posted
I did this DiBond "Rock" sign for a guy. (He installed it himself to save on money),, And then later on he ordered a printed sign from somewhere else. I know I have good prices, but I sometimes wonder why he went elsewhere for his other signs. But nun the less, he is no longer in business, I still wonder what happen.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3814 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
Looking at the other side of the coin, perhaps he realized that his business was struggling, and didn't have the heart to order from you, knowing that maybe he wouldn't be able to pay. This is especially true if you insisted on cash payment, and no credit extended.
If those other shops did his work on credit, how do you know that they didn't get stiffed, and are still waiting for that cheque that'll never come?
Sometimes the jobs you don't get turn out for the best.
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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I think Ken might be right. Your work is obviously better; nice use of dark green and has more contrast. So it's not a quality issue.
My guess is he went with someone else who may have extended credit.
Did you explain your terms up front to him?
If so, and you made it clear that you expect a deposit and Balance on Completion, he likely decided not to invest anything in that sign , not even the 50% down.
Count yourself lucky!
-------------------- Shirley Carron Black Sheep Designs 184 John St. N. Arnprior,On.,Canada shirleyc@magma.ca 613-623-7053 Posts: 503 | From: Arnprior, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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Quality is taking a back seat (unfortunately) to cheap and fast...today.
If you notice, in almost any area of the country, businesses come and go. It used to be an axiom, that when you started a business, you would be lucky to make any real profits for the first 5 years. That's no longer true, I guess; because I've seen many businesses come and be gone in less than a year. Consequently, these kind of people have no need for a sign that's going to last for 10 years....coroplast will do just fine.
-------------------- Dale Feicke Grafix 714 East St. Mendenhall, MS 39114
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Posts: 2963 | From: Mendenhall, MS | Registered: Apr 1999
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I think it depends on the customer's life. If he spends his time cruzing the web, you are out numbered. You only have a few minutes to sell your abilities and he can easily spend hours seeing true or false pitches on the screen. Hard to beat that.
-------------------- Gerald Barlow Artworx Turlock, CA
95380 artworx@bigvalley.net Posts: 198 | From: Turlock, CA 95380, USA | Registered: Dec 2002
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It could be that someone else just solicited him at the right time. Or it could have been a referral from someone else. We have a lot of networking groups around here that are made up of small business people looking for new contacts. People refer one another just because they know each other, not necessarily because they do great work.
-------------------- Jean Shimp Shimp Sign & Design Co. Jacksonville Beach, Fl Posts: 1266 | From: Jacksonville Beach, Fl. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I had a customer that I lettered a truck for, tell me that he did not know I did signs on plywood when he picked up his truck. I promptly told him that I would letter anything that would stand still long enough. Should have seen the look on his face when I said that.
-------------------- Donald Miner ABCO Wholesale Neon 1168 Red Hill Creek Dobson, NC Posts: 842 | From: North Carolina | Registered: Apr 2006
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Barter deals cost me more sales than anything else. If a sign guy wanted some work done, he probably did some swapping. That's impossible to compete with.
On the upside, your work is fresher, bolder, and cleaner. Just sayin...
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3485 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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I was in another sign shop one day talking to the owner who I knew pretty well about having him do some routing work for me when in walks one of my customers, well former customers. He looked as surprised to see me as I was to see him. He had been decent to deal with and I think I did a good job for him. We just said hello as though nothing was unusual. I never did find out why he switched. At least I don't feel like I let him down in any way, that I know of.
-------------------- Chuck Peterson Designs San Diego, CA Posts: 1050 | From: San Diego, CA USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Oh, that would almost be as bad as catching someone you are dating out with someone else,,and then trying to act all cool about it.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3814 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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Alicia, that (above) sort of reminds me of when,,, One time some guys dragged me to a strip club with them. I really like women a lot, but don't go to those places. Anyway........ One of the guys who was there with his friends.... Was joking and having fun, when in walks his wife or girlfriend with a very determined look in her face...sort of fuming And sits down right next to/ slightly behind him. He seems like he had a few beers, and it took him maybe half a minute to notice. Boy was he surprised!! Then he just started talking to her, normally etc.... But she was sort of ****ed, we could tell. Some if the girls came over and wanted to dance for her/them But that didn't seem to help.
posted
Sometimes, they get the wrong information or direction too.
Good friend of mine, businessman, has had me do a lot of work for him over the years, and we've always had a good relationship. His new wife decided to open a 'hoity-toity' eclectic furniture shop, and for whatever reason, went to a competitor (not really) down the street.....she was told the owner was a good designer.
Well, they got the logo and design; but her hubby came to me, and showed me what they did. It wasn't a bad idea for a brochure or on a business card; but it had white and grey Goudy-style lettering and border on a pale green "cloth weave pattern" background. The building is light grey. I told him, if you've got a bunch of established clientele and have no worries about anyone finding the store, OK; but if you need to have a sign that people can read going by, and need to find you (new business) it won't work. And I told him the sign should be bigger than a 4 X 8, because it's mounted above a metal awning about 15 feet off the ground.
Well, his wife got offended; she thought the sign was "pretty" and so they went ahead and ordered it. It looks like a postage stamp up on that building, and with the muted colors, it's hard to see the message. Guess what? Last week, I drove by the store, and on the sidewalk, was about a 4 X 6 chalkboard sign, that had the name of the store, done in red and white chalk, big bold letters.
And then later on he ordered a printed sign from somewhere else. I know I have good prices, but I sometimes wonder why he went elsewhere for his other signs. But nun the less, he is no longer in business, I still wonder what happen.
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