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Hello all! I just did a quote for a Doctors office glass door. The lettering is 12x25 white hp cast vinyl. The job also requires removal of old doctors on the door and its been about 20 degrees around here lately. I quoted $115 to do this job installation included.
Anyway i was underbid for the job. The quickie stickies bid $25. I just didn't see the point in wasting my time on this job for only $25. Ive done these jobs many times before for the same hospital system. Im also currently quoting 2 other jobs for them now, and its got me confused on my pricing ????
Could you all let me know what you would charge for this job? Was I way over or what? Comments greatly appriciated . Thanks, Ryan Ursta
P.S. Also the quotes came in at different times not all togather so i couldnt do a package deal.
------------------ Ryan Ursta Ursta Graphics 27 West Shenango St. Sharpsville Pa. 16150 Call: 724•962•2206 "letters of Recommendation"
Known as "Ugraph" on mirc
[This message has been edited by Ryan Ursta (edited February 08, 2001).]
posted
I would look at your price of $115 the same way you look at the competitor's price of $25!! So it's all a matter of perspective, isn't it? Of course.. what is the difference between the work you would provide the the work the competitor is providing... are you WORTH the difference? You can always ask the doctor if he buys the cheapest medical equipment as an analogy... LE
------------------ LazyEdna in RL known as Sara Straw from southern Utah 5 National Parks within 3 hours drive Red Rock Heaven
Posts: 776 | From: Aurora, Utah, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I wouldn't even walk out in the parking lot and start my truck for $25.00, let alone actually drive over there. Don't feel bad, I quoted a banner on Monday for a customer @ $320 and they said they found someone to do it for $118.00!
------------------ Greg Gulliford aka MetroDude Metro Signs and Banners 1403 N. Greene St. #1 Spokane, WA 99202 509-536-9452
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Dang......25.00?? What a joke. I just lettered an office door. It was a small job. Took 10 minutes. I charged 66.00, but then I had other jobs in the same building to do at the same time.
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The "q-s" that's doing office doors for $25... are they making any money? Do you want the clients they deal with at those prices? There is ALWAYS someone cheaper; which is why if you are selling signs "by the pound" you will end up chasing nickels in the gutter.
If they are REALLY that cheap, make a deal with them; charge the customer $75 and sub it to the q-s at $25.
------------------ "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. - Raoul Duke (Hunter S. Thompson)
Cam Finest Kind Signs 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
Thanks everyone, At least i dont feel as bad anymore about losing the job. Im about to sent the customer the url to this post! Maybe he'll understand what this shop is trying to do. I think they are trying to steal this account from me since it is a major hospital. Oh well they'll come back for more stuff im sure when that shops crummy workmanship shows through!
------------------ Ryan Ursta Ursta Graphics 27 West Shenango St. Sharpsville Pa. 16150 Call: 724•962•2206 "letters of Recommendation"
posted
$25 would pay for the my trip charge. that is if the door is not located across town! $100.00 t0 $150.00 is a good range, yet that would depend on the complexity of the logo to be reproduced.
if i leave my shop to do a job, my minimum is $100.00.
posted
Four years ago we had one of the franchise shops in Burlington doing the same thing. They were quoting door lettering jobs for prices 1/4 of anyone else, adding outlines and shadows for no additonal charge. It turned out they were in a death spiral. They were not generating enough cash to keep the heat on in the store, owed the landlord alot of back rent and were letting clients down big jobs because they could not come up with cash to prepay the suppliers.
They were out of business within a year. I knew their landlord well. He offered to sell me all the equipment and materials for the rent they owed (about $5000).
The shops that charge $25-$50 for this kind of project won't be around long. Like someone said "I can't even start my truck for $25"
------------------ Chuck Churchill, It's A Good Sign Inc. 3245 Harvester Rd, U-12 Burlington, Ont. Phone: 905-681-8775 Fax: 905-681-8945
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LOL LOL LOL .....Jim Upchurches reply....'Sounds like the guy in town who bought some sign making equipment to give his retarded son something to do'. Man, this bullboard has it all..great info, advice , and comic relief. The hardest part is deciding no way, I need what I need for my prices. Keep working on your skills, create a portfolio, and work up a diplomatic response to such ridiculous pricing and practice it in front of the mirror. Then your ready to respond to that customer that tells you of such bids. That customer will either remain yours, or go to the other guy for a while. He'll be back, because the other guy CANNOT continue pricing like that. Mick Samsel.
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Posts: 499 | From: Cherokee, Ia USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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I had a customer that I made alot of stuff for them to resale (4x4 shop) and one day the owner calls me up askin about prices on stuff that he already knew the price on.. I was a bit suspicious but let it slide. He calls back some other time wanting to place an order and asks about the prices again, odd considering he had already ordered 300 of the same decals previously. When I told him the price he comes back (they always do) with "Well the guy down at 'some other shop' told me he'd do it for 'this' much."
I told him "Hey, if he can do it cheaper that's fine, but you'll be calling me again later on down the road."
Time goes on and I make a stop at the 4x4 shop cause I was lookin for a motorized step ladder so my mom could climb in and out of her huge van easier. The owner sees me and comes over.. he says "You were right, that other guy is slow as molasses and he doesn't even pull out all the excess vinyl."
Heh.. I wish *I* could get by without weeding anything!
------------------ Mike Pipes -----trapped in a box with a computer and a slice of cheese-----
Posts: 145 | From: Lake Havasu City, AZ | Registered: Dec 2000
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posted
Some of the franchise shops have fancy estimating systems. Then they make the mistake of putting a hign school kid or equivalent on the counter. Someone calls in for a window, the kid counts the letters and enters a premasked letter price and installation without a trip charge into the computer, and out pops a nonsense price. I've seen the quotes and can say for a fact that this does happen. They do lose money until they figure out you cannot "no-brain" field work. Vic G
------------------ Victor Georgiou Bob Loves Signs Inc Danville, CA email blssign@pacbell.net
Posts: 1746 | From: Danville, CA , USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Ryan, the only mistake I see you might be making is you tend to keep looking back. When something this ridiculous happens,laugh, shake your head and move on. No sense wondering why someone would do it that cheap or how can you convince the client that they picked the wrong guy. We all rant about these things, just don't dwell on it . Your price seems reasonable.
------------------ Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Since 1978 http://www.wrightsigns.bigstep.com
Posts: 2787 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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posted
No laws were broken...but somebody in your town works mighty cheap. Maybe there is a way to "take advantage" of that situation....hmmmmm? For instance, you might contact him and work out a deal where he does all your outside installations at THAT price. Then...the jobs you do get at $125 will net you $100 less a few bucks for the vinyl and cutting. That way, you free up some time to do other work and you've still got that $100 coming in from your "candy ass low baller". Having a guy like him around could come in very handy. If you don't want him, send the "jabroney" to me.
------------------ Louis A. Lazarus Milt's Sign Service, Inc. 20 So. Linden Ave. #5B 650-588-0490 fontking1a@aol.com
Posts: 560 | From: El Granada, CA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
It sounds like you did the right thing by standing strong and not dropping your price to compete with someone that is low-balling your bid. You made the point to express to us that you use the highest quality materiels for your job. Did you take a moment to explain this to your client? I'm sure most people who ask for signs and window lettering have no idea that there are differences in the materiels that you can use, and how these can effect the quality of the work they are paying for.
I recently had a conversation with a local business that employed the "low bidder" The shop underbid their competitor on a simple outdoor business sign, used MDO without properly sealing it first, poor quality white paint, and low performance calendered vinyl. The sign is about 7 months old now, and the MDO is deteriorating, and virtually all the lettering is lifting. Needless to say the business owner was NOT PLEASED! He will never do business with that company again, and will now pay (full price)to have another sign constructed. I'm sure you have all have heard this exact scenario before...
I wouldn't talk bad to your clients about your low bidding competitor, but I would spend more time selling yourself up based on your quality. I think if many people would understand the differences once they were shown or given the chance to see the differences. Good luck in the future.
Jeff~
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Posts: 231 | From: Grants Pass, Oregon, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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