posted
OK, so I was intrigued with Estimate after getting a quote from Glenn for some silk screening, the layout was very clean and was really slick that it came as a .pdf file through e-mail.
I downloaded the demo and really like it for the most part. BUT... I do a lot of trucks and dont see how that wil really help me bid those out. Last week I put reflective lettering, digital prints and 40" stripes on a double tanker, there is alwasys the usual vans, bos trucks, and P/U's - am I missing something here? how does Estimate help with that stuff?
-------------------- Brian Stoddard Northwest Signs
As for the digital prints, there are two ways to do this; if you're using an Edge, use the primary method by pricing the prints in our digital printing plugin and checking "prints will be applied to sign(s) in-house."
On the other hand, if you're using Scotchprint or the like, read this knowledgebase article for the lowdown on creating a new "vinyl" in EstiMate that is a subbed-out digital print:
Since this article assumes you are producing the print yourself, when you get to the part where the article says, "figure out how much one square foot of digital print costs you and how much to sell it for," just substitute the numbers for your subbed-out print.
Have fun!
-------------------- Best Regards, Mark Smith EstiMate Sign Pricing Software It's Not Luck. It's EstiMate.™ http://www.EstiMateSoftware.com 1-888-304-3300
Posts: 724 | From: Asheville, NC, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Along with the details provided by Mark's links, you might consider adding a new substrate to your list and call it Vehicle. Enter a cost per square foot to prepare the surface for graphics. Usually you have to clean it, so this is where that cost would come in.
Otherwise, just choose "Customer Supplied Substrate" and adjust your difficulty slider to account for the time you'll need for preparing the surface.
A vehicle is just a vinyl sign with substrate supplied by the customer.
-------------------- Diane Crowther, Metaline Graphics Ltd., Hubbards, Nova Scotia, Canada,
I look at the vehicle as a sign panel. Lets take a van for example. There are two sides and a back. This would be the equivilent of two large panels (207"x81") and one small panel (79"x81").
Lets take a look at this project (check out the "Design/Cost Workshop" page).....
In this job, you have 3M cast vinyl (burgundy, grey and black) and a digital print of a sawblade (silver vinyl with a black screentint print).
For the sides, the vinyl covers about 35% of the overall size of the van. The sawblade covers about 10%. Each side of the van is viewed as an individual panel.
The back of the van is looked at in much of the same way.
Here are the total numbers.
And here is the important part....the "hard numbers".
I hope this helps.
BTW, Be sure to check out the Design/Cost Workshop page. Get involved!
[ February 09, 2002: Message edited by: Glenn Taylor ]
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6803 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
My problem with using Estimate for my pricing is it seems to come in too low at times. Maybe I have shot from the hip on the high side so many times that I don't really have a consistent price. I can always adjust my rate in the global settings to fix this, just need to take the time.
I have sold 4'by8's as low as $250 and as high as $2,0000. Perceived value is what changed the price. If they want a short term "for lease" or a custom image sign as their main identity, the price will change dramatically. So will time and production costs.
The only perceived value that worries me is the value they see in my business. If they come to you for mostly the cheap jobs, guess how they perceive you? I rather be the respected for my quality than liked for my cheap prices.
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