posted
For some reason I still have a Hotmail address which is related to signpainting, even though I no longer have my own shop.
The address may be on a web page floating aimlessly in cyberspace somewhere that I'm unaware of.
I opened that e-mail account to see what, if any e-mail was collecting dust in there and here's one of the e-mails I got just today:
send prices for 4" Teal Garamond font Function Junction... send designs and ideas 26 ft boat, sml door on R side transom, space allowed about 5'
That's all it contained. No introduction, no signature, just one big expectation of getting me to send them "designs and ideas" for free. Obviously this person has already been shopping around or is somehow connected with typefaces enough to know the name Garamond. So my guess is they want additional designs and he or she will chose the one they like and have their local cheapie shop cut their vinyl from the chump's design. Sorry - I stopped being a chump long ago.
I think I'll e-mail back an estimate something like:
Boat lettering consultation... $120
Sketch deposit................ $100
Revisions or alterations to sketch $75 each
Creativity rental fee......... $120
Vinyl......................... $93.50
Packaging/Shipping............ $20
Telephone help line for installation problems ..................... $20 call
Please pay all charges in advance. If there are any overages you will be sent a refund. If there are additional unforseen costs, you will be invoiced and expected to pay within 10 days.
How would you handle this kind of thing? It's obvious I don't want this kind of work and could care less if I offend this person who has already offended me by their ignorance.
------------------ EmpY® is also known as Mayo Pardo. Seen wandering through Australia, currently in Elgin IL. 847 931-4171
posted
Geeeeee... no, I can't say that I get those.. hehehe
80% of my business is online sales and I deal with that kinda stuff through 30 emails a day.
For lettering, I wont send a sketch. I have font samples on my site and that's good enough.
If someone wants a sketch of a graphic, I wont do that either.. at least not until I get setup to take plastic then I'll just charge them for sketches.
Usually my online stuff is just people wanting reproductions of logos and whatever. In that case they dont get a sketch either cause they already know how it's going to look.
I would respond with that price quote email though just to see what the response is. =)
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
EmpY..I get lot's of those too..and I don't even bother replying...BUT I also get some serious folks who state where they are (read that as sorta close to me).. Who they are...and kinda what they want. THOSE are the folks that I reply to. I ask for their phone number or ask them to give me a call and from there it usually turns into a job. Despite the universal anonymity of the internet, a contact is a contact, and it doesn't matter whether it came from the net or the yellow pages. Personally, I find that internet enquiries are more productive, percentage wise than yellow pages.
------------------ Dave Grundy shop#340 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 "A PROUD $ supporter of the website"
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Hell Empy, I have 'em come right in the shop and expect all that!!! EVERYDAY, almost EVERY CUSTOMER!!!hahahahah I just smile and wave. R.T.
------------------ R.T.Thomas,AirdeSigns 4407 US Hwy 49 S Hattiesburg,MS 39401 (601)543-0271 ID#2363 Proud supporter of LETTERVILLE! The best site on the net!! "I yam what I yam and dat's all dat I yam"
Posts: 547 | From: Hattiesburg,MS USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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You have to be the one to stop it. There are all levels of ignorant or greedy people out there. Even the kindest friends and relatives can do this to you without realizing it. Before you know it, you're not the boss anymore.
I need to know the price on copying this price structure. You know your info here is a bit more complete than I have down. I won't download this info of yours WITHOUT your consent. And, if you agree, then,please let me send you a small amount of money for the thought! thanks,
------------------ Deborah Fowler Creative Signs, Ohio "Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day: Teach a man to fish, he'll eat for a lifetime."
Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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I wouldn't take offense to the quote request. Here is an opportunity to educate a potential client. Frankly, there are a lot of people out there who "just don't know" how to ask, what to ask, and/or what to expect.
I would simply send him a letter stating your policies about sketches and possibly give him a base price for providing lettering.
You never know. It could turn into a large client one day.
------------------ Compost Happens!
:) Design is Everything! :) Glenn Taylor in beautiful North Carolina
I just smile and wave.
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