There is set up-time for digital printing also. Time to load the roll, test prints, preparing the area for mounting, selecting the background music etc. I keep meticulous track of time since that's how I charge and it's always faster to do more for some reason. Mounting is especially faster when you get into a rhythm. I'm speaking of the Big Squeegee mounting method which I think is what most of us without direct-to sub use.
Plus, it encourages the customer to place fewer larger orders, which I prefer, and they expect it. Digital printing is still operating under the guidelines of off-set and screen printing. That’s why we still use the Pantone color charts.
BTW I think AMS is right on track. Not quite my usual hourly charge, but printed Coro is one of the more competitive markets. Probably the best that can be done.
Let's be honest, it's a given, that any method needs some set up, prepping and whatnot, but only on the initial piece. Not on the rest of them. Therefore, you can be as meticulous as you want, your costs are not gonna go down by 30% when all of your costs except maybe applying is gonna go down maybe 10%. If you can put a 18" x 24" down in 30 seconds..... you're not gonna get much faster than 15 seconds, especially if you're as meticulous as you claim. You get faster because it becomes more of an assembly line, instead of a onesie or twosie. You still have all the other money outlay for everything else and the printer will not print any faster on the second one, than on the 50th one. According yo your equipment, you might only be able to go a few, before you hafta sheet cut it and re-set your alignment or any myriad of things which can go wrong after printing 120' into a roll. You can talk a customer into buying anything you want him/her to buy, if you manipulate your numbers. That's also a given.
So, why would you be operating under the same guidelines of something which is so vastly different ?? Again, that is not a very smart thing to do. Base your production and costs on a method you don't have or use ?? If I'm screen printing, I'm using totally different inks, screens, smells, drying time, durability, clean up and re-claiming to name a few. Your way is vinyl, printing and mounting and then my way is print-cut I'm done. There are advantages to doing things the many ways available to us today, but why base your pricing structure on something you don't have any knowledge about ??
I'm not saying we don't get the prices you or ams mentioned, but we can still make a profit and keep the doors open easily and beat the pants off of you and your kind if need be. Most of the time, we don't cater to these kind of customers, because of the number of bottom feeders in our area, but if a good customer needs something, we won't turn it down..... and give them a deal at the same time.
Our aim is not to upset the apple cart in our area, but be honest with yourself and do yourself a favor and price things to keep your doors open, not what the next guy gets. That's what this whole thread is about.
