posted
Had a guy come in today driving a $100,000 tractor trailer (truck)wants his name- blank trucking & Augusta,Ga & dot #'s in silver gemlite.I tell him $120.00 he liked to have died. Then he said he's been getting them @ Signs Now for $50.00,I asked him if he was sleeping with the guy @ Signs Now..hell he acted kinda sweet,but offended. With a deal like that I figured it must be true. Sleeping with someone usually gets you a deal LOL
Alan Ladd Augusta,Ga. Ronnie's Tint & Signs Inc.
[This message has been edited by Aladd (edited August 02, 2001).]
it id for this reason that we price stuff first and design later. i do not believe a sketch, no matter how good, is going to make a sale if the money is a prolem.
last week, we had a contractor call on behalf of a bowling alley that we had bid a wall lettering job for. he stated that the owner needed a sketch to see what he was going to get for his money. i told him that we hadn't even been contacted as to whether or not we even got the job. he said that we were probably going to get it. well, ley me say that probably isn't good enough for me. i wanted to see a signed written committment before i was going to release any type of sketch, layout, drawing, what have you. told the contractor that i needed a signed contract and a deposit to proceed. he was none too pleased. you would of thought that i had just questioned his parentage. lol!
which makes me wonder.... why was a contractor of any sort calling about this job? why didn't the bowling alley call me personally? why the big questioning of our shop policies pertaining to deposits and contracts? why was the contractor making such a big deal about getting the drawing and making sure that the logo of the bowling alley was on it and it was going to be perfectly in scale? hmmmmmmmmm... it couldn't be that he was going to try and get this done himself was it? boy, glad i didn't fall for that one.... lol!
my partner has made these points numerous times... ever notice that most of the times that you get screwed is when you break your own rules? that the ones that squawk the most about deposits are the ones that you have the most problems getting paid?
do people honestly think that we are that stupid and/or naive? sheesh... i hope not. guess i will just have to keep showing them that we know what we are doing over here.
have a great one!
------------------ Bruce Bowers DrCAS Signtech
"how great are His signs..." Daniel 4:3
i am a proud supporter of this website!
Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
I work on a lot of 18 wheelers, unfortunately $50 is an all too common price for a set of doors and permit numbers. There are guys around here that specialize in trucks that do them in two colors (everything) all day long for $50. The truckers know this and look upon $50 as the "right" price. I get $200 for the few that can actually see the difference. I figure before long they will be doing them for $25.
------------------ George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@ionictech.com
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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I have a couple customers whom I dearly love, but they are the biggest cheap asses I have ever met. I just laugh when they tell me they can get their signs for 10.00 at FastSigns or SignsNOW. I tell them they SHOULD go there and get their signs...because I am not interested in working for free. Poor signsNOW......I saw their van today while I was out delivering signs...I waved...they just kept on going...they had their van covered from front to back with a digital print. I thought it looked awful.
------------------ surf or MoJo on mirc Cheryl J Nordby Signs by Cheryl Seattle WA.....! signsbycheryl@hotmail.com
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Cheapos!! I know plenty. Only 2 weeks ago I had an accountant trying to downbeat me. I had already quoted on the work 3 weeks previously. he rang and wanted me to do the work but "Could I do it for the same price as one of his other quotes?". When they say you are too expensive I always say "Compared to what?" When he said I should keep an eye on what my competition is doing, he couldn't believe it it when I said I couldn't give a s**** what my competitors do. In the end how can you see if a background has been prepared and treated properly to say nothing of the finished LOOK of the sign. I didn't go to trade school for 5 years on low wages to end up competing against some nitwit who buys a franchise and switches from using "Publisher" to being a full on signmaker. Anyway getting back to the point I told the accountant that we had got off to a bad start and I didn't wish to work for him. He insisted that he really wanted me to do the job as I had been reccommended by the guy he was buying out so he had seen the work I hade done for him and he knew the work would last the time. When I went to install the signs he was all over me like a rash and wanting to help me put them up so I went a bit overboard and had him running up and down the stairs getting electrical leads and drills etc. just for the fun of it. I think he must have been one of those bully types who back off once you put them in their placeI have spoken of the different types of customers before. For every ass**** there are 40 good customers.
------------------ 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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iam with si...used to do a roofing co. truck doors..2 doors $50...had a line looked like a roof, the word KEYWORTH ROOFING AND PH # all one color and in paint all free hand...i dont have this price quibble problem with the mobile shop....i quote a price, and "do you want it, NOW?" i usually get the job...got 2 jobs in the last 2 days...just because they saw the truck sittin well i was letterin a window...iam gona hit the OASIS truck stop about 20 miles from here one day....and ill quote 2 doors @ $120.00... and ill let you kow how i make out..
------------------ joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-944-5060 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND
Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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27 years ago we raised our basic two door truck lettering from $110 to $125. Prices have been going up ever since. I could not think of going back there.
Figure some of your expenses.
How long do you spend chatting with the customer? Do they have other advertising? Should we do the truck to look like their phone book add? Do they want artwork for a phone book add? Explaining why black lettering on their red truck isn't in their best interest.
Cleaning and prepping the doors. Often we find it easier to letter if we remove the mirrors.
Design time. Are we making a pattern? Cutting a mask? Using sticky back?
Layout lines for positioning?
Then there's the paperwork. You need to write invoice, collect, file invoice, perhaps you keep a table logging time and expenses so you know what your business is doing? This takes time too and is a part of the cost of doing business.
I see the quicky trucks that I'd want to assign my signature to requiring at least three hours minimum. That should establish a starting price.
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Posts: 6718 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Guys, the $50 price I am referring to is two layers of vinyl on EVERYTHING company name, town, permit numbers, unit numbers, many times in gemlite or chrome. Not only is it rediculously cheap, it's boring as hell. There are four or five of these guys located around the big truck stops near here. They were getting $100 a truck a few years back, then it went to $75, now it's $50. Do I see a trend here? No they can't be making any money but as fast as one goes out of business, two more pop up to take his place. About four years ago I was losing a lot of business to them and tried to adjust and offer "economy" jobs. What a laugh. All that did was get them to lower their prices even more. Needless to say they are quite busy, but then at those rates they have to be.
------------------ George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@ionictech.com
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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I have a minimum of $60.00 if they pick the letters up at the shop and install themselves did letters for 5 trucks yesterday 3 lines 2 in letters. took 20 minutes to layout, cut, weed and tape. $300 dollars was not bad for 8 ft. vinyl. we get min. of $120 installed.
------------------ Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 164 Poplar Rd. Commerce, Ga 30529 706-335-2348 Fax 706-335-3378 icq#11718273
Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
We have a similar situation here. We had (what we thought was) a "regular" customer come in to get a logo designed for his new business. So we did, got paid for it, good. Last week, he moved into the same building we are in, two doors down. He's moving in using a box truck with a poorly reproduced version of the logo I designed for him & a big digital print of himself (he's a realtor). The next day his window is lettered, and the next his little lighted can has a new face in it (not translucent though, can't wait to see it at night). We were never even asked to quote for the jobs. Anyway, I took a look at the window and there is a SignsNow sticker on the bottom. I was at the same time flattered and insulted. He had the sense to come to me for the original logo, but then he took it to SignsNow to be cheaply reproduced on everything. He should have gotten a price from us though, because we will give people in our building very good prices on signs and go the extra mile because they help us out as neighbors, and because the general public will assume that we did the signs, so it's great advertising for us. Oh well, I just hope he doesn't expect to be able to come over for those rush job little riders we used to come in for. The service may not be quite as fast.
------------------ Joe Endicott Graphic Arts Gulf Breeze, FL joesign1@bellsouth.net
Posts: 681 | From: Virginia Beach, VA USA | Registered: Mar 1999
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hey Joe.....same thing happened to me when I had my shop...my new neighbor had me design his signs.....then had another sign shop come and letter his window very early on a Sunday morning. (they didn't think I would be working that day I guess....) The vinyl had so many bubbles in it it was quite funny. Monday morning comes...the neighbor walks in acting real nervous...I asked him why he didn't get a quote from me for his window lettering..he said "oh my wife wanted to give the job to a man"
------------------ surf or MoJo on mirc Cheryl J Nordby Signs by Cheryl Seattle WA.....! signsbycheryl@hotmail.com
posted
joe have you seen or know GRAPHIX TO GO...from gulf breeze....supposed to have a mobile shop....saw his card the other day...as for signs now...this one over one fairfield & 29...ive had a couple customers go there because of the cheap prices...think the guy doin the work is usein the shop equip/material...and not makin reciepts and pocketing the money...doin 2x8 banners for $35....the way i heard is SN is owed by some guy from destin/ft walton...so this shop is not owner run....
------------------ joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-944-5060 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND
[This message has been edited by old paint (edited August 03, 2001).]
Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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Ever since I opened up a storefront, I get alot of people that think this is a garage sale!!! I guess I need a sign that states "No Haggling" I qoute a price, and they seem to think I am willing to bargain..
------------------ Eric Patzer A.S.A.P. Design Lafayette, CO epatzer@earthlink.net
Posts: 208 | From: Lafayette, CO USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hey Eric, If you have a Signs Now nearby, they should do your "No Haggling" sign pretty cheap for ya. Just kidding.
I've dealt with some people like this too. Just this morning, I talked with the owner of a tranny shop here. He didn't have a problem with the price I gave him, was just a little surprised by it. We ended up having a talk about cheap-os. He does a lot of race car trannys and he told me about the guys who want it done for "sponsorship". He tells them no one gives him parts for his car for free. I told him my thoughts which are "why would I do it for sponsorship? So your cheap racer buddies can come whining to me wanting theirs done for free too?"
Hey Eric, maybe add "No Whining" to your "No Haggling" sign.
Maybe we should turn this sign into a list...
This is a sign shop. This is NOT a garage sale. 1. No Haggling 2. No Whining
Any other suggestions? Maybe add that the credit department is handled by Helen Waite. (You want credit? Go to Helen Waite)
------------------ Chris King Paper Works & Graphix Indiana, PA
Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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There was another type of sign competition that I once saw, other than who can do it the cheapest. Mike Jackson was doing some magnificant din=mensional signs in Jackson Hole. He'd have a store owner come in and say "I want one better than his," pointing to his business neighbor or competitor. He was able to market these beauties as status pieces. As this was happening, the whole business climate improved. Everyone won, except the guy that did the flat cheapie signs.
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Posts: 6718 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I thought about wiring up this loud a** buzzer in my front office, and when a customer starts haggling about price, and this guy can do it cheaper,etc., I'd push a button with my foot to make it go off with a red light attached blinking on and off, and underneath would be a little sign saying... DANGER! CHEAP A** CUSTOMER DETECTED! heehee.
------------------ John Deaton III Deaton Design 109 N. Cumberland Ave.,Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-573-9101
posted
I thought I would add this in here.. kinda-sorta fits in but it's pretty funny..
There's a local bike shop in town called "Scooter Tramps" with a new ad on the radio advertising leather and accessories for Sturgis (lot's of old bikers in town).. At the end of their ad, the guy shouts "NO SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNTS! YOU'VE HAD TWICE THE TIME TO EARN THE MONEY!!!"
hehehe.. I guess we arent the only ones feelin the pinch..
------------------ 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
I guess I can't complain, I don't have too many real cheap customers. I do tractor doors with name, city & usdot #'s etc. for about $ 225.00 including some silliness on the " bug shield", I'm OK with this. My next cheapo customer is going to be treated like the people on the " Weakest Link TV show "...... When they ask if I will do the job for whatever they are offering, I Will state... " You are the cheapest link, Goodbye! "
posted
Cheap-O customers? Do you people really have a problem with this? Why, not here in the great and prosperous state of West Virginia, no siree. I try to charge only $350 for two truck doors and the customer insists on giving me a 20% tip on top of that. That's why there's so many lucrative positions open in the sign biz here in "almost heaven" WV. It's like a virtual sign maker's paradise, baby. Even the leaves only fall to kiss the ground.
LOL
Just kidding.
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