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I made a sign for a church Spring Luncheon a few years ago and each year they bring the 3'x4' 2-sided sign back to change the date. My grandparents and my family used to attend there when I was growing up. Since I've been married, I joined my wife's church which was closer to where we live. I still know a few of the members that attend there.
I only have to change one or two numbers on this sign each year and couldn't see charging them since it was a fund-raiser anyway. I told them to just bring me a apple pie and that would be fine.
I guess they felt very generous this year and brought me two layer cakes and 2 dozen peanut butter cookies from a bakery!! I only changed one number on each side this year.
Sometimes the little surprises in life are the best.
Yes, I will work for food. (sometimes!)
Any unusual bartering stories out there?
Sign-cerely, Steve
-------------------- Steve Luck Sign Magic Inc. 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 (618)466-9120 signmagic@sbcglobal.net Posts: 870 | From: 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 | Registered: Dec 2004
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I use to do work for a designer at a local resort. She was always a bit late delivering the artwork. . . .and she always brought a large plate of home made cookies. . .and she always got her job done on time.
-------------------- Bill Modzel Mod-Zel screen Printing Traverse city, MI modzel@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1356 | From: Traverse City, MI | Registered: Nov 1998
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I swapped signs for body work on my shop truck at a local body shop.
-------------------- Dana Blair Blair Signs Wooster, OH www.blairsigns.com
If sign makers go on strike, is there anything written on their picket signs? Posts: 835 | From: Wooster, OH, USA | Registered: Jul 1999
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I once traded a small black light for a mandolin, back in 1968. The owner of the mandolin was a Viet-Nam Vet, who later passed on from the effects of Agent Orange. He and I became very good friends and I still have the mandolin. Peace, Don
-------------------- Donald Miner ABCO Wholesale Neon 1168 Red Hill Creek Dobson, NC Posts: 842 | From: North Carolina | Registered: Apr 2006
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I barter sign work for pictures of dead presidents, they seem to be rare these days and everyone wants to collect them. It even seems the Government is into collecting them too. Kinda odd seeing as they actually print the darn things. Can't they just make more? lol
[ April 15, 2010, 09:08 AM: Message edited by: Bob Rochon ]
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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I would be glad to share with you all my extensive use of the barter system. I have many years experience with this and have a few secret tricks. Just send $25 dollars to my post office box and I will send you back my top ten list of bartering tricks. -Elmer Signworthy PO Box 0000 Anywhere, USA
-------------------- Preston McCall 112 Rim Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 text: 5056607370 Posts: 1552 | From: Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: Nov 1998
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Did a lot of work over the years for a local art gallery and traded for Limited Edition Prints (framed). I still enjoy looking at them.
Several signs for a dentist friend. Silver crown in my mouth and lots of dental work for Jeanne.
Several very nice evenings out with Jeanne at a local high end restaurant.
Had a standing credit file for a local nursery - I did their vehicles and other signage and they provided plants and such. We kept the bartering going for years until the place was sold to a new owner.
Lots of small, quick jobs for meals, car parts, etc.
The best exchange was a job I did for a local PreSchool. They liked the sign so much I got to sleep with the director...who happened to be my wife.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Raymond, How dare you mix pleasure with serious work! At least you married her and made a respectable woman out of her.
Being single, myself, has put me into numerous situations with female clients. Fortunately for me, most of my clients are male car dogs and they are all business. Still. the occasional female client drifts past my invoice book and I have been known to avail myself of some of the extra credit items not usually permitted in such business practises. No warranty intended. It is not really part of the bartering process, but more about taking a stab at 'client research'?
-------------------- Preston McCall 112 Rim Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 text: 5056607370 Posts: 1552 | From: Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hopefully, Bob, the statute of limitations has passed on my previous bartering endeavors so the IRS agent who is diligently monitoring our BB won't be able to retroactively pursue me for back taxes.
In the DISTANT PAST, I've swapped for dental work, a bicycle, stereo system, kegs of beer, dinners, tires, tools, building materials, landscaping - most anything.
I did a sandblasted sign for a beach house at Edisto Island and traded for a week's stay - complete with use of a boat and golf cart. I also swapped a boat dealer for a brand new 19' Bayliner ski boat years ago.
The only caveat I'd offer is make sure you get your end of the deal quickly. Time has a way of dissipating the payoff......
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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I got three signatures on a baseball for a $200 sign. John Oulerud, Robbie Alomar and Paul Moliter. All 1993 Blue Jays. Finished 1, 2 and 3 in American League batting standings. Only time it happened in the 20th century.
I still have the ball in a sealed display case. Sign is long gone.
-------------------- Chuck Churchill, It's A Good Sign Inc. 3245 Harvester Rd, U-12 Burlington, Ont. Phone: 905-681-8775 Fax: 905-681-8945 Posts: 633 | From: Burlington, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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I've always done my thing in a bartering manner when money became a issue. I cannot remember ever losing a job due to any situation until I moved out of the real world and into the holy war zone
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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lettered name on 2 BMX bikes for a bike helmet in Palm Desert
-------------------- John Lennig / Big Top Sign Arts 5668 Ewart Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada bigtopya@hotmail.com 604.451.0006 Posts: 2184 | From: Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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IRS? There is no statute of limitations of fraud and cheating on your taxes is exactly why the law is on the books. Even though they usually only run audits back seven years, if they have information about some earlier event, they can prosecute. Not worth the Class E Felony IMHO.
-------------------- Preston McCall 112 Rim Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 text: 5056607370 Posts: 1552 | From: Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: Nov 1998
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I once did a job for a jeweler, a small wood panel, lettered for an agreed price of $180. When I finished and he was ready to write a check I pointed to a watch with a $250 price tag and said I would trade for that. He said "But that's a $250 watch, the sign is only $180. (I don't know what the markup on the watch is but its something). I said, OK, nevermind, just give me the check. He paused, thought about it and gave me the watch. Edit to add: I like to get an agreed price before mentioning bartering or sometimes it gets into who's time is worth more and markups and all that. Is this one of Preston's tricks?
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I had another customer, a men's clothing store who gave me ongoing work, showcards and stuff. Remember those? Our agreement was I would trade for clothes and he would give me I forget what pecentage off the price tag. It went well for a while until one day he said he didn't think it seemed fair that I wasn't giving him xx% off my price. I said I would rather be paid by check if he didn't want to give me xx% off. The discount is what enticed me to trade. I don't really want to work for clothes regularly at the regular price. He went out of business so I don't know what would have happened.
-------------------- Chuck Peterson Designs San Diego, CA Posts: 1050 | From: San Diego, CA USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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In a moment of indecision on the subject, years ago, my Dad enlightned me on the rules and legal path to follow in bartering. It also eliminates most problems associated w/issues over fair worth. It simply is: exchange receipts, written to reflect such worths, and enter them into your annual IRS report, done deal. A little, fair amount of tax is cheaper than the alternative...
-------------------- Frank Magoo, Magoo's-Las Vegas; fmagoo@netzero.com "the only easy day was yesterday" Posts: 2365 | From: Las Vegas, Nv. | Registered: Jun 2003
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Swapped a couple of 4x8 signs for a Jeep, window lettering for Jeep tires, door lettering for Jeep paint, and countless other jobs all trading out for Jeep stuff.
I am currently in the bartering process with a local bar owner who wrote me $1800 worth of checks on a closed account. I'm willing to let him give me cash by Monday and in trade I won't send his ass to jail.
-------------------- Pat Whatley Montgomery, AL (334) 262-7446 office (334) 324-8465 cell Posts: 1306 | From: Wetumpka, AL USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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-------------------- Frank Magoo, Magoo's-Las Vegas; fmagoo@netzero.com "the only easy day was yesterday" Posts: 2365 | From: Las Vegas, Nv. | Registered: Jun 2003
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Pat, I talked to the bar owner. He said if you deduct the ass-whuppin' you've promised him from the bill as well, he'll be there Monday with the cash. Otherwise he can only pay $1,000... he said he needs to keep the other $800 for hospital bills.
-------------------- Jon Jantz Snappysign.com jjantz21@gmail.com http://www.allcw.com Posts: 3395 | From: Atmore, AL | Registered: Nov 2005
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I am having a tough time without bartering. I bartered almost everything for years and years! It's painful to find cash when you don't have it and to charge what it is really worth.
A lot of sign jobs came to me with bartering and I fed my children, fixed my car, got karate and gymnastic lessons, as well as chiropractic, massage, and many other necessities.
Back in the 1930's my father wired his dentist's chair so it would go up and down and they gave him a full mouth of dentures as his went bad early back in those days.
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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It even seems the Government is into collecting them too. Kinda odd seeing as they actually print the darn things. Can't they just make more? lol
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