posted
I know we have been down this road plenty of times before but who does free quotes. This is the scene: A pretty young girl comes in from a corporate company and asks if I would be interested in doing their work on the sunshine Coast. Of course I would but did I mind giving her a price on 6 locations spread over about 50 Km. I said I didn't mind while we established that my quality and service were OK along with my prices. I did a couple of the first jobs, and then she calls in and says would I mind having a look at some more locations. After seeing what the guys from Brisbane (Over an hour's drive away) were doing I decided that my quality should be OK but I did ask her why she sacked them. She said their service was bad and she was sick of waiting for them to come up and quote. I explained that someone has to pay for this somewhere (Especially with fuel getting very close to $1/litre to say nothing of hourly rates) and she seemed to think that if I wanted the work I would quote. Even after explaining that plumbers and electricians have a call out fee I could not get through that she could save money by just trusting me to carry out the work at a fair price. I want the work but not that bad that I am going to lose money just because they are a corporation. I know others around here will grab it just for their ego of saying "I do so and so's work."
------------------ Drane Signs Sunshine Coast Nambour, Qld. dranesig@dingoblue.net.au Downunder "If we did all things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves" - Thomas Edison
Posts: 965 | From: Nambour, Qld. Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
David. I guess you could say that I do "free" quotes, in that I will drive more than 50 km to "look at a job" and measure it up. BUT I only do that for established customers and won't do it for a stranger.
Of course the trip and the "quote" are not free in reality because they are built into the cost of the job in the end.
As has been discussed in the past, this line of work, if you are self employed consists of a lot of hours that are "non-productive". I am lucky if I actually produce billable work 4 hrs per day. That is why I charge the prices I do. I couldn't live on $20/hr if I were only billing 4 hrs per day.
I probably have a different situation than most folks. I live out in the country, my regular customers are from as far away as 200 km, and I do very little "in shop" work.
------------------ Dave Grundy AKA "applicator" on mIRC "stickin' sticky stuff to valuable vessels and vehicles!" in Granton, Ontario, Canada 1-519-225-2634 dave.grundy@quadro.net www.quadro.net/~shirley
posted
It's a problem for sure. I hate quoting, especially if there isn't any commitment that they are a genuine customer.
People have gotten so used to getting free quotes from trades that don't have to put in much time, that they just expect it from all industries. Even though it can take 2-3 hours for one smallish job.
I like to tell people on the first phone call, I can give you an guestimate over the phone but a firm quote means knowing exactly what I'm going to do, which means a design has to be worked out first.
Then we can talk about what their budget is, so I can indicate what they might get for that amount. Makes for a better conversation.
I pity builers, though. The poor bastards have to spend many hours, maybe days, to quote on their jobs, for free....but then, I don't see them driving twenty year old cars like signwriters.
posted
In a case like this, simply add the price of the "free" quote into the estiate! First time she gives the job to someone else, stop quoting! Obviously she is looking for the lowest bid on EVERY job!
------------------ Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA (714) 521-4810 ICQ # 330407 "SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
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Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
If the jobs are within a 25 mile radius, I'll go out to quote at no charge. However, beyond that, I charge my regular shop rate for the total amount of time I out on the road away from the shop.
posted
I don't mind so much giving free quotes and faxing them to people (QUOTES....NOT DESIGNS). But with gas prices already outrageous and on the rise again, I can't afford running all over creation meeting customers with no promise of work. It's like going from business to business filling out job applications. Besides, time spent away from the shop (and out of your life) is time wasted which can never be replaced. If a client comes by the shop and wants a quote, I'm more than happy to accomodate. But, if they want me to come to their business, I think a deposit is in order. Just my $.02
------------------ "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed." Albert Einstein
Failure to advertise is a lot like blinking in the dark. Nobody, but you, knows what you're doing.
posted
Hi David, Your goal is to turn this client into an "account" - Where you build a level of trust so that they call only you for their future work and know without question you will be fair with them. Make sure they know you want to build a long-term relationship. Discuss what it will take to get in that position with them. It's ok for you to make an investment in having that happen. If that means some of the initial jobs have to be bid, so be it. But I think there can be some general understanding of what the goal is, what their objectives are and what your need are. For instance, is their primary goal low price?, fast service?, unique design?, quality of craftsmanship?, payment terms? or some combination of them all? Hell, if they have some wacky expectations, you may find out you don't really want the account! Assuming you do, perhaps you can establish some pricing guidelines that fit the usual scope of their jobs. Some system that is realistic for both parties. You gotta engage them. Get them talking. I wonder when was the last time someone asked them what THEY wanted.
The last thing you want to worry about is what the other sign shops are doing or whether they will 'grab it'. You don't need to know their prices, their policies or their terms. It'll drive you nuts.
posted
After sending out 7 quotes in the past month and no response we will not give out a quote unless the company is willing to buy a sign. On one quote I worked a couple of hours because the job is unusual and I had to research a lot of suppliers. Although this research will pay off I still feel ripped because I know these guys are going to another shop with my quote. My solution is if they really want a quote they will pay a $50 deposit for it and after I explain it politely they can take it or leave it. Order the sign and I will return the deposit. I am not a work horse for other sign shops to underbid by my work by $40.00. If someone doesn't think enough of my work to pay me for my quote there really is no point in making a quote because no matter what you do they will go somewhere else anyway. Phone quotes are no longer done either. No artwork no quote.
Kevin Landry KnL Signs Halifax NS
------------------ Kevin Landry KnL Signs Halifax NS
posted
This is always an issue. I just don't see how you can charge for a quote. I do alot of metal laminate logos for office reception areas. I get alot of calls for "someone to stop by and give them a quote." I request an e-mail of the logo. If they are serious you'll get the logo. If not you got rid of them without offending them. I also do many tenant buildings for local property managers. A lady in one office called and asked me to come by to take a look at a nameplate. ONE nameplate and give her a quote. I replied that I did not need to stop by to quote it. The price would be $ 40.00. She gasped at the price and asked why so high? I told her I needed 1/2 hour shop time to drive by and write a specification and $ 15.00 to cover the nameplate. She said she could not do that. She said she could not photocopy it or mail it to me. So I guess I missed an unprofitable sale. I will always go look at something for a regular customer. I will always go out if I have been recommended by another customer. That word of mouth advertising is the best.
------------------ Jim Mulligan Cardinal Manufacturing, Inc. Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 121 | From: Indianapolis, IN | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
I certainly won't be doing any more free quotes for this Co. as the last time I spoke to the rep. she said one of my quotes was too high and could I take some of the signwork off the job and do it for ½ price because their customer would be moving soon. I have found that the trouble with some of the bigger corporations is that the people we deal with are at the bottom of the employee line. She has to answer to her team leader and then he answers to someone higher up and so on, which means there are too many people in the middle doing nothing and we are supposed to do the work for nothing to cover their butts. Joe, I see what you are saying but I need to talk to the butcher and not the block, which in this case is impossible. this young girl showed me an sandwich board she had done for $150. It was made from an aussie product called weathertex which is a composite wood product that falls apart. The paint was rolled on with a wool roller apparently as it had more orange peel effect than an orange. The blackboard paint panel had the background colorshowing through it and was finished in some cheap vinyl that had shown signs of shrinking. When I pointed this out she said that was all she wanted and what they expected for the money. As far as I am concerned I would much prefer to work for the little guy off the street. Thanks all for your replies.
------------------ Drane Signs Sunshine Coast Nambour, Qld. dranesig@dingoblue.net.au Downunder "If we did all things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves" - Thomas Edison
Posts: 965 | From: Nambour, Qld. Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I hear you too Dave, guess it turned out to be an account you don't really want. Keep your chin up and move on. You're right, there are better customers out there. I do a fair amount of work for large corps who have permanent marketing people. It's been my experience that in a majority of cases, these buyers are responsible for more than price - in fact, price is almost universally preceeded by a need for quality and dependability. If I can't establish that rappour with the buyer, I'd get the hell out too. Once you find the customers who 'get it', give them the moon, but in the meantime, stick to your guns. Good job!
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