posted
I'm sure everybody has their own way of classifying and pre-qualifying customers based on the type of business. My scale is based on a number of factors, including price acceptance, image conciousness, acceptance of design ideas and guidance, pleasantness and respectfulness in dealings, etc. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being best, how do you rate your customers as a group? For example:
7 to 10: Restaurants, Professionals (including Doctors/Dentists and Attorneys) High-end retail establishments. 5 to 7: Hotels/B&Bs, private homeowners (non-commercial), boat owners, trade(painting/roofing/plumbing,etc) contractors. 3 to 5: Realtors, corporate/franchise establishments(which can be very high in the P.I.T.A. factor), government, churches. 1 to 3: Antique dealers, beauty parlors, architects. Below grade: Junk shops, auctioneers, used-furniture dealers, etc. Inevitably the first thing falling out of their mouths is "how much?" followed by protestations of poverty and vague accusations that you are somehow stealing from them, although why anyone would bother to want to steal from "poor" people is a lifelong mystery.
These are very general categories. I've had good and bad experiences with every possible sort of businessperson and customer over the years; these are based more on expectations and trends.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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10: large corporations.(various types) They don't ask a price. They love my work. Only thing..they take a bit too long to pay. But I get to do what I want as far as design and color.
9: Restaurants, Truck companies, oil change stops, paint stores, landscapers, haulers etc. Antique stores. These are usually fun jobs. Not the biggest.....but always fun.
8: Contractors. not always honest about 'when' they mailed the check. Most think they are suave and debonair when they really aren't and you have to tip toe around their overinflated ego so you don't burst it.
4-7: Schools, Churches, Bowling alleys, condos...take too long to pay......jobs aren't that big or fun. They just like plain signs. Boring but usually very nice people to work with.
2-3: Realtors! I only deal with a couple commercial realtors anymore. Realtors are the cheapest complainers around. The two I have kept are nice though. Espresso stands are in this group too. Most are cheap.
1: YEP Beauty salons!!! and LMPs. I have done lots of salons. Alot of them are great and I have really enjoyed working with them. SEVERAL are the power trip bitch type who think they are sneaky and always try to get a free design to shop around with (after they have changed their design a billion times) They ruin it for all other salons as they are so nasty to work with...they think they are sign designers since they 'do hair'. They hate to bust loose with their check book....act all fluffy, weird...you know long fake fingernails pointing everywhere....twangy voices...poofy big hair. I think most have had lip jobs. (they should have spent their money on butt reduction) They billow out their lips and overexagerate each and every word. I have to work hard NOT to chuckle. You need to stand quite aways from them as their perfume will knock you over. Most are a royal pain in the tu tu. Always get your money up front.
posted
LMAO!! I think Cheryl has had one of those beauty shop customers in her recect past. However....I gotta agree with her on that one! In my neck of the woods, I'd have to say that ALOT of the customers are big price shoppers. I'm not sure exactly how they can compare apples to oranges, but they seem to manage quite well. My list would probably follow Cam's, though.
posted
Its funny that Beauty Salons are at the bottom of the list. I just threatened one here with legal proceedings, lol.
I personally like contractors, their business practically mirrors ours. They tend to know that things cost money.
Out of town vendors are by far the lowest of the low. I deal with dozens of them during the rally here, been ripped off once, never again. There are a few that are really good people, but for the most part....... My hard and fast rule with vendors is simple; no haggling allowed, money up front, balance due upon completion. (local business's get a bill and pay after the rally).
I had a vendor in my place last year trying to get me to come down on my prices, (this is during the time we are working 15-18 hrs a day), I told him that the price was going to go up because he was annoying the hell outta me.
I have to rate the Tattoo artist's that come here close to the top. One tattooist asked me to do some cheapo coroplast for his booth, and asked when it would be ready. I told him the next day, and he promptly pulls out $100 dollar bill and says, "can you have it this afternoon"? You Bet!
Another tattooist was settling up on his bill for a airbrushed banner that I did for him, and he gave me a $85 tip!
The super rich can be 10 or 1, no in-between.
-------------------- "B0LT" on the chat room thing.
The favourite of all classes is the Those within my trade that can't do it. But they know the price of materials. And will buy or sub-out to the customer with your true price in mind.
The rest of the customers believe that a can of paint from Colour your Girl....And a few brushes from the Great Change Store. Will do the trick. It is harder to teach them of the costs then someone that works in the industry.
-------------------- Stephen Deveau RavenGraphics Insinx Digital Displays
Letting Your Imagination Run Wild! Posts: 4327 | From: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
How about newspaper people who think they're graphic artists.."I use a mac, so that makes me an artist" well la tee dah. They have owed our inferior sign company for over a year.
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3503 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
How about Indian motel owners who all have the last name ? Gotta be cheaper than anyone ....oh yeah, and farmers...almost as cheap as the local stock car crowd.
On the high end, subdivision developers rate pretty high with me, as do retail store owners.
Most fun I've had lately?...something I gave away....the panel swap.
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
Where do the non-profits fit in? I prpbably find the volunteer fire departments the most appreciative. Commercial fishermen that take pride in the appearance of their vessel are high on my list. Franchise outlets are on the bottom of my list resulting from never having any dealings with them, nor wanting any dealings with them.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6812 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
jeff...are they all named sing in your neck of the woods?..they are up here...pain in my a$$ is what they are...i'll take my hairdressers over them any day!
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
The customers who are willing to come in to our conference room to discuss a project, our regular customers some of whom are on our vip list, and specific sign friendly corporations such as hotel chains, casinos, etc. are 10's. Everyone else is a 1-9 collectively. Beauty shops, used car dealers, most realtors, some developers, a few "national" sign companies, and many attorneys don't rate a number.
-------------------- Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio P.O.Box 2385, Estes Park, CO 80517-2385 kent@smithsignstudio.com Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I've heard noone post about oriental nail salons!!! man I always cringe when that call comes in! Is it only like that here in the midwest... naw can't be!!
Shawn
-------------------- Shawn Setzer Signs by Shawn 826 Hwy 47 East, Troy, MO Posts: 241 | From: Troy, MO, USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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posted
as far as indians go start high and work down to what you want to get. they love to pay cash to save the sales tax also. i have done four motels and six convenience stores, and haven't had any trouble yet. i get 50% up front and the rest at the end. i have had more trouble out of some churches in my area
posted
Hi Cam, I never put numbers on it, but I do classify my clients much like you do...
My best clients, who I will bend over backward for, are the ones who; COMMUNICATE (give me good up-front framework of their needs and budget), LISTEN TO ME (take my advice on design), DON'T PLAY GAMES ABOUT THE PRICE (don't try to get the deluxe version for the medium price, or other free concessions), PAY UP (without waiting or whining), EXPRESS SOME APPRECIATION (hey, we all like strokes). Pretty much in that order too. Usually by step one or two, I can tell if it's going to be a smooth transaction.
An interesting outcome is those customers often become mouthpieces for me, telling others, repeatedly, where they got their great sign.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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and you have to tip toe around their overinflated ego so you don't burst it. 
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