posted
Last week I went to the signsupply an hour from me. They're a little pricier and they don't carry avery (only vinyl I'll use) but for substrates, one-shot and everything else, they're awesome. They have everything in stock or will tell me they don't when I order, tell me when they'll get it and recommend substitutes, are knowledgeable when I have questions and I like them. They said they're thinking of carrying avery & I begged them to.
Well, Tuesday I met with a new customer and needed to order some funky colors of vinyl for the jobs I'm suppost to install tomorrow morning. I called the 2 avery suppliers I could drive to, and they didn't have it. So, I called the place I used to get my vinyl from until they got bought out and started sending me sliced rolls, screwing up my order, etc. The girl told me they had it. I told her great, and stressed that it had to be shipped yesterday because I had to have this stuff today. UPS ground from them to me is 1 day. I get UPS today & no vinyl. So, I call. First, they tell me I haven't ordered from them in 2 months. Then they realize they're looking at the wrong account and actually go to mine. Then they tell me, they didn't have the vinyl at the location I always get it from and decided they would just ship it from "here", that THEY decided that would be ok. I ask them "where is here?" and they tell me it's on the other side of the state. I tell them it isn't ok, that I specifically told them I HAVE to have this today, that they should have asked me if it was ok or sent it UPS overnight so it would be here when it was suppost to be. The girl tells me "I thought I was doing the right thing". They have screwed me on probably half the orders I've placed with them since they got bought out. I figured I would give them another chance. Well, I'm pretty sure once I get this order and make sure it's actually right, I'll be torching their business card.
Anyway, by the time I get done with these idiots, calm down enough to call my customer and explain the problem to him, it's too late to call my supplier for everything else, tell them the story and beg (again) to carry avery. I'm going to do that in the morning. It's worth a shot, I used to try to order Rapid Prep every time I called (they didn't carry it), but now they stock it.
Ok, thanks for letting me rant. I'm about ready to see if Karyn has a spare flaming bat for these people....
posted
Hi Chris, Can you contact Avery (and other manufacturers) directly? I've never tried this, but the Avery rep in the Letterville Merchants section should be able to do something about this supplier. I've had relatively few problems with our local supplier, but they (Garston) say that the trend now is to slash inventory to the bare bones. It sucks sometimes when you need something in a hurry, but I'm finding myself ordering materials as soon as I get the deposit instead of waiting. Last week I had to special order white background enamel (give me a break). I never thought that the basic supplies that we've been using for years wouldn't be kept on hand.
-------------------- Terry Baird Baird Signs 3484 West Lake Rd. Canandaigua, NY 14424 Posts: 790 | From: Canandaigua, New York | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Amy, why don't you and Chris hook up and work together to put an end to bad suppliers and lowballing sign shops. You're two thirds of the new Letterville Charlie's Angels. Or would it be Steve's Angels?
-------------------- Dennis Goddard
Gibsonton Fl Posts: 1050 | From: Tampa Fl USA | Registered: Apr 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
did ya need need my flaming bat to shove up someone's aaaazzzzz? i'm getting pretty sick of incompetent people too! of course i'm pretty cranky these days...10:51pm and just getting done work....very tired and would really like to win the lottery....i needed some signfoam primer so my distributor sent it ups...but didn't put on the little metal tabs on the can, so of course the can was opened and all gooey over the peanuts in the box...the ups guy was like...do you still want it??? ahhhh...no i don't think so, at $65 a gallon i think i'd like a full one thanks....wtf's a gal to do???
-------------------- 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
| IP: Logged |
posted
Im sorry to hear all this Here in western NY... we have a supplier Garston they are flawless...at least for me.... they have a new facility in Rochester NY based in Connecticut I know its no help...Chris But if ya wanna deal outa state. Give em a try...only a couple days
posted
Karyn, I'm so glad to see it isn't just a bad supplier week here.
Amy, that Wal-mart career is sounding pretty good. I wouldn't have to put up with stupid suppliers and at our Walmart, it would be easy $. It's not like you can ever find an associate in our Walmart.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
An idea for Karyn, & everyone else who reads this. I was chillin' with a brew taking to my local UPS driver & he started telling me about the million dollars (or some big number long since forgotten) in annual claims for damaged freight. He said they spend so much money in office work etc. on these claims they don't care what the claim is they just pay as fast as they can & move on. He said that if I get something damaged, TAKE IT...AND SIGN THE DAMAGE CLAIM... Then do your choice of many similar scenarios such as...
"I had to give the damaged goods to my client to keep them happy while they wait for me to get the new RUSH shipment of replacement goods, so the damaged goods will not be returned, but send me my new one overnight".
A week after the guy told me that, I got a pre-blasted sign-foam sign from 21st Century Signs. There was a gash in the box, so the driver had to wait while I insected weather or not to accept the package (it happened to be FedEx) I saw the gash made it to the sign but I told the driver I would need to keep the salvage & file the damage claim. I told them they wouldn't need to rush my a new sign, just give me $100 to put some filler in the gash & do some sanding. The call took 5 minutes & they were more then happy to pay the money.
I realize a partial gallon of paint is not somethin that fits as easily into this sort of argument, but getting damaged freight is often a huge expense of time & inconvenience, so if someone is getting some value out of salvageable goods, it might as well be us, the victim.
posted
doug, i used to live with a guy that worked for ups at night...they would get boxes of stuff that wasn't exactly damaged, but the box had been crushed or damaged...they would throw EVERYTHING in the dumpster instead of at least giving it to like salvation army or something!! i can't tell you how many cases of nice paul mitchell shampoo/conditioner i got and gorgous stuff from nike i still have...he would go through the dumpster after his shift...they said (this was like 14 yrs ago) that they had to throw it out because the insurance company wouldn't pay the claim unless they chucked it...i wish ups was closer to me, i'd be a total dumpster queen...i'd be raiding those suckas at night! maybe things have changed now...as for the paint...no thanks, ya know once it's all crusty around the lid it would never close properly...nice thought though!
-------------------- 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
| IP: Logged |
posted
Chris, I'm not trying to be a wise guy here, so please don't take this the wrong way. But the turn around time on this job seemed a bit rushed. If a customer has funky colors I will never tell them I can do it tomorrow. I have also learned in these situations that things always go wrong when you are being rushed. Tell the customer that it will be three days at the minimum. Just because they didn't plan ahead doesn't mean your life has to be ruined. Just friendly advice from someone who made the same mistake to many times to remember.
-------------------- Rob Larkham Sign Techniques Inc. Chicopee, Ma Posts: 607 | From: Chester, Ma. | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Tim..Can you tell me how I can become an Avery supplier here in Canada???
Currently the only supplier in Canada that is practical for me to use REFUSES to carry even a minimum of 10 yards of each colour that is listed in the Avery colour charts. And those that are not carried require a 2 week wait to get delivered.
Have you EVER heard of a customer who wants such a simple thing as "medium charcoal metallic" on their truck being willing to wait TWO FREAKING WEEKS to get his truck lettered???
TOTALLY RIDICULOUS!!!!! Everyone in Canada knows who this cross country supplier is and what a pain in the butt their attitude is!
P.S. The supplier is NOT Canadian Signcrafters...Unfortunately, they nor my previous supplier, no longer have access to Avery products...Seems that one company has a monopoly on Avery. And THAT is a very BAD thing.
Sorry for venting like this but after a 3 week period when I have been told the "two week wait" thing on about 4 or 5 different colours, I am getting kinda cranky with "monopolies!
[ June 20, 2003, 08:25 PM: Message edited by: Dave Grundy ]
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
posted
Just had to post this - it cracked me up! Have a pretty good supplier that I always get next day delivery from. After not receiving order by 4:30 following day I checked with NEW shipper who now is this suppliers national carrier & asked where my order was. If you can believe this - all the truck drivers were in a customer service seminar! Couldn't believe it! Said I would have order first thing next morning - would you believe I got it late that afternoon. Dah! It was too funny.
-------------------- Colleen Henderson Signs Now, Thunder Bay, ON signsnow@tbaytel.net Posts: 140 | From: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jun 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
You Americans – honestly! Try to have a little patience! I ordered some of 3M’s top of the range orange reflective. I was told they were out of stock (thanks for that at least) and it would arrive in about ten days. I rang back after fourteen days to be told it had to come from the States and it would be impossible to give any guidance on delivery date. It’s now six weeks later and still nothing, BUT they’ve heard there is some guy called Lindberg who’s going to make a wild attempt to cross the Atlantic in an aeroplane. Now, if they could just get hold of his number!
-------------------- Arthur Vanson Bucks Signs Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England arthur@buckssigns.co.uk -------------------- Posts: 805 | From: Chesham, Bucks, England | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
You need it when ya need it! Karyn, can you keep an eye out for Nexus??? My hair loves that thuft! Cool beans! And for vinyl and paint, well, 50% of the supplies I have usually.
I've even chosen to drive to get my supplies (wood and vinyl) when I lived in Ohio, as I could outrun the UPS on the highway from Columbus, lol, and have the security of having it in my hand the same day, as I used to remind him! Mr. UPS thought I quit the sign biz even for a year when I dashed in my car down to three or four suppliers, saving $100 plus in shipping, plus, check for quality (at least on the MDO, like large cracks and huge knotholes to avoid more work to fill, saved me a few hours there too!)
Sometimes I would end up with double stock from several sources (for just in case, scenarios). I was soooo spoiled in Ohio, as three companies would deliver same day to my door for nothing, if the stock was on hand, (coming 35 plus miles).
Now, as I moved two states over, it is a bit more tricky to find who sells what and so forth, and I have approached Jay Allen at Shawcraft signs(as busy as he is, and he has given me a lot of help with some important sources) from time to time to locate suppliers close by. And these are all excellent choices. Jay has even helped me out by in smaller ways, being a good business person and fellow letterhead.)
I am finding that my vinyl suppliers in Ohio have branches here for fast service and also tech support by some suppliers, now that they are selling Gerber. I guess in Chris's situation it does irritate me when the office staff at some suppliers (in the past) don't know their products or know where the item is being shipped to or from, or have total control over it, as it is so important to our livelihood, not just a stock no. That has gotten me pretty wriled in the past too.
[ June 21, 2003, 12:03 PM: Message edited by: Deb Fowler ]
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks to Tim Doyle for the call on Friday. It's so nice to find manufacturers that care. I'm going to continue to work on Glantz becoming an Avery distributor.
I have to feel for Appy too. I needed 3 colors, 2 were a bit strange but the third was intense blue. This shouldn't be a hard to find color and shouldn't be a special order for a supplier. I can used punched or unpunched, 15 or 24" roll. I would have made either work. I guess what really irritates me is supplier's lack of service. If you don't have it, tell me that. Don't just decide to ship it from elsewhere or list it as backordered when I get the order. Had they told me it wasn't at the branch I've always dealt with, I would have requested overnight shipping. Don't just substitute it either, I ordered what I wanted, I think I know what I want more than the supplier does.
Dave, I ordered that same color (before the supplier got bought out, back when they had service) and they told me they didn't have it, that they would have it drop shipped to me (either from avery or the wareshouse they buy it at, don't remember). I would see if that is available in Canada.
Right now, I'm limited space-wise so I keep 50 yd rolls of main colors and order 10 yards of other colors, as needed. My theory is a supplier should have a bigger stock than I do. It's only a theory, but I think it's a good one. Unfortunately, the suppliers don't see it that way. It isn't just vinyl either, I've found suppliers that carry 1/2 the one-shot colors.
Well, I guess when the shop is up, I'll be building my own personal warehouse in it too.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
chris if i was 30 years younger i would want to be your supplier. i would kiss you first.
-------------------- Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 468 stark st Commerce, Ga 30529 Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm actually somewhat friends with my vinyl supplier. Meaning he has attended sign association meetings and I can pick up the phone and speak directly to him. He keeps about $15,000 worth of vinyl in stock but still manages not to have what I need. I understand though. Buy one roll of every color in INT and HP and see what you come up with. A ton of dough. Then if no one buys that color it sits on the shelf and your 8 year vinyl spend three of it's years in the warehouse. His markup on the vinyl isn't enough to tie up more money than he already is. I and my customers have to understand and sometimes plan ahead. If someone calls and wants Booger snot green or fox pecker pink, they are just going to have to wait as it may be a few days before I can get it. I have a sign carving buddy who sometimes give customers a six month turn-around on carved signs.....and they wait. Decide who is running the business, you or the customer. Give minimums on turn-around times and stick to your guns.
-------------------- Rob Larkham Sign Techniques Inc. Chicopee, Ma Posts: 607 | From: Chester, Ma. | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Dave...dont you have a GE Polymershapes (what a mouthfull,, thats what ya get when an engineer designs a tradename) in the area.. also your real close to Graphic Mart (Milton,ONt) and they stock tons of avery....striping and sign film....graphic mart.com
One of the best suppliers, ive ever dealt with is Express Sign Products in windy Pincher Creek, Alberta.. they were sponsors at the Banff meet a few years ago...there service is stellar and the owner used to be a sign guy.. so he knows what we go thru...
-------------------- Del Badry philmdesign Sylvan Lake, Alberta Posts: 636 | From: Sylvan Lake, Alberta | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
oh Karyn, did you ferget baby poop yellow and blonde snow, seasick sienna, etc. Hee, hee, we're just multi-faceted in this colorful world, some jobs just call for custom colors!
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
And don't forget to stock a few rolls of the new geriatric colors of hemorrhoid red and varicose blue.
-------------------- Larry
Elliott Design McLemoresville, Tn.
If you can't find the time to do it right, where you gonna find the time to do it over? Posts: 486 | From: McLemoresville, TN. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hey Woman- I know to which supplier you refer- aren't they the same ones who screwed me on the Mars meet? Ahem...and aren't they the same ones who give you the annoying phone call every Friday asking if you need anything? Last Friday, I told the girl that if I did need anything, I'd call HER (but not to hold her breath) I so wish Glantz would stock Avery, for I love it too. At least you can get it drop-shipped fairly quick from them. I love the purple reflective especially. Hope it all worked out. Love- JILL
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Avery IS the best!! And I DID get a call from Tim Doyle (bonus)..Hopefuly he can light a fire under the "asses" that run my particular supplier.
I have no problem with the "local" supplier..They work their butts off to try to keep me and a bunch of other customers supplied and happy.
It is the head office that is totally out of touch with the needs of the small shop..(read that..about $15,000 a year in product)
And YES..the supplier's representatives that I am refering to ARE very vocal merchants on this Bullboard....Well..one of em is!!!!
Canadian Signcrafters are NOT who I am refering to..
Hopefully Tim will will be able to light a fire under their butts or at least check out whether the two other suppliers I mentioned to him would be interested in being Avery suppliers.
I truly hope so!!!!
(Bummed out in Southern Ontario!)
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
It's worth a shot, I used to try to order Rapid Prep every time I called (they didn't carry it), but now they stock it.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic