posted
Last spring, my wife and I were at the World of Wheels car show in Chicago. We were looking at some of the vendors booths and I saw a picture of my Brother-in-law's truck at one of the booths. I asked the guy about it and he said he painted it. I told my bro-in-law and he confronted him about it. To me, to copy someones's artwork would be flattery, but to take credit for the original, now that's pretty low!!! Skip
Our local Chamber of Commerce was running their annual Small Business Expo. We were one of 3 shops participating in it and had done most of the Chamber's signage.
While manning the booth, some of my clients came up and asked if we did their sign.
Of course we did. Why?
Well, how come pictures of our signs are in So-n-So's portfolio?
I don't know.
Later that day, my wife walks in to see me. I asked her to go to the other guy's booth and take a peek at his album.
Didn't you do our sign?, she asked.
You know we did.
They have a picture of my dad's sign in there.
Well, at the end of the day, I walked over to So-n-So's booth. His wife was hunched on the floor putting stuff under the skirted table. I started flipping through the album which was positioned prominently on the table. Imagine my surprise. There were dozens of pictures of our work. Sandblasted, carved, gold-leafed, air-brushed -- all signwork that they don't even do. Most of it my work.
Did you do all of these signs?
"Yes we did," she replied without even looking up at me.
Really? How long have you been doing sandblasted signs with gold leaf?
She looked up at me. "You did those, didn't you."
Yep.
"Well, its work we can do."
Well, what you can do is either take these pictures out of your book or you can keep them there and put our name next to each of these pictures giving us full credit.
The next day I sent a friend over to So-n-So's booth to check the album.
The pictures were gone.
Meanwhile, I put up a small sign on our table that read "We're so good, even our competition tries to pass our work off as theirs."
The clients who realized the fraud the other shop was trying to commit became some of our best advertisers.
I realize there are those who think things should be handled "quietly." But, sometimes you just have to speak up. I guarantee you, the embarassment will make them think twice about doing it again.
[ June 21, 2002, 05:57 PM: Message edited by: Glenn Taylor ]
posted
I agree with you Glen, sometimes someone needs to stand up and tell it like it is.
Though, this is not the easiest way and certainly won't win you any popularity contests, but thats the way the truth works, not many "like" to hear it.
Roger
-------------------- Roger Bailey Rapid Tac Incorporated 186 Combs Dr. Merlin Oregon 97532 Posts: 3020 | From: Merlin Oregon | Registered: Dec 1998
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You have to stand up for yourself and stand up for what you belive in if you want to sleep well at night. If that means putting someone's nose out of joint from time-to-time, you can always offer the fella a hand back onto his feet. I may not be the most popular guy in town, but I can assure you that I sleep VERY well at night. Ask my wife. You could literally fire a cannon.
-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
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In you place, I would have grabbed that "potfolio" as soon as my wife told me! Thewn I would have very noisily RIPPED those pages out of the book! Then, in a very loud voice, so thet EVERYONE could hear it, tell him next time that he tried to claim my work...he would be talking to my Attorney!
I would then post them in my booth, with a sign saying that "XYZ" Sign Co. had tried to pass them off as their work!
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
si.allen on Skype
siallen@dslextreme.com
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
Never mess with your profile while in a drunken stupor!!!
Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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