posted
After over 50 years of doing this there have been a lot of changes in our industry, but some things never change.
Yesterday, a lady calls and needs a 4' x 4' sign made out of that "corrugated plastic stuff" (up goes the red flag)and wants to know if we do those kind of signs. Well, we do just about anything, but I'm sure we are not getting this job, but just for the fun of it I keep going.
She's a realtor (next red flag) and has been using "Joe" for all her signs, but he has gone out of business. She has a photo of the sign she wants and can we work from that? Yes, we can, but there will be an additional charge for recreating the artwork (loosely used term).
She has a frame and just needs the panel. One right now, but in March they will need 15 or 20 of the same thing. (Seen that red flag before?)
No question about price yet, but I know she's going to be surprised.
"So, how quickly can you do this for me?" Well, right now we are running on about a three week schedule, but for something simple, probably could have it in 10 days (that's two weeks if you're listening closely).
Total chaos on the other end of the line. "Oh, that just won't do...I'm used to getting my signs overnight! Evidently, you don't want my business!" (What was your first clue?)
"Well, I'm just going to have to go somewhere else. I need this the first thing in the morning." (today - Saturday, and the phone call came in at 3:00 PM on Friday) "And Joe always did them for me overnight" Well, I guess you will just have to go back to Joe. "Oh no, I told you he went out of business" (Wonder why?)
I wished her well and added that we would be glad to do her signs, but not on that schedule. Good thing price was never mentioned - she would have had a heart attack.
This business is so much fun.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Raymond,..once I was asked to do a bid on the outfield fence wall signs for a local minor league baseball team,...well this was a couple of decades back but I remember well asking how many they needed to get done before the opening game of the season,...answer was 63 8'x20' wall signs,...well I think I quoted them "less than" $250 EACH (I knew I could get at least two or three completed each day),...well the had a coniption fit and let meknow that "Jessee" their previous painter had been doing them for $75 each,...I promptly whipped back to the guy,"Why didn't you call Jessee?",...to this he replied " He passed on six months ago",...not thinking the first words out of my mouth were "What happened to him,... did he starve to death?"
I apologized immediately,... and after a week of shopping every other shop in the area they called me back and we came to terms,...spent the next 5 years with free tickets to that ballpark for my 3 boys and the misses,..not to mention I made some good money too!
[ January 28, 2012, 02:39 PM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Ok, I'll be the fly in the ointment. You guys know me.
1) The purpose of a business is to make a profit. 2) It succeeds by meeting the demands of its market.
What the realtor asked for isn't considered unreasonable in our area. There are at least 2 shops in our town that would have been able to meet her needs. One of them is open until 1pm on Saturday.
Our own shop did quite a bit of work for the local real estate market. It was demanding from time to time but always profitable. It also opened a lot of doors to doing subdivision signs and lots of contractor trucks.
Over the last 10 years we lost most of that market to newer shops willing to be more accommodating (not cheaper).
These shops are training the market what to expect which is exactly what Joe did. So I can't fault the real estate agent for her expectations.
posted
At the risk of being called a low baller, sign whore, I can admit that I will scoop up a quickie coroplast job for the right price. Even if I had to stick around for an extra hour, I can knock something like this out quickly. One or two color cut intermediate vinyl and a simple design $10 per sq ft on standard coroplast. Add for complex artwork (most real estate signs are not complex)
Now if the person is arrogant, or a complete ass...then I'll pass. I have a walk in sign shop and have heard all the things Ray mentioned but I will take on quickie jobs even when I have plenty of work on the schedule. In fact, I get a kick out of knocking off a $150 net for a job that drops on my lap.
-------------------- Tony Lucero Eagle Graphics Waterford, MI www.eaglegph.com Posts: 305 | From: Waterford, MI, USA | Registered: Apr 2000
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posted
Tony - agreed. I will too, from time to time. But, I know "Joe" and the price was no where near $150. More like $40, and I was completing a $1,000 job for Monday morning and I'm just too old to mess with that stuff any more.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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"Hey. I need my showroom windows painted by this weekend..big sale. (this was Thursday) Can you send me a layout and a price...(and BTW after he id'd himself, the store is 125 miles away in a small town). How much?"
my answer back...
"I know a guy in Denver and another in Albuquerque who can probably do a rush order like that. It will cost you a bit. What is the campaign and do you have any idea how much this will set you back?"
"The last time we did them, some guy rolled thru here and did them for $200. I guess we could go to $300. Do you know what you are doing? Do you know how to paint windows?"
"I see on Google Earth that you have about 70 feet of glass with shrubs in front. What is the campaign?"
"Truck of the Year by Motor Trend" with a big lifesize pic of the new F150...probably some box beneath describing the equipment and a price with the WAC"
"You say WAC. What is WAC (We are crooks?)"
"With Approved Credit..everyone around here knows that, buddy. Do you want the job or not?"
Chuckling a bit,"You know I happen to be the 'last guy' who came thru there and painted your windows two years ago. Your owner is an old friend of mine. Been doing his windows for 23 years... I can easily send you the last statement that ran $1800 for your main building and your owner paid me promptly. What turnip truck do you think I just stepped off of, Mr. Newbie New Car Manager? Now seriously, I can get out there and get you done, but I need you to respond to the email I am now sending you, just so I know you are real. I will send you back a design and will attach a copy of it to your owner via his email. You do have an email address, don't you?"
"You know the owner? How come he didn't tell me that? Did I get set up here? Who are you really?"
"I really am the guy who paints your windows. Give me your email and I will only work as hard as you respond here, so do not call me back and tell me you accidentally deleted my email or you got too busy to read my email. Capiche?"
"ER...ah...My email is ________" How soon can you send me the design?"
Give me another 15 minutes. Say Hi to your owner and tell him I will be out there on Monday and also ask him what he wants to do on the used car building and how many windshields he wants me to paint"
"Er...a...OK. You the man! Are you sure you can do this?"
"Sleep well, tonight. Yes, you got set up and thrown under the bus into the grease. Don't worry. I will tell your owner that you are a tough negotiator."
I ended up going out there and did $3100 in three days. The youngster New Car Manager was clueless and could not believe I knew how to do all of it without a pattern. At one point, when he came out to check on my progress, I told him to go back inside and get me a hot cup of real black coffee. He complied and practically broke my arm shaking it in gratitude when I got 'er done. The owner drove by in a new Explorer and rolled down his window to say howdy and tell me a lame joke. Of course I laughed and commented that these kids managers were getting younger and younger. He said it was good to see I was still kicking and thanked me for coming out. Oh well. Sales is so darn exciting and no, I painted a WINTER SALE theme, did the easy used bldg and 30 windshields!
-------------------- 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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quote:Originally posted by Preston McCall: Give me your email and I will only work as hard as you respond here, so do not call me back and tell me you accidentally deleted my email or you got too busy to read my email. Capiche?
quote:Originally posted by Raymond Chapman: Tony - agreed. I will too, from time to time. But, I know "Joe" and the price was no where near $150. More like $40, and I was completing a $1,000 job for Monday morning and I'm just too old to mess with that stuff any more.
Is it worth $40 to miss my NAP TIME? I don't think so.
-------------------- Bob Moroney The Sign Guy 310 Club Valley Drive Falmouth, MA 02536 508-259-6297 Posts: 216 | From: Falmouth, MA | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
Getting their correct email and actually getting them to send something back, (so it adds their address into my address book) is always a challenge. Used to be you could set the auto responder deal so they would automatically notify you when it was read, without their knowing they were sending you something back. I use MS Outlook. Does anyone know of another email program available that will set the address into the address book automatically?
It is great having their email address auto saved there so when I send out a blast of emails to clients (individually) I have it in there.
-------------------- 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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posted
Last year I think I mssed about 10 to maybe 15 different jobs. You know, the tire kickers. But I really didn't miss them. You give them a price and then never hear from them again. But I always wonder where they went to? Hmmmm.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3813 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
These phone calls like this on fun to play with, for sure. One thing I will never....NEVER understand is how come people wait to the last freakin minute to take care of their business?! Is it that hard to see things coming?
I gotta say it, if one thing this economic downfall has down is slow folks down and slap a little reality in them mainly cause most of those quicky a$$ shops are gone and these people have no choices.
-------------------- 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
You're right Raymond. It is "always the same". Back when we first started out 4 or 5 decades ago you could always count on somebody willing to do it cheaper in town and would knock out some crappy job for a fraction of what it was worth.....usually from the drunk one.... or other Desperado. And today is no different. They've just replaced their flats, quills and fitches with low grade vinyl and a 500 dollar cutter. My only word to the wise is to just hang around and keep your prices firm because sooner or later the Cheapo Creepos will be gone anyhow.
-------------------- Geary gearyDesign 809 E. Myrtle St. Hanford, CA 559-583-0669 Posts: 7 | From: Hanford | Registered: Jun 2003
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By the way Raymaond and all. It's been about 7 years since posting on the "Bullboard". I see I need to change some profile stuff. I'm no longer in Seattle. I've moved back to my home town of Hanford, CA. It's in Central Cal .....dead center that is. I'm 200 miles from San Francisco and 200 miles from Los Angeles. I'll catch up with what's been going on later.
-------------------- Geary gearyDesign 809 E. Myrtle St. Hanford, CA 559-583-0669 Posts: 7 | From: Hanford | Registered: Jun 2003
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I'll catch up with what's been going on later.
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