Notarealsignguy
Arial - it's almost helvetica
You know what's worse that being stiffed by some derelict company? Getting stiffed by some company and then going on Google seeking validation and seeing all 5 star reviews.
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BEWARE of South Water Signs
- Thread starter jeffkics
- Start date
Texas_Signmaker
Very Active Signmaker
They are e-mailing you because I told them to get lost. With how big Dallas is, it's suspect when they don't already have someone in the area.
Notarealsignguy
Arial - it's almost helvetica
I dunno man. With all those DeWalt tools, moze is like the guy sitting at the stage throwing hundred dollar bills. You're using a dollar bill on a string. Bet he got called first
Moze
Active Member
South Water has been emailing me for years, I just always declined the work due to their offerings being too low. This is from 2016 and I have more on my old laptop before I switched email providers.
Texas_Signmaker
Very Active Signmaker
Reminds me of Signs Unlimited. They e-mail me with the most ridiculous pricing I've ever seen. Survey for $75 and install a set of channel letters for $400, Net 60. I've asked to be removed from their system 100 times but they just keep e-mailing.
John Miller
New Member
We did work for a legit sign co. in Toledo Il. I told them money up front to people with no prior business experience. They said they understood, about 4 days later we got a check.
There is nothing wrong with cash up front. Legit businesses understand. If they are going to pay you, up front is the same to them as long as they trust you. We've since done work
and billed them, check in about 30 or less.
There is nothing wrong with cash up front. Legit businesses understand. If they are going to pay you, up front is the same to them as long as they trust you. We've since done work
and billed them, check in about 30 or less.
bcxprint420
Sign & Banner Xpress
Everyone here knkws exactly why they stiff on these surveys… because its just labor not any materials just like so many customers who try to have a logo mocked up or a sign laid out “just so they can see it”. Like our time is free and we just sit around counting our 100 dollar bills all day wziting for them to contact us for work. In addition i believe it is rally hard to sue someone for labor time only vs materials and labor. I coukd be wrong but at the very least they are counting on it not being worth the time to pursue court action. Loser deadbeats they are.
JamesLam
New Member
I thought the question was a good one. Not delving into that side of the trade I for one would appreciate the answers and insights. Isn't that what this forum is all about?
IndianaAve
New Member
They owe us also. We have put them on hold. Some of their best people left recently.
Have you guys tried filing liens?
JamesLam
New Member
When we first started our business a fellow that provided us with mentoring was offering insight into unpaid receivables, bad customers, scammers, etc. The discussion came about as we had been so blatantly ripped off by an established customer. Certainly never a good time, but with a new house, new business, on the ledge of being parents, it was a gut punch for sure.
His background was automotive supply, part repair, etc. Referring to industry standards in the 80s and 90s it was assumed that he would lose approx. 2% of revenue to non payments. It was suggested that if one wasn't dealing with loses in that realm that their revenues were too low.
Obviously much has changed in the last 30 years but is there any sort of standard that fits that concept today?
His background was automotive supply, part repair, etc. Referring to industry standards in the 80s and 90s it was assumed that he would lose approx. 2% of revenue to non payments. It was suggested that if one wasn't dealing with loses in that realm that their revenues were too low.
Obviously much has changed in the last 30 years but is there any sort of standard that fits that concept today?
White Haus
Not a Newbie
I get that accepting the fact that you'll get stiffed on occasion will make it easier to swallow, but 2% bad debts is way too much for my liking.
We very rarely get stiffed and will work with customers (nicely or not-so nicely) to make sure that they pay their bills.
Then again we don't work with new customers all that often but when we do we make sure payment is always received up front.
JamesLam
New Member
I agree, we work too stinking hard (even harder these days) and 2% off the top represents much more off of the margin. Most of us also know the value of properly vetting new clients. COD and prepaid are two really safe options. But losses are inevitable.
If a small company's annual revenue is $300k, 2% or $6k might be a hard pill to swallow as it could represent wated sales anywhere between $45k to $60k. But if annual revenue was $3 million would 2% or $60k be that big a deal? To me it's all relative.
Now I would say that we have been fortunate in the fact that over 30 years we may have been relatively unscathed, though getting burned never seems to come at a good time. Looking at losses at the hands of staff theft or general laziness & wastefulness I would say there are other areas to look for additional savings.
Geneva Olson
Expert Storyteller
What's the problem with a site survey of $125?
Notarealsignguy
Arial - it's almost helvetica
2%? Well there goes all of my profit!
Notarealsignguy
Arial - it's almost helvetica
see there, that's why you get paid the big bucks