Am I wrong? "On Vacation"

[JMPrinting]

So, a customer calls me on a Friday wanting letters for his truck on a Sunday. Not a huge customer but newer and has spent about $2,000 in the past 2 months so nothing crazy. I told him "in technically on vacation just have work to do so in not going to Florida, let's shoot for Tuesday" I send him a proof on Tuesday. The proof I used is the same logo and font I used on his business card. I sent him a mock up of a nice design with nice artwork and wanted a more "professional look" and different pictures. Calls back 3 days later and I send him an update. Wants a full color pic of an "ear of corn with roots in the ground" which is weird but ok. Calls the next day saying he wants it on his truck that day after he wanted different art. He calls me today to find out "what the f is going on" and I explain I basically can't pull artwork like that out of my *** and told him I would letter his truck tomorrow morning, letter the tailgate until I can get something Desinged to get on the bed. He said no to f it and forget it he's not waiting longer. It's literally been 11 days since he first contacted me. Is that unrealistic? How long do people expect to take for custom art and an install?

 

[reQ]

With me its up to 2 weeks. I always say - If it will be sooner, i will let you know. In you case, customer wants different artwork and changes his mind on the go... do you charge him for your time? I don't even start designing anything before customer agrees to pay design/set up fee (for example $45 minimum for any simple art) If people don't want to pay, i usually don't even bother, specially with a "decal" etc. Did wrap fleet of 5 vehicles for plumbing company, in their case i agreed to wave wrap design fee, since they wanted 5 of them done... but small sh*t... not thanks, if you don't wanna pay for my time - can't help you.

 

[Desert_Signs]

3-5 days from proof approval to installation is fairly typical for my shop.

Proofing can take weeks, although we shoot for 2 day turn on basic stuff which IMO, that design sounds like.

This is something you can manage up front, and NEED to. You set the expectations on the front end and this stuff happens a lot less.

 

[GAC05]

I always charge extra for corn - its so hard to digest.....

You can only go so far to offer customer service before it turns into shop owner abuse.
Gotta draw a line somewhere and stick to it.
I'm not one to talk as I have a customer that is so chronically late with getting art to me in time to make deadlines - they have come to think of me as drive through service.
Order at window #1 drive around to window #2 and pick up your sign...........


wayne k
guam usa

 

[player]

I try not to do vehicles altogether.