posted
I made a set of door magnets for a guy a few months back and he has had no problems. He called me this morning because he wanted to take them off to wash his van this weekend and they were stuck to the door. It was very hot here last week. I used EnduraMag magnets from sign warehouse and when I called them today they transferred me to someones voice mail that is hadling this. It sounds like I am not the only one to call. Any ideas how to get them off?
-------------------- Mike Stevenson 1444 Carl Avenue Rapid City, SD 57703 Posts: 25 | From: Rapid City, SD | Registered: Oct 2002
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posted
magnets are TEMPORARY SIGNS!!!! thats the 1st thing you need to tell people who buy em. 2nd thing is that they are not to be left on the vehicle more then a couple days at a time, and when not on the vehicle they need to be laid flat or put on a metal sheet. and i alway give a 5/50 warrenty with mine.....5 minutes or 50 MPH whichever comes 1st. i dont replace em for free if they get stolen or blown off. if you didnt tell any of this or give him a CARE OF MAGNETIC letter to the client, then you are somewhat responsible. hope he gets them off with out taking the paint of the vehicle. and yes they will stick and pull paint if left on the vehicle for long periods of time....
-------------------- 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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posted
first..i hope you told him to make sure he washes his doors and magnetics weekly! that's the first thing i say to people when they want magnetics...i'll make them but i think they suck...here's why..if left on too long they will fog a clear coat(ask me how i know)and they will definitely become one with the door if they are left on for months in the hot sun without care...been down that road b4 too...they call and say...hey these won't come off....well have you been cleaning them weekly? aaah...no i guess i kinda been bad bout it...well then there ya go.
when i make magnetics i enclose a special care sheet and make them painfully aware of what can happen...sometimes i even punch or slap the customer to make sure they are listening...(just kidding, i usually just pinch)
anyhoo...now you know. i don't know if they will be able to get the magnetics off without damaging the paint or not...i don't think the magnetics will make it 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
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posted
Been THERE! The first thing out of my mouth when some one comes in for magnets is "We DON'T recommend them for anything but parades and TEMPORARY uses!" In fact for about 5 years we wouldn't even make them....we sent the to the old sign painter a couple towns over who stocked up his shop heater with coal in the morning before he started work. (NO power tools in his shop either!) When he died, there was no place for people to get their mags so we started doing them again. We just had SSOOOO many problems with them and mad customers ("You didn't tell me they wouldn't stick to aluminum doors!") it just wasn't worth the hassle! We had them blow off, stolen at the coffee shop parking lot, put on a brand new car for 2 months that was a "Win This Car" promotion and the mags were a "permanent" addition, on & on. We do them, but only after a long disclaimer discussion with the customer and also a hand out sheet with care instructions. I think they look cheap and temporary anyway, even when they are nicely done. For a business, it says to me, "well, in case this doesn't work out, I can always take this name off my truck easily". One funny story Bill likes to tell is we had a guy have his pickup lettered and he wanted mags to cover it up. Well, it seems that he was cheating on his wife and when he went to see his girlfriend, he didn't want his name on there! Sorry to say there isn't much you can do to get them off that I know of. I would check with your local body shop and see what he could do. (This is a reason to become GOOD friends with your body shop guys....so you can help each other out!) Jane
posted
I like all the answers here, magnetics are temporary and feel that they are to be removed prior to washing of the vehicle at all times. Alot of times the magnetics are washed with the vehicle and the moisture gets behind them and soon after, leaving them on, they do not come off easily. thas part of what a care card is for.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
Several years ago when I was busy getting divorced I left magnetic signs on my personal truck for a bit too long and it fogged the clear coat. Tried buffing, polishing, nothing would work, so I made up my mind to have the doors repainted. A friend of mine with a auto-body shop decided to try something he had read about somewhere and we heated the fogged up area with a heat gun.....after about ten minutes the fogged area was gone and has never come back.
-------------------- Mark Perkins Performance Signs & Graphics Eunice, Louisiana "The heart of Cajun Country" Posts: 506 | From: Eunice Louisiana 70535 | Registered: Nov 1998
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I'll bet you're another one of them sign guys (now) who cringe when ya hear someone mention 'magnetic,' eh?
Not many, take proper care of their magnetics! Them rules are like an 'ol Nag!
This your first lesson in magnetics? Benefit of a doubt, you mentioned the horrors of this product to your client. (Experience)
If this will help; First thing I thought of, when I read your post, maybe a lubricant, WD40 (?) and a squeegee...
I don't want to be the one messin' with a client's paint job. It makes me real nervous and sick to my stomach.
Get the picture?
Magnetic has it's place. I have clients who live in areas where they are not allowd to advertise. I sell them blank magnetic. (to cover the vinyl -->more $$$) At the very least, they are removing it on the day's they are working. Some clients, have it painted to match their vehicle color. (I don't attempt to 'match' automotive paint jobs, either)
I hate sellin' stinking magnetics!
Cher.
[ August 18, 2003, 07:00 PM: Message edited by: Cheryl Lucas ]
-------------------- Co-Host: SANDCASTLE Panel Jam 'a Dixie Letterhead Reunion' Fort Myers, Florida
Cheryl Lucas a/k/a "Shag" on mIRC Vital Signs & Graphics, Etc. Cape Coral, Florida 239-574-4713 VSignsNgraphics@aol.com Posts: 987 | From: Cape Coral, FL USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
Another issue is when it is 31 degrees and raining, they slide off the truck. If they insist on magentics, I only sell Gerber Auto Mag. Have had very few issues w/them. But, like everyone else said, education of the client is a MUST.
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3512 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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i give them a sheet that tells them to remove and wash once a week because sand and grit will get behind them.. and to wax the reverse (door) side of the magnets. And no guarantees..
Also, the sheet tell them they may stick and may ruin the clear coat if they fail to do this.
So far no problems with returns..
-------------------- 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: 5278 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Something else I have to get the twins to do.... They sell a LOT of magnetics.....Never saw them give an instruction sheet to a customer. Anyone care to take pity on me and post or email me their instruction sheet. Haven't had a problem that I know of in the year and a half that I've been there, but it's bound to happen. Better late than never with the instruction sheet.
Thanks in advance for any replies...
-------------------- William "Irish" Holohan Resting...Read "Between Jobs." Marlboro, MA 01752 email: firemap1@aol.com Posts: 1110 | From: Marlboro, MA | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
Sure, you can use the pic! It's worth a thousand words. lol
So, it happens the magnetic in this picture was FREE! LOL, imagine that! Seems, a local vendor had them printed with their clients name on them, and, of course it also advertises the vendor. E-Gads!
Cher.
-------------------- Co-Host: SANDCASTLE Panel Jam 'a Dixie Letterhead Reunion' Fort Myers, Florida
Cheryl Lucas a/k/a "Shag" on mIRC Vital Signs & Graphics, Etc. Cape Coral, Florida 239-574-4713 VSignsNgraphics@aol.com Posts: 987 | From: Cape Coral, FL USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
Wow! Fantastic subject! I've never had a problem with magnetics and we do a lot of them. I get so upset with customers when I see them on their vehicle ALL the time. Why didn't they just go with lettering on the vehicle? I do tell them to clean them weekly, and to take them off every night. I like the idea of having them sign a care sheet. I love the picture idea too!
-------------------- Sunny Holtzlander The Edge Graphics 67 S. Broadway Peru, IN 46970 765-473-3828 Posts: 40 | From: Peru, Indiana | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I've had two different customers tell me that they have used light coats of WD-40 to prevent some of thes problems. No expierence other than that. I'm a screen printer and do lots of magnetics. I was somewhat surprised by some of the problems, other than discoloration from leaving them on too long. Think I'll change my procedures for sure.
-------------------- Robert M. Kistler South Bend Screen Process, Inc. 2018 S. Franklin St. South Bend IN 46613 Posts: 131 | From: South Bend Indiana | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Quite a while back, we here in Letterville, had a rather 'stickie' discussion. Like usual, it involved the many aspects of our trade. One, was our sales approach;
I haven't forgotten the mention 'taking orders' being compared to placing an order at McDonalds. "I'll have a #3, in red, please..." Is it fair to say; this can also apply to magnetics?
In the case of a screen printer, I can imagine 'taking orders' for magnetics is an order of business for the day.
Don't get me wrong. I can 'take orders' for magnetics, just like the next guy (or gal). No problem... Bring it on!
But, the truth is, I ask lots of questions before I take a job. I often wonder what a potential client is thinking, as I begin my drill, to find out what they 'actually' need.
There's no denying it, there are horror stories when one abuses the use of magnetics. But hey, there is a place for them, so if the price is right, we strike a deal and everyone is happy! They just don't get magnetics from me, until they have been forwarned of potential results.
Can someone post the 'rules,' I've misplaced mine.
Cher.
-------------------- Co-Host: SANDCASTLE Panel Jam 'a Dixie Letterhead Reunion' Fort Myers, Florida
Cheryl Lucas a/k/a "Shag" on mIRC Vital Signs & Graphics, Etc. Cape Coral, Florida 239-574-4713 VSignsNgraphics@aol.com Posts: 987 | From: Cape Coral, FL USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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