I agree though that there is a definate need for this type of service, and given the proper knowledge, equipment and business savvy it could be a good market. And here I am talking about servicing independent business, frachises/national companies usually have a system in place with preferred vendors handling their work.
Tubes and starters have a limited life-span. Suggest to your customers that you replace ALL of them while you are in there. The few bucks it costs saves another service call later.
Also put them on a regular 12 or 24 month service and clean route.
Last week we did this for the local Honda Dealership. 100+ foot moulded pan faced illuminated facia. Hadn't been serviced in two years. Filthy with road grime. Replaced all 34 tubes of various sizes. Took us 20 hours total and with the parts and lift hire came to nearly two grand!
Results were magic at night and customer was very happy. Wants it done on a regular 12 month basis before it deteriorates that badly and costs so much.
posted
Jon has the right idea. That's called residual income Jerry, How much would it cost to drive to the client's location and look at the sign and drive back to the shop? I.M.H.O. that's how much the service call should be. If the client approves the work, you can waive the service call fee or apply it towards the invoice of the repair.
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
| IP: Logged |
posted
We charge 85/hr with a one hour minimum. Also- we take along a work order that has a place for materials and pricing so we can give them a bill on the spot, especially new customers. A few long time customers just sign off on the order, after having seen the used parts, and knowing what time we checked in. A copy of this is sent with the billing. The workers comp rate is fairly high on this type of work, though. Not a problem if self employed.
We have hired out service work, and its $75 just to come and looky see. If they don't have to come back and can fix it on the spot and it doesn't take over a half hour (allowing travel to and from the job for 1 full hour) then its still the $75.00.
posted
Jerry, We used to do service calls. Now we've changed to mostly non-electric work so we only do it for good customers.
One thing we used to do to drum up some work was to drive around at night and look at signs that were out. We would leave one of those hanging cards on the door that said: "We drove by your business tonight and we noticed your best salesman was sleeping" then it listed our name and number. We generated a lot of work with those. Good luck.
-------------------- Lou Pascuzzi www.economysigns.com Fine Hand Lettering since 1973 Danbury, Ct 203-748-4580 "IOAFS" Posts: 341 | From: Danbury, Ct | Registered: Feb 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
We charge $79.00 hour, & mark up all materials a min of 40%.
In order to minimize "come backs", we stock 2 cases of every bulb (mainly cool white), two 4-5-6 ballasts & 2 of each transformers (9000, 12000, 15000 30ma, we order 60 ma on demand).
If a bid is required... I tell them time & material & give an APPROXIMATE price with the limited info usually avail.
If they want an exact bid on a sign that may need more than bulbs, I charge $79.00/hr to open the face & investigate.
As you stated... there is NOT a lot of people who can work at 20'-40' & have the knowledge we inherently have.
It's an easy sell!
Go get 'em!
-------------------- Michael R. Bendel Bendel Sign Co,. Inc. Sauk Rapids, MN Posts: 913 | From: Sauk Rapids, MN | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic