posted
If I want customers to give me more lead time and order ahead on seasonal stuff can I bribe them with a guarantee of within one day before or after a specific date (to allow for weather)
Is there a common practice on how to do this type of guarantee? I mean I don't want to work for free and I always get a deposit but can I build in a penalty for me for being late. and a 10% or something reward to the customer for ordering early?
-------------------- Dawn Drake Signs That Scream Grand Rapids MI Posts: 44 | From: Kentwood Michigan | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Use the words "anticipated delivery date", and " weather and other factors not under our control may alter the expected delivery date, but we will do our best to fit in with your timetable".
I've never received a reward for being early...!It'd be nice.
A penalty for being late- no thanks! We do our best, but often others don't follow suit- that's when it's a shame.
If you wish to invent your own terms for seasonal stuff, that sounds good- like order before the 1st day of spring for a 15% discount on all Christmas signs...no reason it wouldn't work!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Hiya Dawn, I've learned a long time ago not to guarantee installation dates, even within some "fudge factor". Besides weather issues, there are too many other things that can go wrong. I'll commit to a deadline, conditions permitting on most projects. When it comes to scheduling an installation date for a grand opening, I will plan to install the sign at least a week ahead (or more) before a grand opening. In an effort to motivate buyers, pre-season discounts sometimes work for businesses who plan ahead and have the budget to make their purchases early.
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 know this doesn't exactly answer your question but it brings to my mind penalty clauses for late delivery.
Years ago, I had a salesman who had the perfect answer when someone asked him to write into the contract $100 per day penalty for the sign being late. He said he'd be willing to do it if we got $100 extra for each day early. The customer dropped the request.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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The skies do not always favor the installer.
I have a trailer for a motorcycle shop that I need to get done on site. It will take 2 days to do...all airbrushed. The skies have not been clear for a week and I simply won't risk that much work being ruined by a sudden downpour. Although, the customers would have like to see it done by today, they understand that it is weather sensitive and have to live with what Mother Nature gives us.
I have never believed someone should be penalized for that which they have no control over. Should I feel the need to "bribe", "reward" or otherwise reduce my own income based on the weather or their inability to allow enough reasonable time to do a job, I don't want their business.
Today I had a customer inquire about redesigning the family business. Logo, signage, vehicles, tshirts, newsprint ads...the whole package. He's leaving a deposit for design work this weekend and has stated that he'd like it put together by sometime in OCTOBER.
Them kinds of customers I much prefer. 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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I guarranteed a delivery date for a very large project a number of years ago. The contract had exclusions for the weather but a $1000 fine per day if I was late beyond that. The project went for four months and I used every single day I had available but made it on time. I would never do it again unless I would recieve a similar bonus for every day we were early.... then I would put two or three weeks extra in the schedule to make sure I had wiggle room and a chance to earn the bonus.
That being said I guaranteed delivery of a medium sized project ( a monument sign) three weeks ago. The guaranteed date of installation was two weeks from receipt of the deposit. They were a week late delivering the deposit based on the date of the contract. Even so I had the sign ready for installation on the original date promised... but when I went to install last Thursday they hadn't poured the foundation (owner's responsibility) for the sign... went back today and it still isn't done... a week later.
I'll try again next week, but the sign will probably be two - three weeks late by the time its done although not our fault and I did put the final invoice in on time however.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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I give them an approxiamate. I dont care if they have open house in one week or not. If thats the case they should have lined up sign 2 months ago. This is not a "overhaulin show" we dont do things in 3 days. you place order and you wait.
If however the sign has unexpected problems on my behalf i will adjust price. if its becuase it rained for 5 days straight they can take it up with God and see how thats works out for them.
I refuse to let a customer run my business because of the lack of timeframe they gave me
-------------------- 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
No, don't do it. I had a customer this past winter who insisted on a guaranteed install date on a monument at the entrance of a subdivision. I told him we'd get the job done by his date barring unforseen circumstances beyond my control. Well, to make a long story short, it got finished about 9 days late and the guy refused to pay the balance of about $4000. It took me 2 months and some legal wrangling to get him to pay the balance (along with interest.)
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