Interior wayfinding signs

[Mosh]

I have a customer looking for interior wayfinding signs. Looking at Scott or Apco, anyone have experience with either. I e-mailed apco for a sample and they keep asking me for my customer's name...feels like they are wanting to sell directly to them and cut me out.

 

[J Hill Designs]

scott sign systems is my goto

 

[Marlene]

Scott is good. also Nelson-Harkins. Apco sells directly to companies, or at least they did when I had contact with them. way, way back, a local hospital used an Apco system and we had to go thru them to make all changes at site. them asking you who your customer is is totally out of line and info they don't need.

 

[sar bossier]

+ 1 for Scott - Get all my ADA, & wayfinding signage from them ...

 

[Steve G.]

We've used Clarke and are very happy. Great service.

 

[paul luszcz]

We also use Clarke and avoid APCO. Their stuff looks great but I've never been able to work with them and yes, they sell to your customers.

 

[Billct2]

Scott or Slatz(Clarke)

 

[Pat Whatley]

Scott is good.
Clarke is good.

Love the stuff from Vista Systems.

 

[Mosh]

Now they are not returning my e-mails asking for samples....
guess I should not have told him where I am cause there are only two hospitals in the area....doah!

 

[fresh]

I came here looking for info on Scott Signs.... I met them at a trade show and am attempting to place an order. First, it took over two days to get an initial quote and then a day and a half to change the quantities on the quote. I faxed back the approval and provided my billing information 7 days ago and told my rep this was a rush and inquired about rush fees. She said she would get back to me (and didn't).

Originally my rep said it took 10 days for production. Today, on day 5, I call to check in on my order. It hasn't EVEN BEEN OPENED BY THE ART DEPARTMENT!!! And, the person I spoke with today said production is 12 days, not 10. WTF?? From start to finish its going to take almost 6 weeks to get my order. This is not acceptable to me.

Also, as a first time customer with a fairly large order ($1400), I will most likely never use them again.

 

[Malkin]

Scott or Slatz(Clarke)

+1 here as well.

Clarke is our usual go-to.

 

[Rick]

I came here looking for info on Scott Signs.... I met them at a trade show and am attempting to place an order. First, it took over two days to get an initial quote and then a day and a half to change the quantities on the quote. I faxed back the approval and provided my billing information 7 days ago and told my rep this was a rush and inquired about rush fees. She said she would get back to me (and didn't).

Originally my rep said it took 10 days for production. Today, on day 5, I call to check in on my order. It hasn't EVEN BEEN OPENED BY THE ART DEPARTMENT!!! And, the person I spoke with today said production is 12 days, not 10. WTF?? From start to finish its going to take almost 6 weeks to get my order. This is not acceptable to me.

Also, as a first time customer with a fairly large order ($1400), I will most likely never use them again.

For ADA signs, 1400 bucks is a tiny order. 10-12 days is rocket speed. I'm surprised anyone would throw out a random turn around time like that.

Mosh, have the signs been designed?

Are you looking for the company to do the planing, design them, and you install? Do you know ADA and wayfinding....

I would also try http://www.takeform.net/
But know enough about ADA so that it's done right.

 

[fresh]

For ADA signs, 1400 bucks is a tiny order. 10-12 days is rocket speed. I'm surprised anyone would throw out a random turn around time like that.

The order is for SnapLock directories for a 17 tenant office building. Either way, they should stick to their quoted turn around time. And how is that a tiny order, even if its for ADA signs?

 

[Circleville Signs]

The order is for SnapLock directories for a 17 tenant office building. Either way, they should stick to their quoted turn around time. And how is that a tiny order, even if its for ADA signs?

Because most of us who have been around the block with this stuff a few times have placed $20,000 orders for one client. Try doing a newly built School sometime. Or god forbid, an entire SCHOOL SYSTEM (4 new schools at the same time) at once. I did that a few years back. $1400 was an average CHANGE ORDER on that job....lol

 

[Bigdawg]

I like Scott, but lately production time quotes haven't been matching up to real production time. And not returning calls is a problem - they are not quick to get back with you.

But...

they handle the whole ADA end for me. I design the main sign based on ADA specs I understand and they check my file and add the braille. They've caught problems with my design (letter width not correct once and spacing not as required once) so I prefer to stick with a company that will make sure my sign is up to code.

 

[Rick]

The order is for SnapLock directories for a 17 tenant office building. Either way, they should stick to their quoted turn around time. And how is that a tiny order, even if its for ADA signs?

You are correct, they should stick to their turnaround time, and probably ream that rep a new hole or can 'em.

As Circleville points out, ADA signs usually are submitted for a bid as a system. If you have a multi story office building. That might entail room id's, amenity ID's, back of house, operational, then you have the added wayfinding, directories, fire safety, and here in California, we have health and safety signs and odd little signs like prop 65. The jobs I work on average about 25-30k a job, even some apartment building have to comply depending on accessibility and funding. The last hospital job I worked on was in the 4 million dollar range if you added the design, exterior and architectural graphics. It's not hard for a small hospital to be in the 50-100k range on braille signs alone.

 

[Rick]

I like Scott, but lately production time quotes haven't been matching up to real production time. And not returning calls is a problem - they are not quick to get back with you.

But...

they handle the whole ADA end for me. I design the main sign based on ADA specs I understand and they check my file and add the braille. They've caught problems with my design (letter width not correct once and spacing not as required once) so I prefer to stick with a company that will make sure my sign is up to code.

I would say a few ADA manufacturers are good at catching mistakes... but you have to ask them to double check. You, as the contractor are the ones liable for non-compliant signs... in my neck of the woods that is 10,000 bucks per violation. I don't think you need to be expert enough to rattle off code references like scripture, but expert enough to cover your (or your bosses) butt.

Every (okay 99%) ADA sign vendors that have ever been suggested have non-compliant signs on their site. Unless these are older projects being showcased, non-compliant signs are being made (or marketed) by these vendors.

 

[fresh]

Because most of us who have been around the block with this stuff a few times have placed $20,000 orders for one client. Try doing a newly built School sometime. Or god forbid, an entire SCHOOL SYSTEM (4 new schools at the same time) at once. I did that a few years back. $1400 was an average CHANGE ORDER on that job....lol

I would venture a guess that the number of $20K orders ANYONE gets for installing new ADA signs for entire huge site is fewer and further between than the number of smaller signs similar to the one I'm making. To say that ONCE you did a huge job a few years back means very little. A few months ago I installed a dimensional sign that cost $15,000 (not even illuminated!). Does that mean that is our normal, everyday job? There is a wide gamut of businesses that specialize in different things. It is very annoying that whenever I come here for advice, inspiration, or just to kill time I'm belittled for not being a mega-corporation who does everything. Luckily there is just enough good information here that it usually teeters on the helpful side. When I see posts like this I'm reminded that the other side is just a huge circle-jerk.

 

[Circleville Signs]

I would venture a guess that the number of $20K orders ANYONE gets for installing new ADA signs for entire huge site is fewer and further between than the number of smaller signs similar to the one I'm making. To say that ONCE you did a huge job a few years back means very little. A few months ago I installed a dimensional sign that cost $15,000 (not even illuminated!). Does that mean that is our normal, everyday job? There is a wide gamut of businesses that specialize in different things. It is very annoying that whenever I come here for advice, inspiration, or just to kill time I'm belittled for not being a mega-corporation who does everything. Luckily there is just enough good information here that it usually teeters on the helpful side. When I see posts like this I'm reminded that the other side is just a huge circle-jerk.

You need to grow a thicker skin, hoss....

No one belittled you in ANY WAY. Not even a little bit. You asked how $1400 was a small order. I answered why it is considered a small order. Rick just explained to you that his AVERAGE ADA job is between $25-30k.

Relax. No one was attacking you. I just answered your question.

 

[Rick]

Lighten up Fresh.. I'm a one man design shop trying to make a living, but have been around to know that is a small order and the quoted turn around time seems too fast for a company like Scott.