posted
Well I'm in a quandry about pricing some truck/van doors and tailgates. I've been using Estimate for a few months and love it but think the price is just to low compaired to both the "Official price guide" and "Mark Roberts price manual" and of course the perceived value.
I've got 3 trucks/vans 3 color logo w/min copy on both doors and tailgate (3x3x3). Size is about 15" long and 12" high.
Running through Estimate it comes out to around $350 which includes about 4 hrs (installation & drive time). Looking at the price guide just a simple 1 color on doors & tailgate for the 3 trucks would be about $780 without trip time, Roberts price guid is $735 without trip time. Am I not using the Estimate software correctly or am I gonna be working for free?
It's such a small graphic for a vehicle door, but time consuming to get the 3 parts on properly, what is a fair price? Bueller? Bueller?
-------------------- Brian Diver PDQ Signs Everett, Wa
posted
Hi Brian! Go with Mark Roberts price guide. It has sure helped me out. It was great running into you at Western. Hey.....what'sup with this weather anyways??
Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
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Concerning EstiMate, if you feel the prices are too low there are a couple things you can do to bump them up so that they are more consistant with your area. One is to increase your markup on materials.
The other is to go to "Management / Configure EstiMate / Market Levels" and increase the percentage. That way, future pricing will be more consistant from one quote to the next.
A third option is to increase your hourly rate by increasing the markup on your labor.
Lots of variables here. Your market area, overhead costs, complexity of graphic, shop or home based?
given the size of the graphic, I would say the pricing guides are definitely a bit on the high side(at least for the area I'm in.)
I'm guessing here without all the info, but, I would probably go 150 ish for each truck if they bring it to you, 175-200 ish if you have to go to them. And I would probably adjust this if it was a regular customer that either sends us a lot of referals or does a lot with us.(ie, I have one customer whose van app I would charge 600 for as a onesy but he brings a onesy once a month consistently and on the same type of van, so I only charge him $450)
I am using the vinyl signs w/customer supplied as the vehicle. I'm not sure if I should crank up the market level for vehicles (this particular project) or globally for vinyl signs.
I think I'll stick with Cheryls idea of going w/Roberts price guide and play with Estimate later this evening.
Got a call from a realestate office that needs a sign moved - pesky buggers. Why couldn't they get the place right to begin with? I hate using power tools in the wind and rain - Cheryl are you sending this lousy weather my way??? Good to see you too!
-------------------- Brian Diver PDQ Signs Everett, Wa
Your "customer vehicle" idea is great - thanks for the tip.
Brian,
Custom market levels (for different substrates) as well as a vehicle-specific plugin are in development. In the meantime, I recommend you raise your market level 10-15% when pricing vehicles. Most customers have found this to be an excellent solution.
You're welcome to post your question about vehicle graphics on our discussion forum here:
posted
Yea Glenn. I like the idea of creating customer vehicle as a substrate. You had mentioned that before (can't remember when) but this time you answered the question I never asked. I took your advice back then but instead of using markup, I added a price to cover prep & made one each for different sized vehicles.
Mark. Can't wait for that plugin, but I guess I have to.
-------------------- Bill Cosharek Bill Cosharek Signs N.Huntingdon,Pa
bcosharek@juno.com Posts: 703 | From: N.Huntingdon, Pa, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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