It's all about apples and oranges

[SignManiac]

Just sold a nice sign dimensional sign worth $5k. The client informed me that they are required to get three quotes. The first quote they got was for $400.00 and I'm not sure what the third one will be.

I was very fortunate to deal with two very nice ladies who recognize quality and have good taste. Needless to say, they were not very impressed with the design for the first quote. I think I'm going to ask them to show it to me for my own personal amusement

It's not always about the cheapest price. A well done showroom and some great people skills make all the difference in the world! Selling is as much an art form as is design.

 

[anotherdog]

I grind my teeth over the whole business of three quotes.
As soon as I hear it I know I have lost the job. I know I will never be as cheap as the guy they find using google, and I know they will regret the cheapness of what they do get.

It is also a huge waste of my time when I get a call to quote on jobs that I'm only there to supply one of the more expensive quotes for the books. I have fired customers who do that.

I wonder if these people buy the cheapest produce they can find too.

Sorry for the rant, an exposed nerve there.

 

[Mosh]

I just simply ask "how much do you want to spent? I can do a sign for any price."
If they only have $400 they get a Max Metal panel, $5K nice dimesional work. We do all price ranges...saves alot of time that way.

 

[SignManiac]

I showed them one of my $10k signs and they thought my $5k version was a bargain. And as Pat said, a lot has to do with qualifying them.

 

[Jillbeans]

Good for you.
In my case, it means I'll be the highest quote and the job will go to one of the local hacks.
It will look like sh!t, but the price will be right.
Love....Jill

 

[StarSign]

Yeah these are the people who walk into your shop and ask for a three course meal you tell them the price they say thanks and walk out. You follow up with them and they say the guy across town was much cheaper, fine. You go look and all they got was a tuna sandwich!!! You didn't ask me to bid a tuna sandwich, you asked me to bid a three course meal.

 

[SD&F]

There is ALWAYS someone out there that thinks they can buy a $4000.00 sign for $400.00. They don't see the work that is put into the sign from begining to end. I absolutely hate it when I quote someone a sign and they tell me that they got a cheaper quote. I then ask the same questions we all ask......What materials are they using, etc.....I want an apples to apples quote and if they don't give it up then I stop wasting time. If they give me the information I requested, I am able to show why there is a price difference and usualy close the job. Part of the biz....

 

[trimitbyrich]

I still remember the good old days before having to bid on a job. We never had to bid on jobs even 10 years ago. The client would call up, have us do the job and say, send me the bill. If we didn't get that they'd ask about the price up front then we just did the job. This current economy has everyone getting bids, haggling prices, sticker shock etc... God I wish the good old days would come back. It's obvious now that we really took for granted what we had at the time. Personally I don't see things changing for a very long time either. Very sad!