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BEWARE of South Water Signs

Broke-Boy

New Member
Is a survey basically checking out a possible sign location and reporting back the condition, ease of access of the place?
1st time hearing about people getting paid for " sign surveys"
 

Johnny Best

Active Member
George Washington did some surveying for the British when he was young and never was paid. You see how that ended up.
 

MJ-507

Master of my domain.
What exactly is a survey in context to this thread?
Is this a serious question? If it is, I would suggest you'd be better off exploring a new line of work - or maybe spend some time working for a signage manufacturer/installation company so you can learn the basics about the industry.
 

MJ-507

Master of my domain.
Please whatever you all do, DO NOT USE or TAKE ANY JOB from South Water Signs 934 N Church Rd, Elmhurst, IL 60126 (630) 333-4900

They DO NOT pay their invoices. I was burned by them for a lousy $125.00 site survey. And by the looks of their google reviews they are doing it on a much larger scale to all of their contractors. They should be looked at by the government in my opinion. If they are a member of the ISA or any sign organizations they should be removed.

This was a site survey for Edward Jones that I was taken for. So they obviously have big accounts.

My survey was completed Oct 7, 2021. I have emailed and called them since them, with responses that they have “escalated” the matter and it will be paid. I have come to the conclusion that I have spent more time than it is worth, and its time to move on, but not before I tell this to you
I'm not sure if non-payment for a survey would qualify, and I don't think it's worth the trouble for $125, but have you considered a lien on the property? In my experience, property owners don't want liens against their property and are able to get their tenants to cough up the money that a contractor is owed even when it is the other sign company is the one who hasn't paid the invoice. Then it's the tenant and the non-paying company who can battle it out about the payment and you'll receive the money you worked for and are owed. Secondly, why are you doing surveys for only $125? is the location of the survey on an adjacent property to yours so there so sending out a truck isn't necessary? Our minimum for a survey - no matter how small - is $300 and even that, with the price of fuel and everything else in the country rising exponentially, is probably too low.
 

Moze

Active Member
Is this a serious question? If it is, I would suggest you'd be better off exploring a new line of work - or maybe spend some time working for a signage manufacturer/installation company so you can learn the basics about the industry.

I think it's a legitimate question. He didn't say he didn't know what a survey was, he asked what it was in context to this thread. I think there are a number of people wondering the same thing - what kind of survey did the OP do for only $125? But it could have been something as simple as measuring the door glass for new vinyl or a wall for a new logo. If it's within walking distance and took a half hour of his time and it's an opportunity to land a new customer, why not?
 

MJ-507

Master of my domain.
Ah. I misread his post and the mention of context. Monday morning, ya know? I read it as he was questioning what the thread itself was about, not the relation of a survey and the thread.

I agree about the walking part, that why I mentioned not taking a vehicle. My comment was meant to be half-snarky and half-serious but probably came across as 100% obnoxious. ;) I'll admit that I've stopped on my way home from work and surveyed locations as a favor to my employer just because it was on the way and I didn't see the point in having an installer lose time when he could be hanging a sign and making money for the company just to measure a storefront and take photos. The company got paid for the time and, for maybe 20 minutes of work, I gained points in the boss's eyes which, in the long run, translates to bonuses and increased wages.
 

Scotchbrite

No comment
I don't think FS has a lock on Edward Jones. I had another sign company out of DFW area contact me about one too.
That is true, we've done a lot of EJ stuff for Fastsigns, but I've also had another sign company contract EJ work with us. It wasn't South Water Signs.
 

Scotchbrite

No comment
I kinda feel bad for the account managers for a lot of these national companies that deal with the big chains. I figure most of the bad policies come from the upper management, bean counters, and their customer. The account manager gets stuck in the middle.
 

Moze

Active Member
I kinda feel bad for the account managers for a lot of these national companies that deal with the big chains. I figure most of the bad policies come from the upper management, bean counters, and their customer. The account manager gets stuck in the middle.

I do too, to an extent.

I've been stiffed once on invoices before and it was by a company with a similar reputation/feedback as South Water....the one and only time I've made an exception and taken on work against my better judgment. I called and talked to other project managers and they were basically in on the whole deal. They told me they had never heard of the PM that I had emails from and talked to on the phone. They basically denied everything relating to do with the job. Claimed they had no emails from me. I forwarded them and they said they never received. The receptionist literally told me I would be better off spending time looking for other work instead of "chasing a measly few hundred bucks". It was a complete runaround.

Point is, usually employees know if a company has shady practices when they have the reputation South Water has. And if they don't know, I think they should. So my comments weren't an attack on the sender (she's only been there 5 months), I was just letting her know what kind of place she's working at.
 
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