posted
O.K. I did a job recently that involved many different signs from magnetics to MDO to, the ever popular, coroplast. I feel good about the job except the MDO. (6) 18" X 24" white signs with "CAUTION OPEN PIT" on them in Red and Black(straight text-no artwork). Charged him $55.00 each for them. $330.00 MDO It was for a construction co. who everyone knows, likes to spend $$ without blinking an eye....most of em anyway. Also, he wanted them in a real rush (1 1/2 days for the whole order). Did I overcharge??? I'm new at the OWNING part of the sign trade and often cross analyze and second guess my quotes. In a similar story, when I arrived at my job today,(the employer that I will eventually NIX) my boss mentioned he would match the price for an 18" X 24" real estate sign another co. did. Double faced 2 color with artwork for $30----for just 1 of em. Now, did I overcharge. He knows of my new business and often reminds me of the low overhead I have from starting up out of my home where as my employer is a huge manufacturer with a sign dept....with more overhead. How can he sell 1 sign for so cheap? Or am I, the guy with low overhead, way overcharging?
------------------ Corey Wine signCONCEPTS Airdrie, Alberta, Canada The ex-Californian Canadian signconcepts1@home.com
"I cooked a meatloaf recipe that I downloaded off of the internet. A day later, I got a stomach VIRUS....Coincidence?"
posted
Well, he paid it, so you must not be overcharging. Seriously, though, I think that price is fine, I definately wouldn't feel guilty about it. It isn't as if he traded you his soul for them. As to what your boss said, Just because you have low overhead doesn't mean you shouldn't be making money. I work from my home and have little overhead as compared to a large shop, but alot of overhead compared to a guy who works for someone else. Get what you can for your work, just make sure you take care of your customers and do great work, and you will be fine.
------------------ Tyler Malinky
A Step Above Signs Cleveland, Ohio 440.479.8129 440.842.1894 fax
www.astepabovesigns.com tmalinky@astepabovesigns.com or exmayors@aol.com
Posts: 190 | From: Parma, Ohio USA | Registered: May 2001
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I'm sure your boss is happier with this than you undercutting his prices.
If you really feel that guilty, give the guy a break next time he places an order. But if that's the price you WANTED and think your work is worth....no worries!
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I come up with 56.34 for 1/2" MDO Good 2 sides, lettered one side. 2 coats of primer and only one coat of enamel. Lettered using Gerber Hp vinyl. This is for 6 signs.
Sounds like your right in line!
------------------ Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA bob@creativesignworks.com
"Some people's kids"
Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Well now as I see it"" you should of had a BOOM and then a couple off Bang, Bang`s,,
I charge one price for the first"" then lower as the aggervation warrents..... I also have in my mind the cost of the material,, That way I KNOW my Bottom Line
you get a feeling after a BUNCH of Years,, to know how much time it will take....
This is a (IOAFS) job....
You Overcharge this guy,,
Why""... cause You feel it"""
I"" You"" and anyone elese in this bizz"" who is...... of a """good fellow" ,,,,,,has no problem approching the coustomer and telling them,,,""""""while going over the paper work on there job you notice a (possible) over charge,,, and you would like the oppertunity to make it right>>>> OR not......Twain,.TBuk
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Your overhead has nothing to do with it. A sign is worth what a sign is worth. Whether you work out of your basement, the mall, or an out house. Your price was fine!!!
------------------ Rob Larkham RL Graphic D-Sign Chester, MA rldsigns@aol.com
Posts: 517 | From: Chester, MA | Registered: May 2001
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I'm working on 5- 16" x 6" "shelf wood" signs @ $40. ea. I've never used MDO, but it sounds cheap to me! I work out of my backyard too...
------------------ "He who asks is a fool for 5 minutes. He who doesnt ask, remains a fool forever." ------------------ Marcano-Welch Signs Luquillo, Puerto Rico 787-889-6608
Posts: 2287 | From: Luquillo, Puerto Rico, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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This guy (in Calgary) works for a major corp. with its main office in California. He basically told me when he was paying me the balance that his Superiors get mad with him if he questions the price and if he doesn't pay his subs off as quick as possible. Don't think he should have been telling ME that but, oh well. Didn't think I was overcharging until the signs were done. Thought about knocking a little off to keep his business but I think he'll call me back since his boss doesn't care about $$$ and before you say it...knowing what I know about his bosses procedure...I STILL won't screw the guy......but I sure as hell won't lowball em either!!!!hardy har har
------------------ Corey Wine signCONCEPTS Airdrie, Alberta, Canada The ex-Californian Canadian signconcepts1@home.com
"I cooked a meatloaf recipe that I downloaded off of the internet. A day later, I got a stomach VIRUS....Coincidence?"
posted
Corey....RUSH jobs usually get charged 50% extra! Besides...construction companies WILLINGLY pay extra to get a job done on time! Delivery schedule is MORE IMPORTANT than price to them (unless they are a small 2 bit outfit)! Enjoy your profits!
------------------ Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA (714) 521-4810 ICQ # 330407 "SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
95% of all accidents occur immediately after the words "Hey...watch this."
Brushasaurus on Chat
Gladly supporting this BB !
Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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SI", with respect I disagree,,, to this point...
If you are engaged in a bizz that is wam'a'bama"",,, meaning that you have customers waiting at the counter>>> then I would go along with the """stick um theory"", I"m to busy to get to you RIGHT NOW''''JUST Look at ALL the people BEFORE you......... but""" In the world of the "sole painter"" LOL ( kinda like that sound""" sorta of Jazzy""").. auummmmmmmm where was I ,,.......................
O" I remember"""
If it's a HEY"""" I'm. go'na''' ,,, give you some duckets for you to get off your dead ASS,,, and make me a SIGN <<<<<<< THAN,,, YUP,,, I do BELIEVE""" ya gots to treat um,,,, like,, the first lady ya told,,'Aaaaaaaaaaa to....Twain.TBuk
posted
No kiddin Shane! That "green stuff" out there in San Diego must be pretty "green" however, he is right next door to Mexico, and with the prices he charges, can only get the brown stuff. Don't misread me....I haven't been a browny or a greeny for years!
TBUK What would you have charged?
------------------ Corey Wine signCONCEPTS Airdrie, Alberta, Canada The ex-Californian Canadian signconcepts1@home.com
"I cooked a meatloaf recipe that I downloaded off of the internet. A day later, I got a stomach VIRUS....Coincidence?"
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Your pricing is right on Corey. You done him a good job when he wanted it. That price for mdo is almost exactly what I would have charged, and do charge. Keep it up pal.
------------------ John Deaton III Deaton Design 109 N. Cumberland Ave.,Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-573-9101
posted
48 first,, 42 each......258.00,,,, mdo is 35.....223...paint and a bier,,, is 18 ....205........cig, and toliet paper cost is 5..........200 it took you 1 hour to prime and bk/grnd@ 50 per hr (shortreeds rate) 150 it took you 30 min to cut @ 25........ ya got 125 dollars left to stick some zhit on 6 piecesssss of fricken wood,,,,LOL,,,,,,,,,,NOW leave me alone,,, i,m gona go get STONED..........on some payote'''' and have me another gin,,,,shoot me some Jonez,,, toss me down a few reds""and just freeze out for the rest of the Nite....Twain,TBuk
This is sort of out of line with the thread, but related so bear with me.
I was talking to a friend of mine that got into the "quicky-sticky" biz about 13 years ago after retireing from the military down around the St. Louis area. We have helped each other out over the years and keep buying identical equipment/software so we could help each other out on the learning curve.
Anyway, I asked him a couple weeks ago what he was charging for a 4x8 MDO realty sign. "$225.00" was his reply. Later in the conversation we discussed banner pricing. He told me he just did a 4x8 banner for $165.
I asked him why he charged $165 for the 4x8 banner and $225 for the 4x8 MDO and it stopped him cold. He had no explanation other than the difference in the cost of the material....which is not $60 difference.
I see a lot of this inconsistant pricing. I see sign guys charging banner work by the square foot, so that one banner that has 4 words on it prices out the same as a banner with 150 words on it. Makes no sense to me.
Sorry this strays a little from the original thread.
------------------ Draper The Signmaker Bloomington Illinois USA
Get To A Letterhead Meet This Summer! See you there! 309-828-7110 drapersigns@hotmail.com Draper_Dave on mIRC chat
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
All of the American responses thought $55 was fine, and if they're thinking $55 US, then the Canadian price should have been more like $80 CDN .
Actually, Corey, your price is about right for a regular job, and maybe a little low for a rush job. As someone else mentioned here, it often costs your customer a lot more to wait.
As far as $30 for a Double-sided two-colour sign, well...that's just insanity. Single-sided one-colour is pushing the envelope at $30.
------------------ Diane Crowther, Metaline Graphics Ltd., Nova Scotia, Canada, ID #285
posted
YOU GO ROB LARKHAM!!! That was a no-BS response. A sign is worth exactly as much as a customer will pay for it. If it's not worth enough to the customer for you to produce at a profit, don't do it. On the other hand, value is all about perception. Next time you think you might be overcharging, check out the rates for designers, newspaper ads, or any other form of visual information or advertising media.
Your client has a boss "who gets mad if he questions prices or doesn't pay subs promptly"? I'd like to see that boss open a business management school. His attitude goes a long way to assure he gets good work done on time with fewer headaches. Or maybe he owned a sign shop in a previous life.
------------------ "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. - Raoul Duke (Hunter S. Thompson)
Cam Finest Kind Signs 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988"
Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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There are three types of customers: 1. Quality and service are more important than price, and willingly pay for it. 2. Want quality, service, AND price...but are reasonable about it. 3. Price is THE only thing. Your customer fits under the first type. As for the third type: Customer has a Truck Driving School. Decent tractor, old Box Trailer, says he is going to remove the old decals and have it repainted. Wants stars and stripes and lettering in red, white and blue! In a hurry, needs it quiclky! How much? Did a quick thumnail sketch and gave him a price. Will get back to me! Month later I see it on the road .... plain black letters...OVER the top of the decal glue that didn't peel off! Looked like crap!!! A "Joe Wino" quickie!!!! Sorry fella! I don't do that kind of job!
------------------ Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA (714) 521-4810 ICQ # 330407 "SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
95% of all accidents occur immediately after the words "Hey...watch this."
Brushasaurus on Chat
Gladly supporting this BB !
Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Because someone works "at home" should not have a bearing on prices.
When someone with low or no overhead starts charging based on that,they begin a bad jurney down a dead end road. If the "prevailing rates for 4x8 mdo is 80.00(or whatever prevailing rate is ) then EVERYONE should be charging that.
One guy starts sellin cheap cause of low overhead, he screws up the entire market for everyone !!
Just my buiss. opinion.
Roger
------------------ Roger Bailey Rapid Tac Incorporated Waikoloa, Hawaii
posted
G'day Corey, If you are feeling a little bit guilty about overcharging, then how do you feel when you realize you have undercharged?? We have a little saying that goes like this; "you pick up on the merry-go-round what you lose on the swings". seems to work out that way a lot.
------------------ Drane Signs Sunshine Coast Nambour, Qld. dranesig@dingoblue.net.au Downunder "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life" - Confucius
Posts: 965 | From: Nambour, Qld. Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
What's over-charging?? Simple, that's when you charge for something they didn't get!!! In all other cases you just got a good price for your work!! If they think it's too high they usually will not go ahead and buy it. Don't sell your stuff too cheap, it's bad for business.
------------------ Chris Elliott 1longshot@msn.com cell 620-845-0264
Posts: 686 | From: Scottsdale, AZ & Anthony, KS, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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I couldn't agree with you more, Chris. When I first got into the business, I had a business consultant give me one piece of free advice, that I'll never forget. "Charge as much as possible".
------------------ Tim Whitcher Quality Signs & Design 107 E Adrian St Blissfield, MI 49228 qualitysigns@cass.net
Posts: 1546 | From: Adrian, MI | Registered: Mar 1999
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