posted
#1 Customer comes in to pick up his sign... its two-sided. He looks at, seems to like it, then leans it over to glance at the other side!!! Doesn't actually look at it long enough to check the spelling or anything, just had to look at that second side.
#2 (I love this one) Call the customer to tell him his sign is ready. He says " Great. How's it look?" DUHHH!!! What's he think I'm going to say... "It looks like crap, but you picked the colors". Or maybe, "I was on a bender, so it didn't come out too good".
Got any favorites of your own?
Dan
-------------------- Dan Marquis Marquis Signs Lewiston, Maine dan@marquissigns.com Posts: 118 | From: Lewiston, Maine, USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
A few years ago when I was making signs for a living, I had an experience with a customer.. We had a laser engraver and did lots of plaques. I had a customer come in and order a plaque for their pastor; she handed me all the text and told me to make it look good. I asked her if she needed to see the layout before I burned it and she said no, she needed it in the next couple of days, so go ahead and do it right away.
Well, I laid it out and burned it, making sure it looked good, because I liked it when customers trusted me.. (so I thought.) Customer comes in.. looks at it and says, I really do not like this script you used, it looks like so and so and kept on and on until being the stellar guy that I am, I finally offered to re-do it... this time, I let her come back to the computer and choose the lettering...
I re-do the plaque, next day she comes in.. I can tell from the start she doesn't like it.. (it did look better the first time) Final straw, I tell her, "Ma'am that is exactly how it looked on the computer when you left, see, heres the printout on paper."
Yessss... but it looks different in black brass because the letters are reversed.... I didn't realize it would look like this... and on and on until I finally am totally fed up.. I've been nicely saying I think it looks very pastorial and that their pastor would love it... I've been being nice up to this point but finally I know she's not going to take it unless I lower the price or something... I suddenly take the plaque and calmly turn around and sling it toward a trash can in the shop about 10 ft. away.. I miss and it bounces nicely across the floor on the black brass.....
YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE LOOK ON HER FACE... WELL WORTH THE PRICE OF THE PLAQUE!
I then turned to her and nicely as could be told her, "Ma'am, it is obvious there is no way I can make you happy, so I'm sorry, but you will have to find another store to make your plaque." She left without another word and I never got to make another plaque for the pastor of their little 12 member church...
Boo-Hoo. (and 50% deposit and sign off on the layout on all pastor plaques after that..)
-------------------- Jon Jantz Snappysign.com jjantz21@gmail.com http://www.allcw.com Posts: 3395 | From: Atmore, AL | Registered: Nov 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Dan Marquis: #1 Customer comes in to pick up his sign... its two-sided. He looks at, seems to like it, then leans it over to glance at the other side!!! Doesn't actually look at it long enough to check the spelling or anything, just had to look at that second side.
I can see myself doing the same thing. Check the first side. Looks good. "Did they do the second side? Yep". What's dumb about that? For a vinyl sign I would expect the spelling to be the same on both sides.
Your second example sounds like someone just trying to make friendly conversation. I've heard that question many times and it didn't bug me. Maybe you're just cranky.
My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
Sometimes when you tell them their sign is ready, they'll ask "what's the damage?" I tell them "oh, there's no damage, the sign is fine. But the total comes to $xx.00"
-------------------- Dan Marquis Marquis Signs Lewiston, Maine dan@marquissigns.com Posts: 118 | From: Lewiston, Maine, USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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quote:Originally posted by Dan Marquis: Sometimes when you tell them their sign is ready, they'll ask "what's the damage?"
"Well let's see. I dropped the board on my foot thus breaking a toenail. I sliced a finger open while using an X-acto knife to trim up some vinyl, and I got a paper cut while pulling your invoice from the printer. The sign is only $200 but I gotta bill ya $900 for medical expenses."
-------------------- "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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posted
I delivered an aframe sign today that was double sided and he looked at it as I was carrying it in like something was wrong... He said "one problem... the arrow is facing the wrong way" I gave him a few moments to figure it out on his own....
[ June 30, 2006, 11:34 PM: Message edited by: captain ken ]
-------------------- Ken McTague, Concept Signs 57 Bridge St. (route 107) Salem MA 01970 1-978-745-5800 conceptsign@yahoo.com http://www.pinheadlounge.com/CaptainKen
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"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?" Posts: 2425 | From: Salem, MA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
Capt. Ken, I'm sure you've heard them say those same things when ordering too...
Customer: "I need a double-sided sign with an arrow.. I need the arrow pointing the same direction... it's opposite on each side but the same.. but when you're coming from the north I need it to point to the LEFT.... and if you're coming from the south, it will point RIGHT.. you got all that??"
Then you say.. "No, these things always confuse me.. just draw out each side of the sign with the arrows pointing the way you want.. I'll try to get it right.."
-------------------- Jon Jantz Snappysign.com jjantz21@gmail.com http://www.allcw.com Posts: 3395 | From: Atmore, AL | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Could have been checking the other side of the sign to make sure it was right side up...
-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I just took full payment for a logo design that the customer wants us to create. She can't tell me what colors she will be using in her office or what colors she would like on her stationary packages that will come next. I always design in black and white first but this customer was a little trying for me. She does say:
"I know what I like when I see it."
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
When asked how it looks, even if their nephew Spanky designed it, I always say "It looks great!"
As much as I love making signs, I really hate dealing with the customers. I really have to watch so my attitude doesn't show through.
The other day when I was out on an install a man I don't care for stopped by wanting to buy plain coro for his corn signs. (His ex-wife used to buy tons of em) Rachael dealt with him, saying I wasn't home, and that I don't sell plain materials. Then he put her through the wringer asking where to buy coro, etc. She told him to come back when I was here. I can't wait till he does. I plan to ask if I can buy a few seeds from him because I want to grow my own corn! Then I'm going to tell him to get the hell out. Really!
This is the same man who interrupted Stevo & I last year when painting a mural, needing corn signs. I told him to come over the next day. By then, he had already painted his own and they looked like litter on a stick.
love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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When simply ordering a sign which will have an arrow on both sides, they often argue with you about the direction of the arrows . . .
I usually draw an arrow on each side of a peice of paper to help them get a grip . . .
Then they stand there, turning 'round and 'round trying to understand how this magic works . . . holding the paper to their chest looking down over it, trying to see both sides at one time . . .
still doubting . . .
I should have an arrowed 'EXIT' sign . . .
because I wanna snatch what should have been a clear and helpful, educational, visual-aide from their hands, point to the exit and scream, "Follow THAT arrow!!"
But no . . . .
I ever-so gently wrench the paper from their hands, before they have a panic/confusion attack, and assure them in soothing tones, if the arrows are wrong, I promise to fix it . . .
free of charge.
This last, added-note of security seems to erase the blank-stare of confusion, as the colour returns to their pale face.
Now the grande finale`:
The happy customer returns to the shop to pick up the completed double-sided arrow sign, (or they come to the job site) and here they pause . . . and grimace, fold their arms . . .then grab their chin with one hand, and stare . . .
This body language is quickly interpreted by the alert signer: The UN-installed sign is sitting there with the arrow facing 'the wrong way' . . .
(Also, the customer states the blaring fact; 'Oh my god . . . the arrow is pointing the wrong way!")
And let me tell you . . .
it is SO VERY HARD to NOT appear condescending as I casually walk over and turn the sign around and say (as humbley as possible) . . .
"Is it right now?"
At which point, the brilliant customer, amazed, yet still stupified, must walk around and look at the other side again . . . and several times . . .
Now here is where we can cull out and discover the dumbest of customers;
If the un-installed, arrowed sign sitting in the shop facing north is turned to face the other direction, the extra-dense customer, who is thinking entirely too hard, will frown even more, concentrate even harder, and finally say,
"No . . . that's still not right . . . it's supposed to face that way . . ." as they point eastward . . .
At which point, I wanna say so badly,
'LOOK . . . why don't we install it on ball-bearings and it can spin and point in EVERY direction . . . make people think you got more locations . . ."
* C'MON!
And how much more entertaining can it be when, after a hot and tiring installation of some arrowed sign, the very careful customer, still needing to be convinced the arrow direction is correct, can be observed standing at the end of the sign, swaying back and forth, in a desperate attempt to view both sides simultaneously . . . only breifly stopping this swaying motion to walk back and forth to each side of the sign with a frown, staring at each arrow for several seconds . . .
never seeming to be fully convinced even as we are driving away . . . .
(rolleyes . . . and slap forhead, grit teeth, and bite tongue)
The only way you could have more fun is to actually help them see the arrow on both sides of the sign at once . . .
hold up a big mirror for them . . .
...that would really scramble their jelly-beans huh!
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Ok, I can't help it . . . here's another one . . . (oh yes. This did actually happen.)
Q: What is dumber than asking if, (or assuming) you can smoke around every manner of solvent and paint??
A: Asking if you can put the smoking butt in a thinner can you assume is empty.
WHAT can you say to such an obvious question.
"Oh yes. By all means. I mean, I know you do that at your house ALL the time . . . but hey . . . do step back kind'a quick . . . I mean, you know how those silly fumes and flammable things are, exploding all the time . . ."
I gotta make some stupid signs.
Like "Heeeeeeere's yer SIGN . . . just a little momento-gift for shopping with us, AND being so very stoopid . . ."
posted
I get that frequently too (of course!); I just tell them "I've done hundreds of these; trust me, one points left and one points right and you just point the arrow in the direction you want to direct people." works for me. The "How much is a sign?" moronic question always comes right to the edge of giving a smart azed "How long is a rope?". I've done it a few times just to be self-indulgent but it's probably not a good PR move because they instantly realize how stupid that question was.
Time would not afford me of all the stupid things customers do and say. I don't sell blank coro to anybody, or blank anything - period. I am not going to waste my time with a cheapo that is probably going to engage me in a 10 minute story about something I could care less about just so he can make a new "friend" that sells him blank coro for his garage sale.
I don't know if it's my age or if it's from reading all those Si Allen posts but I'm really getting a short fuse when it comes to morons. And, my God, the woods are full of them! I occasionally get some idiot that tells me they can get so and so for such and such a price (half my price). But they are usually 500 miles away and they have to order over the internet and they are not sure they will actually get the merchandise, or they are not in business anymore (duuuhhh!!) or they are their "best friend"; yeah right, he's gonna shop his best friend? Then there are the bozo's that call me for a price and think I'm going to take their phone order and make it without a name, phone number or deposit. And what is it with these people that want a price on a sign but are hesitant to give you the copy on the sign, like it's some sort of secret NSA project or something. If they pull this one I know they are probably a competitor shopping me and I give them misinformation.
One of the things I hate most is when someone gives me a printout of a sign they want. the layout sucks and I have to copy it, not even knowing what fonts they used. Also, just this past week, I had a lady email me a graphic she wanted on their church sign; the file was 1kb; I don't have to tell you what that would look like on a 3'x4' sign. I tried to explain that I needed good artwork, not some tiny little crap that is 1kb but she really had a hard time understanding. I usually tell those people "Look, this is not magic. I can't make chicken salad from chicken manure." I wound up snagging a decent image off the net for her.
-------------------- 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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