too many people approach the sign biz as a "pick one off the shelf and i will give it to ya cheap".

i don't try to compete because i hold my product up to be better than cheap.

at the same time it is up to "us" to show the client the difference between cheap and good advertising value.(design)

just another sign guy,

Sometimes the person honestly doesn't know what their worth. I didn't when I started back in the early 80's. Both signpainters I learned from where past retirement age. They hadn't kept up with the rising cost of overhead like we have to. The one told me in his younger years he knew exactly how much it cost to turn on the lights in the shop. Although they both taught me a great deal about signs, they didn't know anything about current pricing or about customer games.

My local competitor started telling everyone I knew what I was worth (not much). But until I got a shop of my own and started paying for the overhead and dealing with taxes and insurance...I didn't know what I was worth or had anyone tell me what he competitors were charging. I thought I would get a break when I bought a computer and sign software. Yeah, I thought it would have pricing listed in with everything else. Nope, figure it out yourself, charge what ya want to, is what the saleman said.

After I started raising the prices, and telling people I understand why my competitor, with all his employees, has to charge more, the competitor stopped by. He came in and sat down to discuss pricing with me. Once I started telling everyone we all have overhead to cover as well as the cost of equipment and materials... things started to come together.

Some of these new people will under price themselves out of business, others will learn over time. But instead of dealing with the low ballers, I will attempt to let them know that the tax man is going to want his cut and ya better have liability insurance figured into your price as well as taxes. Some of them decide they don't want to be in this business others try. But without design experience under their belt, they aren't going to take anything from you Glenn.

It makes me try to learn more and do better everytime a new person hits town. I was the new guy once. Some are out to make a quick buck, others want to learn and enjoy the business. The ones making the quick buck won't stick with it. The creative ones might become a friend, like everyone here at the BB.

O.K. I'm done with the run on sentences. Just my thoughts on the subject.