posted
Well, first of all, my client pulled a dumb move.
Today, after getting approval for a $100 consultation fee, I went to look at some cut metal letters they said they bought off the internet. I've been doing work for this building for 10 years, so I wasn't too thrilled that they didn't involve me in getting the letters... but apparently they got a pattern with them & suddenly realized they were in over their head & want me to give a price to install them... PLUS, it needs to be done by Dec. 4th for some big walk through with all the head honcho's in this organization as well as the mayor & various other VIP's. They agreed to a $100 fee to drive out & inspect the situation, so I could provide an installation quote.
Well, I found several major problems fairly quick. Whoever ordered the letters probably told them they had an area 30" by 132" & wanted letters large enough for that space.
Whoever their "online source" was bought Gemini cast aluminum letters sized to FILL the area provided by someone at this building.
They decided to have 3 lines... one very short & 2 very long. They decided on an 8" cap height & they decided to provide spacers, studs & threaded sections on each letter... BUT included a pattern with NO STUD LOCATIONS. Anyway, that's ok, because they will NOT be able to use these letters anyway, THEY'RE TOO BIG!!
Oh, & just to give you the whole picture... the first thing I did was open the second box, unload it & the first & count letters. OOPS!! they are already missing a letter I. Probably from all the chiefs running around handling stuff to convince themselves they are chiefs, not indians.
What I am hoping is that 8" Futura caps are an off-the-shelf item that I could work a deal with Gemini to swap for 6" lettering.
Does anyone know if they are ever "off-the-shelf"?
I was disappointed to learn that Gemini's website doesn't have an email under the "Contact Us" link... and Tim's 800 number on our merchant page (same as on website) doesn't accept voice mail. I have to call them when they are open to begin solving this crisis.
I hope maybe they will see this post & contact m,e at signs@islandsign.com regarding a rush order of 6" cast Aluminum letters to get this clients needs met. Of course someone over there screwed up. Not calling me is their choice... but it cost them this time, but now I want to bail them out (and charge a lot )
By the time I get in the office, Gemini's day will be half over. Tomorrow being my great employee's last day, I happen to have a number of other concerns to possibly distract me from making a call to Gemini first thing tomorrow. I hope I will get to that right away...
...but I also hope Tim will see this & forward my complaint that NOT being able to email or leave voice mail during the night is like some podunk backyard operation out of the dark ages. Geeez guys, get with the program & serve your nation-wide (& international) client base a little more like a modern company.
posted
Doug, When I've dealt with Gemini I was always told that there was nothing available "off the shelf", but, I haven't dealt with them for five years directly. If I can help from CST, I'd be more than happy to place the call. In the meantime, I'll try to call you now.
-------------------- 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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posted
Doug, Try this one: I got it off their website: Please call me at the phone number I typed in the private message to you. I'm here 24/7 up working all night so call me as soon as you get this if you think of something I can do for you; make the call, shake them awake, etc. You know I live in CST of course, so I may have better luck. btw, this number is different than the one listed in our letterville merchants listing.
Gemini 1-800-270-3343 Toll Free
508-485-3343 Phone 508-485-9972 Fax Deb
[ November 22, 2006, 05:13 AM: Message edited by: Deb Fowler ]
-------------------- 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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posted
Hiya Doug, If Deb's numbers don't work out or you don't hear from anyone soon, you can try my sales rep. His name is adick Develin and his cell number is 610-662-5698
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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posted
Not only did your client screw up by ordering wrong, they probably overpaid for the product as well. Gemini does not deal direct with the end user. I have seen websites of resellers and there are no bargains to be found there.
I have little compassion for people that try to "save a few bucks" by bypassing the professional who deals with these issues on a day in / day out frequency.
Now it looks as though they have saved absolutely nothing and havea set of letters they don't need and really can't use. Bummer. All of Gemini's letters are made for each job and are not "off the shelf". Especially the metal ones. That was one expensive goof! Doh!
Reminds me of my buddy who ordered his own kitchen cabinets and messed up. No one to blame but themselves... Double Doh for double dough!
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
Sorry to hear about this problem but to answer your question, the only off the shelf product that Gemini sells is the Pronto Letters. Other products are made to order as they come in.
I just saw this message so my reply is really not quick enough to do you much good. You will be able to contact our sales office probably by the time you get this.
I recommend calling them as that will be your quickest route.
Don
-------------------- Don Nelson Gemini dnelson@axcesswave.com Posts: 43 | From: Oberlin, OH | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
I hate to be the ass here but it sounds like the customer went above and beyond. I would not make this my problem and be eager to fix in a hurry, your creating problems for yourself.
THEY screwed up and I would not be in a tizzy to fix just my opinion
-------------------- You ever notice how easily accessible people are when they are requiring your services but once they get invoice you can't reach them anymore
posted
I would be in a tizzy to fix it for the right bribe,, errr, price. That is if I could do it without causing a flip out.
-------------------- 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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posted
I agree with Curtis. You must also tack on the charge of those sleepless nights, and figure out how much all of those chiefs and Indians were getting paid while running around scratching their heads.
-------------------- 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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posted
I'm smack in the middle of bruce and Curtis.
Like Curtis, I'd give it a shot to get it done for them but like bruce, my attitude about it would be "not really my problem." While I would do what I can to get it done properly for them, I would also tell the customer "I can try, but no promises and no quarantees. These are custom made to order and they have a lead time."
Not the words they wanna hear, and not the words you want to tell them, but it's the reality of the situation. I'd rather give them the skinny up front than agree to do it with a guarantee it will be done, try to rush everyone else around to suit my project, and still look like the idiot when it's not completed in time.
-------------------- "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'd sell them a whole new job, with a clean slate for that spot, and figure out where they could use the 8" letters elsewhere, such as on an interior wall by a reception area or something. I had a local church recently tell me they could get the same Gemini letters I was wanting to sell them a lot cheaper on the internet. I finally convinced them to tell me where, because I didn't think anyone could do that. They were looking at www.signsbyweb.com and yes the letters were cheaper, until I showed them that it was a different font, and that my prices were to the penny the same as theirs. I then convinced them they didn't want to try to install 24, 24" letters on a 30' high brick wall by themselves. I got the job, and the letter sale.
-------------------- Dave Utter D-utterguy on chat Sign Designs Beardstown, Il. signdesigns@casscomm.com Posts: 777 | From: beardstown, illinois, usa | Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
Last and only time we had to return Gemini Letters there was a 50% restocking fee. But since these people bought them from a online source they may have to return them through them. Good Luck with the project. Good to see you taking care of the client. Even though they pulled a Boner.
posted
Not to get too side tracked, but does anyone else here see the funny?
With all the "high performance computing" available right at their fingertips, they still flubbed the measurements and will have to do some extra math...mostly adding the cost of correction.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread. Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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yep... glad to have a place to reach Don, & glad to have a company that participates & has guys like Don being reachable.
I took Don's advice & just called their number this morning. (thanks to making a big deal of it here... I burned the existance of this clients problem into my memory so it was more accessible in whats left of my short-term memory banks)
As was indicated in at least one reply above... the letters previously bought (& the new letters now needed) are NOT "off-the-shelf" letters.
To make cast aluminum letters, I would not get them in time, so I learned that 6" formed plastic letters are on the shelf if I switch to Helvetica Bold, & these are a sharp edge formed letter, not the rounded edge letters, so the look is fairly similar to the untrained eye of the client. Gemini can paint them with silver metallic paint & have them shipped out within a day or two of placing the order.
My client has approved the alternate layout shown above, & since I have the sample pak that Gemini provides, I already have a sample of the sharp-edged molded plastic product as well as a sample of the metallic paint. My client has approved this solution as well & will most likely approve cast Aluminum letters to be ordered for replacing the painted plastic letters in the future.
I have not worked up a price yet, but it will factor in stress! (& punative damages for being idiots )
posted
Sounds like a wall full of holes to me... make sure your Minnesota Letters (That's what you ordered, the square edge ones) are the same exact size font as the cast ones they intend to replace later.
If not the wall will have to be re-covered or sheet-rocked.
I'm assuming your using hidden stud mount with silicone as the "glue". It too will tear the sheet-rock when removing, so the same size letters could have a problem too.
Be very careful in what you promise for the future stuff... put it in writing that there could be problems.
Good luck Doug.
-------------------- Michael R. Bendel Bendel Sign Co,. Inc. Sauk Rapids, MN Posts: 913 | From: Sauk Rapids, MN | Registered: Jul 2005
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