posted
Usually, I don't post messages about negative things, but this time I'll make an exception.
It must be a sign of my old age that I just don't care that much any more about what others think - either about me or my work.
Recently a couple called and wanted me to do some work for a new shop they were opening in the village of Salado, just south of where we live. We had done the sign work for two previous tenants and both had recommended us to these new owners.
Since we have done a considerable amount of work in the village it was easy to point out our designs for other shops while standing on the deck of their building. What they saw was "just what they wanted". After a tour of the new business and what they were offering I suggested some ideas of the image I thought they should have, along with a few quick images sketched on a legal pad. Yep...just what they had in mind.
Before I left for Tampa last week I met with the couple and presented my ideas and prices. The dollar figures were well within thier budget and they "loved" what I had done. Since their new shop had just been flooded by the creek that runs along side their business they asked for a few days to get over the trauma of having to remodel and regroup.
This morning as I met with them the wife has decided that she likes her logo design better and that a different color scheme is necessary. She wants a deep burgandy background, with the lettering in deep purple and a black outline.
As I tried to tell her that since all the colors were a dark value there would be no contrast and nothing would be readable. She responded that these were "her colors" and that is what she wanted.
In my best politically correct language I tried to explain that my job was to produce a sign that would give her and her business the best possible image and that her design did not do that.
Her response was that my job was to do what she wanted since she was signing the check. At that point I smiled my best smile and suggested that possibly she needed another sign person to do her work. She agreed.
No, I didn't get a deposit for the design work because I thought the job was guaranteed since they were convinced that I knew what I was doing.
The lesson: you're never too old to learn. The sun will still come up tomorrow and I'll still have a few jobs to do. Life is good.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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They tried to hire a real professional,, yet tried to micromanage your job.
Either she wants a professional or she wants an employee.
You made a good choice for her.
-------------------- 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 hope you didn't leave your proposal/sketches with them. I haven't done anything without a deposit for a few years now. I try to make the clients listen to reason but some are just plain unreasonable. You're better off without them Raymond. Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I would have likely taken the time to mock up her colours and print it out on a paper and tape it to the wall so she could step back and view it. I'm a firm believer in "a picture paints a thousand words".....
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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posted
Well done Raymond. You are an inspiration and a fine gentleman. The most important lesson here is "Don't take it personal and don't be afraid to move on." Imagine your grandchild hanging on every word you say. Take the high road.
-------------------- 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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I like Kelly's advice with the print out and I would have figured out a way to get an upcharge for the project (for the extra grief) by extra trips out or installation exceptions. Sometimes it is like washing a fine sweater. You just cannot run it through the hot cycle with the jeans.
Sometimes the customer is just afraid (or insecure) and they show it by being too controlling. Her colors or not, logic for a well designed sign always trumps. It is about out-thinking the objections and getting that deposit check.
I had one earlier this year where the client insisted I add the logos of three different products to a basic information sign. One of the logos was very long and one was very tall. To make them all work, I had to split the difference and they all were relatively small, but on there. I thought the thing looked very contrived. The client agreed when it finally went up and I offered to paint them out. He agreed and I charged him the extra for the effort. I think he now understand hiring a professional has its merits...and yes, at first he was all "it is my way or the highway". A few more minutes of discussion and acting very supplicative to his ego paid off. He ordered four more signs and a big window campaign, afterwards. Noew all I have to do is sell him again!
-------------------- 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 think we all have out tolerance points. I know mine changes with the weather and whatever is going on in my world at any given time. The point of my post wasn't critical, just a useful suggestion. Right now I am dealing with a client who has fired two other shops before me, wants his signs done with his artwork. Fortunately he wants digital prints and Graham will likely have to look at them longer than I will. I attempted to explain that there were some contrast issues, parts would be very difficult to read etc, but the client quietly and firmly stated that everything on his resort was designed by him and bore his "stamp". It didn't take me long to realize it was his way or the highway. I've seen worse come from other sign shops, including my own in the past. So what the heck, it saves me having to spend any time whatsoever on design, the money is good, the signs will function and he will keep his pride. I think mine will survive as well when I trade it in on a kiln for my glass work.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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I would have likely taken the time to mock up her colours and print it out on a paper and tape it to the wall so she could step back and view it. I'm a firm believer in "a picture paints a thousand words ___________________________________________________
Nah, it was time to move on, school session it out. If the customer was that adamant about her colors no more time needed to be wasted on this project, walk away. BUT the joy raymond will get later when he looks up at this sign IF it gets done will be priceless and after its up a while she will see you cant read it.
-------------------- 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
-------------------- Joe Crumley Norman Sign Company 2200 Research Park Blvd. Norman, OK 73069 Posts: 1428 | From: 2200 Research Park Blvd. | Registered: Sep 2001
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Besides having a reputation of doing top-notch work in my town, I also have a reputation of being hard to get along with. When asked why I don't just go-with-the-flow and give the customer whatever they want like some of the shops in my area, I tell them that its because my name is on that sign too.
-------------------- Lynda Yoder Wayne Yoder Signs & Designs 4735 List Rd Grass Lake, MI 5176884951 Posts: 154 | From: Grass Lake, MI | Registered: Feb 2007
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Bravo Raymond! But it's not just your old age, I am a bit younger(!) and do that once in a while. It feels so good to move on to better project and do what is fun! There is so many quicky sticky sign shop out there ofr that type of customer!
Life is so good!
-------------------- Pierre Tardif P. Tardif Inc. 1006 boul. PIE-XI sud Val-Belair QC. Canada G3K 1L2 418-847-4089 pierre@ptardif.com Posts: 800 | From: Quebec city | Registered: Aug 2002
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