posted
Actually the caller told me he wanted a "cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap sign. I told him to go down the road to the other sign shop - I don't do cheap signs. I could give him a magic marker and some cor-plast though. Was there enough "cheaps" there, Old Paint?
[ June 05, 2003, 07:15 PM: Message edited by: Laura Butler ]
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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When I get that, I just laugh and say, "You want cheap? Make it yourself!"
quote:
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I love it when some others say, "I only need it for awhile, 'jest' give me 'sumpin' til the thing sells". OK, I'll have the computer and plotter go in slow motion, cut it in "contact paper" maybe, then I'll put the stuff on that piece of salvage plywood you hauled in here, and for fun, I'll spray a little PAM (trademark, trademark) on (that'll make it temp!), and apply blindfolded, maybe even kickback- have a few, whatever, 'cause hey, you only need it for awhile.
I've never gone to a doctor, dentist, or even out to eat and said "I want it cheap, cheap, cheap!"
On the other hand, I appreciate the customer who is up front about their $$ situation and they just want me to make a temp sign w/in their budget. I WANT to help them so I show them different substrates that can really cut costs. I save them $$ now but the rewards are 10-fold (this is a VERY small community and a lot of times I've needed THEIR help, everyone knows I'm on my own- they never charge ME). It's sort of the "good Samaritan" thing... pass it along (or like my very favorite movie- "Play It Forward").
I've only been in this for 2 years, 11 months, 5 days, and "what time is it?", but I've learned to make judgement calls. I know the kind you're talking about- they usually have more $$ than anyone in town but they so used to manipulating people they justify the request.
Anyway- that's my 2 pesos.
-------------------- Linda Schmidt Vital D'Signs Greers Ferry, AR signlady@ozarkisp.net Posts: 160 | From: Greers Ferry, AR | Registered: Sep 2001
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I did a $29 "Apartment For Rent" sign (18" x 24") the other day. I told him to go to the hardware store, but he wanted one larger than 9x 12. So I told the guy my boss was out and i'd do it during lunch. (chuckle).
Its nothing i'm going to post to the portfolio page... but it only took 20 minutes and a piece of coroplast, plus some 1-Shot.
yes, you CAN put 1-shot on Coroplast -- it just wont stay very long. but for twentynine bucks...
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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Hey, linda! I can identify with you. There's that special customer appreciation thing goin' here too. (by the way, that WAS a good movie!) I can also identify with that tacky,trash customer too....one guy bro't me some swollen-up, ol' brown, rotted press-board,kind'a stuff he found in a dumpster that someone else had the good sense to trash. Somehow they had been real estate signs like from the 50's or somethin'. He wanted me to "fix 'em up for around $10 each" What sort'a face do you make when your feelin' stunned,amused,angry,indignant,an' speechless all at one time?
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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had a got call just the other day said he was tring to save money and if we could cut stencils for him. he was running for sheriff and had some plywood he got at the hardware store and was going to paint them him self.....with spray paint....have ya seen those kind...i don't want to be associated with that kind! guess i'd vote for him based on the signs...lol
chris
[ June 05, 2003, 11:01 PM: Message edited by: Chris Lovelady ]
-------------------- "We have been making house calls since 1992"
Chris Lovelady Vital Signs
NOW WITH 2 LOCATIONS! Tallahassee, Florida Thomasville, Ga.
posted
We had one recently with the usual "This is a high volume job" BS. Some ex-cop running for sheriff in November 2004 that wanted cut and weeded letters in an 8" x 16" area and willing to start with 50 units. The rhetoric contained more than 150 letters.
We quoted it at just under $20 each and were immediately told they already had a quote for $6 each. We asked why they were still shopping and went on with our day.
-------------------- Fred Weiss Allied Computer Graphics, Inc. 4620 Lake Worth Road Lake Worth, FL 33463 561 649-6300 allcompu@allcompu.com Posts: 427 | From: Lake Worth, Florida | Registered: Feb 2003
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Last weekend, a retired minister stopped in and said he was opening the old church up for a couple of months this summer for vespers. He inquired about a sign, but before I could reply, I got the full story of how it was coming out of his "personal" funds, was temporary, and only speculative as to whether anyone would attend vespers. Not what you wanna hear, but at least he was being truthful about his situaion.
I think I take Linda's view on this one...sometimes the neighborly thing is the right thing. I spun over to the church to have a look at the existing signs. It's 2 3' x 4' boards tacked to a couple of posts, white with black letters, but they are totally junked from the weather and, not unlike myself, beyond salvation. No way do I touch those puppies!!
I figure a sheet of 1/2" MDO, couple of cuts, some Impervo and vinyl lettering should hook him up with a lot better than he's got. I'll hit him for cost on the deal, but I figure a little charity goes a long way, espcially when God's watching!!!
At least he was up front about the situation from the get go. I prefer the honesty over some of the outright pandering I have to deal with at times. I prefer to choose to make a donation that to be badgered for one.
-------------------- 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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seems everybody missed what laura was sayin...i called her today....and when she picked up the phone i told her i wanted a CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP SIGN....she had no idea it was me, but told me to go down the road!!!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahah
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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yep you was just happy..tellin me to go to the other sign shop.....hehehehehe hi linda,,,,,,,,is that the linda you wated to know who she was???????? there is this other linda....but that is another sex story!!!!!!!
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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I have been called Lori alot but never Linda and I don't let people call me Lori because there is already 2 Lori Butler and me, Laura Butler in the family. My husband's unmarried sister is Lori, his brother married a Lorie, and thena nephew married a Lori. Gets a little confusing at family reunions.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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noooooooo...linda..ray said he agreeded with linda..musta ment you, and laura thought he called her linda??????
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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wow cheap signs whta a concept. i am new and so i scramble for everything i can get my grubby paws on . i would much rather deal with the customer needs tell um what i can do , and what i cant. then i close it with this . is this a cheap event? or r ya selling it cheap ? or dont ya have any money?
the last one usally wallers up their pride and they go for the better one.
I would rather have beer money than tootsie pop
-------------------- sam kinnear stick um up signs redmond wa Posts: 93 | From: redmond wa | Registered: Jun 2003
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