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I don't understand peoples quotes on jobs.

TyrantDesigner

TyrantDesigner

Art! Hot and fresh.
Customer called me up and wanted to know if I could quote out a job. Turns out the job is rediculously under bid already (Panel van with a 2'x5' logo on each side, 18x24 on the back, 9"x48" phone number on sides ... large on on back, and some side accent graphics on hood and spot colors on the logo).

Rediculous bid ... removal, install and graphics ... $95.

Had to pass right then and there. ... I mean ... has it come to charging only for materials and beer money?

</rant>

Oh well, on to the next customer.
 
CheapVehicleWrap

CheapVehicleWrap

New Member
TyrantDesigner said:
Customer called me up and wanted to know if I could quote out a job. Turns out the job is rediculously under bid already (Panel van with a 2'x5' logo on each side, 18x24 on the back, 9"x48" phone number on sides ... large on on back, and some side accent graphics on hood and spot colors on the logo).

Rediculous bid ... removal, install and graphics ... $95.

Had to pass right then and there. ... I mean ... has it come to charging only for materials and beer money?

</rant>

Oh well, on to the next customer.
Click to expand...


So, really now. This guy is pricing this further? You should REALLY play with him. Make it REALLY good and post your results, I'm sure you'll think of something epic that will make us fall off our bar stools. Do it.
 
TyrantDesigner

TyrantDesigner

Art! Hot and fresh.
The guy was nice, so I told him that if price was the only factor to take the bid and to make sure they don't razor blade the graphics off his van (and to use a tape measure) ... Can't fault the customer for not knowing the guy is probably going to use a 3 year intermediate and probably going to eyeball install it after spraying his truck with oven cleaner to get the graphics off fast. I took the specs and also told him if he wants a real bid to let me know and that I use 10 year hp on vehicles, remove properly, yadda yadda yadda. and that was that.
 
toucan_graphics

toucan_graphics

New Member
$98 would BARELY even cover my costs for this type of job..... & I'm HOME BASED with very little overhead. I just quoted $125 for performance vinyl lettering for a small van and I severely underbid the job because it is a family friend.
I wouldn't worry too much about it - the guy who charges $98 for all that won't be in business long and even if he is, the customer can always come to YOU to fix it and do it correctly.
 
Marlene

Marlene

New Member
in another thread I got bashed for bashing a newbie who's wife had a Circut for a hobby and they were branching out to make signs. this is why I questioned the guy on how he could get a bid when he didn't even know how he was going to make the sign, didn't know the difference between translucent vinyl and cast or plexi and lexan. there are people out there with equipment who have no idea how to bid a job. looks like you've run up against one.
 
Joe Diaz

Joe Diaz

New Member
Maybe the shop quoting it forgot a 0? or more likely the customer that is asking you to price match "accidentally" forgot to mention a 0?

It maybe different in our area, but typically a customer who comes in wanting us to price match is a pain anyway. The majority of the time we end up not even trying to get the job. At most, we may waste a few minutes on them giving a quick quote... which of course is always too high for them. But if they've been shopping around, we don't waste a lot of time discussing the project. We certainly wont sketch anything out. Those types of customers are compiling information to take to the next shop in the search for the lowest price.
 
C

CanuckSigns

Active Member
Joe Diaz said:
Maybe the shop quoting it forgot a 0? or more likely the customer that is asking you to price match "accidentally" forgot to mention a 0?

It maybe different in our area, but typically a customer who comes in wanting us to price match is a pain anyway. The majority of the time we end up not even trying to get the job. At most, we may waste a few minutes on them giving a quick quote... which of course is always too high for them. But if they've been shopping around, we don't waste a lot of time discussing the project. We certainly wont sketch anything out. Those types of customers are compiling information to take to the next shop in the search for the lowest price.
Click to expand...

:goodpost:

$95 wouldn't cover the time to measure the vehicle and set up the files. NEXT!
 
TyrantDesigner

TyrantDesigner

Art! Hot and fresh.
You guys would be shocked at how some of the more established companies in this town quote for jobs. in the last 3 years I have stared in awe of a gross misunderstanding of how to quote a job when a potential customer shows me a quote from another shop.

either that or they are so under the gun to keep their employees working that they take jobs that might break even with man hour costs if they cut other corners.
 
S

Salmoneye

New Member
Tyrant, I bet you I know exactly who this is. There has been a major change there, I would imagine they will be closed soon. I am not the highest in town and I just lost a bid to them on a job I really didn't want at my price. Mine $1,850. Theirs $450. Just wait a little. The removal on your job probably should have cost that, I thought you guys were already the least expensive in town.
 
TyrantDesigner

TyrantDesigner

Art! Hot and fresh.
My former shop was pretty low, and even then it wasn't cheap ... I was actually glad to up prices about 40%-100% so we were infact not the cheapest and could actually turn a profit (and did, especially while still keeping the same job load). but since that shop closed down (due to owners health) ... I've just seen redonkulous bids all around town. I don't want to think that the shift you are talking about was because of my former shop closing down ... I want to chalk it up to people being idiots.
 
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