Price of the Sign Question Solved!

[Mosh]

Been doing this the last few months and am amazed at how well it works...
When a customer asks "how much is a sign" I simply ask "how much do you want to spend?" Then all the guess work is out of it, I can tell them what they can have for said price. Instead of going through all the steps of setting up 3-4 different ideas in different price ranges.

I know some "bread and butter" stock type signs don't apply but on custom stuff I have cut the mess around time in half at least. Probly not a NEW idea, but new to me, just thought I'd share.

 

[Pat Whatley]

Thing is when you ask somebody how much they want to spend they are automatically going to give you what they figured their lowest cost would be. You're still stuck with trying to upsell them.

 

[SD&F]

I have tried to ask what their budget is and they generally give me something much lower than I can work with. I will try to upsell them either way, but atleast I know upfront and we save some time. I generally won't go that route unless they sound cheap. I don't sell cheap, nor would I buy cheap.

 

[SignManiac]

I plan on moving into the new shop next week starting on Wednesday. Will take every bit of a week to get things moved and reconfigured.

The front counter will be about 30'w. I'm going to hang three separate signs over the counter to indicate three different customer service lines. First hanging sign will be labeled, "Cheap Customer Line", second will read, "Good Customer Line" and the third one will state "Best Customer Line"

That should help avoid any confusion as to the type of customer.

 

[SD&F]

How about "Customer who wants a quality sign", "Customer who wants a good sign" and
"Customer who absolutely doesn't give a sh-t"

 

[Locals Find!]

I plan on moving into the new shop next week starting on Wednesday. Will take every bit of a week to get things moved and reconfigured.

The front counter will be about 30'w. I'm going to hang three separate signs over the counter to indicate three different customer service lines. First hanging sign will be labeled, "Cheap Customer Line", second will read, "Good Customer Line" and the third one will state "Best Customer Line"

That should help avoid any confusion as to the type of customer.

You should put the cheap customer line pointing to the exit. Save yourself the hassle altogether.

 

[lexsigns]

I plan on moving into the new shop next week starting on Wednesday. Will take every bit of a week to get things moved and reconfigured.

The front counter will be about 30'w. I'm going to hang three separate signs over the counter to indicate three different customer service lines. First hanging sign will be labeled, "Cheap Customer Line", second will read, "Good Customer Line" and the third one will state "Best Customer Line"

That should help avoid any confusion as to the type of customer.

lol!!! good one! I saw somewhere recently 3 layouts of signs ( basic, best, better) with examples and somekind of price guideline- it's a good idea! You will have to share w/ when it's up

My old shop was more retail type and I thought I would loose alot- what I lost was most of the tire cheap as possible

 

[SignManiac]

I'm really going to put our "economy" sign promotion on the front counter. DIY sign kit. A magic marker and 18"x24" Coro blank for $4.99

 

[Kottwitz-Graphics]

I have asked what the clients budget was, and I have gotten lowball answers as well as a somewhat truthfull answer... but you have to remember to the customer its a game of lets get the best sign for as little possible, and we are trying to get as much as possible...

What I hate the most is the customer that refuses to answer. I had a customer a couple of months ago that wanted a "nice" sign. My first question was what is your budget for the project, and they refused to answer the question. She told me that she had a number in mind, but didn't want to influence my price...

I explained to her that I could give her a cheap temp sign, a nice wood sign, or a top of the line carved/sandblasted gold leafed sign, all which were price driven. I could give her a price, but I needed to know what she was looking for.

I ended up walking away from that job, because I couldn't get a straight answer from her...

 

[Stuckup]

Been doing this the last few months and am amazed at how well it works...
When a customer asks "how much is a sign" I simply ask "how much do you want to spend?" Then all the guess work is out of it, I can tell them what they can have for said price. Instead of going through all the steps of setting up 3-4 different ideas in different price ranges.

I know some "bread and butter" stock type signs don't apply but on custom stuff I have cut the mess around time in half at least. Probly not a NEW idea, but new to me, just thought I'd share.

WOW, same, I ask How much is your budget? For the detractors, some clients mention prices way higher than most would charge, some say lower, then just say NO, its this etc. For the over offerer clients, TAKE it. And do the besterest job ever.

 

[Stuckup]

Ok this topic, what is the most dramatic offer from a client for a budget when u asked them for 1

 

[TheSnowman]

I'm really going to put our "economy" sign promotion on the front counter. DIY sign kit. A magic marker and 18"x24" Coro blank for $4.99

No way man, you are leaving money on the table. I seriously sell the blank and the step stake for $7 all day long to people wanting to do their own. Works for me. Never thought of having one on "display" though. I'm gonna have to think about that. Might need to raise my price unless I can find a knock-off sharpie to lowball the job!

 

[ThinkRight]

No way man, you are leaving money on the table. I Might need to raise my price unless I can find a knock-off sharpie to lowball the job!

Dollar general has them, different color also !

 

[royster13]

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...d=10053&langId=-1&keyword=signs&storeId=10051

 

[SignManiac]

I'll sell the step stake as an up sell charge

 

[tagsigns]

Thing is when you ask somebody how much they want to spend they are automatically going to give you what they figured their lowest cost would be. You're still stuck with trying to upsell them.

That is true, but sometimes their lowball price is a starting point. It's easier to work with a customer who "knows" what they want to spend so you can quickly tell them exactly what they will get for that price than it is to deal with a customer who wants a "nice" sign, drags you through all the hoops, wants a design, then goes.... that is more than I can spend.

I've told customers for years... "we do custom signs, we can design around your price" some walk with black vinyl on coroplast others with carved signs...

 

[FireSprint.com]

I plan on moving into the new shop next week starting on Wednesday. Will take every bit of a week to get things moved and reconfigured.

The front counter will be about 30'w. I'm going to hang three separate signs over the counter to indicate three different customer service lines. First hanging sign will be labeled, "Cheap Customer Line", second will read, "Good Customer Line" and the third one will state "Best Customer Line"

That should help avoid any confusion as to the type of customer.

HA!

 

[Jackpine]

The first questions I ask are...."do you have a budget?" "do you have a logo?"
Then you can start a dialogue.

 

[Gino]

I plan on moving into the new shop next week starting on Wednesday. Will take every bit of a week to get things moved and reconfigured.

The front counter will be about 30'w. I'm going to hang three separate signs over the counter to indicate three different customer service lines. First hanging sign will be labeled, "Cheap Customer Line", second will read, "Good Customer Line" and the third one will state "Best Customer Line"

That should help avoid any confusion as to the type of customer.

Can you 'Super-Size' any of them.... you know, just in case ??

 

[JAMEY]

The first questions I ask are...."do you have a budget?" "do you have a logo?"
Then you can start a dialogue.

An old pro taught me the same thing years ago....works great.