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A guy called today for a price on a sandblasted sign. After I gave him the price he asked, "Why so much? Its just a piece of wood."
Ok. I'm tired. I'm grumpy. He just called me at the wrong time and insulted me.
"Sir, there are a lot of costs that go into a sandblasted sign.....
For one, I have a sandblaster. You don't.
Two, I know how to make a sandblasted sign. You don't.
Three, the law won't allow me to pay my employees in wooden nickels.
Four, my anger management therapist won't let me pay him in wooden nickels either."
He hung up.
I need to write a book or something.
Then there's the guy who's called my shop four times today wanting me to teach him how to letter awnings even though the boss told him each time I wouldn't be available to return calls until next week. It seems he told a customer who's awning I lettered not too long ago that he could letter her two new awnings and save her some money.
posted
Glenn, Glenn....take a deep breath. Everything's going to be fine.
When someone asks me "why so much?",I usually say, "Because I like to eat" or sometimes even "Because I'm worth it!".
No amount of logic is going to change their mind, so don't try. Why does a car cost $35,000 -it's just metal and plastic.
If it's any consolation...we all get the same customers. The good ones make up for the idiots, so just be especially nice to the good ones and ignore the rest.
That's my professional opinion...and I don't take wooden nickels either. Cash will be fine.
Glenn, you're going to have to go up on prices, say NO more, or get some help. You won't last long at the pace you're going.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Glenn, I suggest you schedule in 2 weeks of NO WORK AVAILABLE and take a holiday. By the sounds of it, you need to lose some customers anyway. Lose the needy cheap paying ones and hold onto those that want quality and are willing to wait for it. It's ok. There will be more customers after the 2 weeks.
I can't BELIEVE how long I delay some folks and they just simply patiently wait. No one wants to fire me darn it!
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I'd love to take a vacation. Heaven knows I could use it.
Its a little after 1:30am at the moment and I'm sitting here contemplating shutting down a client's website. His bill is 6 weeks past due this Friday. I've tried calling and visiting but he's never "available." My e-mails are being ignored. He's been very happy with the site. No complaints. When the bill was 30 days past due I went to see him personally. He was all apologetic and promised to have a check sent out before the end of the week. Thank goodness I got a deposit. But I want my other $500 dang it. I earned it.
Well, lets see if I can get some sleep. I've got to head out 7am and letter two cement truck barrels before the sun gets too how. Wheeeeee!
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Shut down the website if your contract clearly states that is the policy for non payment. Anyone else would for non payment.
What can the guy say when you followed the set guidelines of the deal?
As a judge said to me once, "You allowed him to treat you that way" Put limits on what you will tolerate. We all expect payment for services rendered. He knows that.
People treat us the way we allow them to treat us.
Ray is right, raise prices and weed out the bad customers.
-------------------- Pam Eddy Niles, MI ple@qtm.net Posts: 460 | From: Michigan | Registered: Dec 2000
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Shut down his site and see how fast he can produce CASH. I'll bet it's pretty fast. It would feel good too, and he won't delay payment again.
Yesterday I went to bid on a painted splash, a new owner is taking over an existing pizza joint. There were 3 big windows, a transom, 2 small windows, and two doors. It has a fading existing splash.
Before I could even get a price out of my mouth, an employee who is riding out the owner switcharoo pipes up with "The last guy charged $350!" I told them to call the last guy because I couldn't compete with that price.
Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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just rename the existing index.html page (or whatever home page it has) to a name with -2 after it, and put up a new blank temporary home page. It could state something like 'website expired, please contact..... for renewal'
-------------------- "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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Now that's thinking, Ian! And somehow more sinister than simply turning it off. And by the way, I am painting part of a splash today at the pizza joint, guy scraped off the old name on 2 windows. Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Replace his Index with a new index page which says, "Site forced to close for lack of financial resources."
-------------------- Preston McCall 112 Rim Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 text: 5056607370 Posts: 1552 | From: Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: Nov 1998
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I hear the "why so much?" every now and then. It's the cry of the Moron Bird. They're nasty, stupid creatures. I often find them riding ridiculously expensive motorcycles that cost more than a car or driving ridiculously expensive cars that cost as much as a house. The minute I hear that cry, I turn my back and walk away. The Moron Bird is deaf...a least to reason. Waste no time on them. All attempts to eradicate them have so far failed. DO NOT feed them!!!
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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And I got a delicious grilled chicken wrap with feta cheese and marinated artichoke hearts from the pizza man! Totally worth it.
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
I just had about the same thing happen, Glenn. Guy just came in with a piece of magnetic about 2'x3' which had been made into stencil. It had been sprayed so many times it was curled up and falling apart. 30 3" high letters....... I gave nim a price of $102.50 to make a new one. He said that was a steep price and said "that material doesn't cost that much does it?". I said, "well, no....I can sell you a piece of the blank material for 16 bucks and you can cut it out yourself......."
It seems that the raw material; "plywood", T-Shirt, "piece of wood" etc. is the only true tangible worth of anything in some people's minds.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7403 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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Glenn; take the time, if only for one day...OR!!! Keep chasing the ghosts and your heart will explode one day and your body will drop to the ground like a sack of potatoes...your choice. At our advanced ages, that IS our reality!!! Right Raymond? Steve? Too many you know already know the wisdom of these pieces of advice being given you, pay heed or pay the body. Make the right choice, go fishing, watch a sunset, ANYTHING to interrupt the routine, and most of all, whatever it is you chose to do, ENJOY IT!!! lat'r.....
-------------------- Frank Magoo, Magoo's-Las Vegas; fmagoo@netzero.com "the only easy day was yesterday" Posts: 2365 | From: Las Vegas, Nv. | Registered: Jun 2003
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George just to funny, you made my day...Great advice Mr. Magoo, and Ray those analogies do work sometimes...I quoted on doing a donor board and was told why so much we can get it for so much over there...I said it like, a chevy and a cadillac...both have wheels,and a windshield, but one is worth more than the other...So if you want me to build a chevy I'll build you a chevy, but don't ask me to build you a cadillac at a chevy price. I walked out with a 25,000 dollar check...Relax Glenn you just a youngen yet...
-------------------- Pat Welter Masterhand Signs and Designs Unity, Saskatchewan.Canada Posts: 1304 | From: Unity, Saskatchewan.Canada | Registered: May 1999
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The worst part, George, is that they were allowed to live....and they 're multiplying.
Sometimes you have to have an attitude. I had a similar set of questions and remarks made to me last week, over a lighted sign job. I took a good deal of time explaining about the process, the materials, and why they cost a lot. Still not really convinced, he made the mistake of asking me, "Who is your competition in the area?" As if he was going to go shopping. I quickly told him with a big smile on my face, "Sir, I have no competition in the area."
He's an older guy, a custom builder; but I could tell he was a little taken back. After a moment, he said, "Well, I don't either; lets talk."
So sometimes, it does work out.
-------------------- Dale Feicke Grafix 714 East St. Mendenhall, MS 39114
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Posts: 2963 | From: Mendenhall, MS | Registered: Apr 1999
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Sometimes it's just not worth your time to "explain" but if they get me on the right day, I will try to use what THEY do in the explanation. If it's a car dealer, realtor, plumber, etc. it is easy to turn it around and quote THEIR prices back at them. However it probably won't make you a friend or a sale. THEY are important you know and you are "Just a signpainter".
-------------------- 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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"Just a piece of wood" Ya tell him, "Why you're just a piece of chit" Okay, well maybe not that. But being that I'm so nice and gentle, I would explain the process. Telling him what a fine product he would be purchacing. And that his money would not go wasted, but be an investmnet not only to his business, but to the added beautification of the entire city. And then my teeth would sparkle as I smiled.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3812 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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I went through all of my documentation and found his personal cell number.
I called him from the shop phone. No answer, so I waited about a half hour can called again using my cellphone.
He sounded a bit surprised when he realized it was me.
Anyhow, he was all apologetic and blamed himself for not telling his bookkeeper it was ok to send us a check. He offered to have it ready if we wanted someone to pick it up.
Anyhow, it does make me more aware of what can happen and the need to have a plan ready should a client try to beat me out of my money.
posted
Tell him you want it delivered into your hot little hand within the amount of time it takes to get there. (just to be fair) Cause your finger is on the delete button and you have an itch.
-------------------- Deri Russell Wildwood Signs Hanover, Ontario
You're just jealous 'cause the little voices only talk to me. Posts: 1904 | From: Hanover, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Dec 1998
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"Some are born to move the world, to live their fantasies. But most of us just dream about the things we'd like to be." - Rush Posts: 1192 | From: Washington, NJ | Registered: Feb 1999
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"Anyhow, he was all apologetic and blamed himself for not telling his bookkeeper it was ok to send us a check. He offered to have it ready if we wanted someone to pick it up."
He's the one who's screwing up, so you're supposed to do his leg work for him?
I'd shut him down until he paid up including late charges.
-------------------- dennis kiernan independent artist san francisco, calif, usa Posts: 907 | From: san francisco, ca usa | Registered: Feb 2010
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"Anyhow, he was all apologetic and blamed himself for not telling his bookkeeper it was ok to send us a check. He offered to have it ready if we wanted someone to pick it up."
He's the one who's screwing up, so you're supposed to do his leg work for him?
I'd shut him down until he paid up including late charges.
-------------------- dennis kiernan independent artist san francisco, calif, usa Posts: 907 | From: san francisco, ca usa | Registered: Feb 2010
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I'm with Alicia on this one. Use the question as an opportunity to sell the customer on the VALUE of a sign from you. He or she couldn't care less about the process, only why it's worth so much.
It reminds me of the line from the movie "You've Got Mail", where Tom Hanks' character, a chain bookstore owner, is talking to an employee of Meg Ryan's little mom-n-pop bookstore. The employee is pointing out the finer points of the particular edition of a book that Hanks is feigning interest in. The book has gilt pages and Hanks asks "Is that why it costs so much?" and without missing a beat the employee looks him straight in the eye and says "That's why it's WORTH so much."
Anyway, that kind of illustrates my point. You can cop an attitude if you like and no doubt it will feel great to say any of these things mentioned, but if you really want to shine as a professional in the eyes of the customer, sell the sizzle, not the steak.
[ July 19, 2010, 12:54 PM: Message edited by: Brian Oliver ]
-------------------- Brian Oliver Paxton Signs Fort Collins, CO paxton@peakpeak.com www.paxtonsignsofcolorado.com Posts: 237 | From: ft. collins, colorado,usa | Registered: Mar 2001
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