posted
Hi Hedz. Gotta bid on 4 cement trucks today. I have no clue as to their actual size yet, but it is not the same price catagory as 2 truck doors. They are the backwards-looking kind of trucks. I have to replicate the verbiage on their other trucks, pretty much just a BIG white name on the barrel (?) and 2 doors with their existing logo, 3 colors, and an area on the back of the truck maybe 2'x6'. All in vynull. I realize this is a vague question, but I have no measurements as yet and as you all know, no SignWriters Pricing Guide. Any input would be appreciated...Thanks. Love...Jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
Jill won't be much help on price but I must warn you. In my experience in cement trucks we will not letter the drums anymore in vinyl the acids they use in concrete and in cleaning the barrels are to much for the vinyl. Plus the barrels had a very rough surface
We usally lost the edges on the vinyl in 3 weeks and the rest in a few more weeks and we tried both intermediate and Premium with the same results. Dont want to scare you away from the job as now we do a mask and paint the barrels and they last for a few years.
This is just from personal experience. Im sure other will say they have lettered a barrel 10 years ago with vinyl and it still looks new.
posted
Thanks Bill. I was considering painting the barrels too. I am first and foremost a hand-painter. Their other trucks were done by a silk-screen company that dabbles in signs, and also by a guy who got sick of buying vynull from my pal up the street and bought himself an Edge. The man I dealt with said that the other sign companies had given good service initially but were reluctant to work for him again. I told him that perhaps they had underbid themselves and lost money on the jobs. I also told him I wasn't the cheapest place in town, but I try to do my best. (maybe they realized that the vynull failed & didn't want to mess with it again, or maybe this cement company is a slow-payer?) If I do a mask and then paint, is 1-Shot OK to use? If I'm stuck with vynull, should I use HP? Thanks so much. I hadn't considered the wear & tear factor. Love...Jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I'd figure between $700 -$900/truck and a one-time set up fee for recreating the logo from scratch if you have to do it.
I know this leaves a wide margin ($200)to price with, but the dimensions and material costs on the barrels leaves a lot of grey area.
Doors = $200 - $250 Back = $100 - $150 Sides of barrel = $200 - $250 each side (for making you climb a ladder)
Books says you give a 5% discount from 2-4 in quantity, up to you. If you do them all at once, maybe..I prefer not to do it that way because most of the time the trucks are done one at a time over several weeks.
Definitley use paint on the back and barrel if you can. They take a beating.
Hope this helps... Rapid
[ May 18, 2004, 12:11 PM: Message edited by: Ray Rheaume ]
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
1 Shot should work fine But I would prob add some hardner to the paint to help with longevity and acid resistance. The company we do usally is repainting their trucks evey 2 to 3 years so I have never seen any designs go longer then that and they just paint all their equipment with either Sherman Williams Industrial coatings or the Equipment enamals(IMRON) Mixers take a beating so we never get real fancy on them usally the DARE logo, Bronco head or Stars and stripes.
posted
Jill, Id've guessed around $1000/truck also. Sounds like they could turn out to be one of "those" aggravating jobs. Factor in some extra labor time than usual...
-------------------- Pete Sharkins MotoArts Decals and Signs New Kensington, PA motoarts@yahoo.com * All vinyl, all the time * Posts: 138 | From: New Kensington, PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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A little off the topic, but to help keep things in perspective... I had a customer back in NC that would order 4 of these monsters at a time- brand new from Oshkosh, WI. I hadda ask him what they cost: $160,000 ea.
I was getting $800 ea for both doors, three sides of the motor housing and a number on the chute- complex logo, one color.
Good luck with it, Jill.
-------------------- Jay Nichols ALPHABET SOUP
~the large print giveth and the small print taketh away~ Posts: 176 | From: SW Florida | Registered: Mar 2002
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Hi Jill, Don't know about pricing but I did a ton of cement trucks in the pre historic years , I made the barrel pattern on heavy plastic drop cloth mat. the guy wanted County concrete corporation, but I just lettered COUNTY on the barrel , I think everyone knew it was a concrete truck. maintain AJ
-------------------- Alan Johnson Alan Johnson Grafix Blairstown, NJ 07825 [URL=http://www.alanjohnsongrafix.com] Posts: 261 | From: Blairstown, NJ | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
Thanks Guys. The plastic pattern sounds way more fun than cutting computer masking, and re-useable. I never did get to do the bid today because my son was home sick. But I am ready to go tomorrow! Love...Jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
Hey Jill - just so happens I did a cement mixer today - 2 doors only with D.O.T. #'s - go prepared - it is a dusty & noisy environment to work in - did one 2 months ago and as I was laying on 2nd color they let go with a huge dust cloud of fly ash all over me - the truck - the vinyl - you get the idea - I used to do the drums - all paint - no more of that unless you are desperate for work, plus; they do have to withstand a lot of wear & tear; - p.s. they do pay well . . Carl
-------------------- Carl Wood Olive Branch, Ms Posts: 1392 | From: Olive Branch,MS USA | Registered: Nov 1999
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posted
Make sure you tell them to make sure the lettering area is clean enough to paint on when you get the trucks, otherwise you charge them some ungodly price for you to do it. Still prep it, but at least all the mud globs are gone.
-------------------- Mark Casey Casey Sign Co., Inc. Berkley, MI Posts: 76 | From: Berkley, MI, USA | Registered: Mar 1999
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UPDATE Just got back from my estimate and this is what I told them: (it is different from what I listed above, no doors involved) 2 back areas 24"x36" in 3 colors with logo: $200 barrel (10'5" x16")$200/side, painted. Total:$600, with a one-time set up/pattern fee of $150. The man had wanted vynull due to the acids, but he thought that painting the barrel might be a better idea. However, I doubt I will get the job as he was already quoted $175.00 per truck TOTAL by someone else (the guy who bought the Edge and is now a "sign-maker" ahem. Thanks just the same, at least I learned something and that is the main thing! Love...Jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
Hey Jill, Don't write off this job yet. With the price the other guy gave, he'll be bankrupt before he has time to do these trucks (whoever he is, hopefully he's watching and learning). Or worse and better for you, the lettering will be toast in about 6 months and the owner will come back to you to get it done right.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hey, Jill. If the "other" guy gets the job and is lettering it on the cement guys site, go there and take photos, point and laugh....what a nimrod!! If he asks what you are doing, tell him you were amazed with his price and had to see it for yourself. (You know I'm kidding, right!?)
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
Stevo sez maybe we can buy the guy's Edge after his business fails. Love...Jill (you should see his YP ad: "Ask about our LOW PRICE guarantee!")
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
$175?? It would almost be worth it to watch this idiot climb all over a cement truck for that. Being that effen stupid should be illegal.
Oh, and do me a favor - print this out and hand it to him.
-------------------- "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
Cam Bortz Finest Kind Signs Pondside Iron works 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988" Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
If ya go to the site to watch him, be sure to ask if he'd like you to put his name on your church's list of recipients for the next round of food baskets for the needy. At those prices, he's gonna need it.
I almost added he may need a frontal labotomy too, but it sounds like he already had one of those.
By the way, he gets a little dumber and he'll be qualified to work at PennDot. (figured you'd like that!)
posted
whats the name of your sister who hangs her wig on panel #4?? I think she should turn on the "anonymous caller" feature & call in some "low price guarantee" price matching on some ficticious lowball quotes to book this guy up for an imaginary week or so.
Just see how low you can get him to agree to do stuff, then you could tell him you'll be on permanent holiday now that he'll be doing all your clients work fior half what they are paying you.
posted
A longtime self employed Uncle of mine once told me a "don't let this happen to you" story. The moral of it was:
"I won all of my bids, and I can't figure out why i'm bankrupt..."
You will see those trucks again soon, i'd bet...
-------------------- Pete Sharkins MotoArts Decals and Signs New Kensington, PA motoarts@yahoo.com * All vinyl, all the time * Posts: 138 | From: New Kensington, PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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