Rannnnnnnnntttttttttttt

[laserman70]

I am so tired of other sign shops calling for us to print something.

"We dont carry this type of vinyl, What would you charge us to print it?"

"20% less then the customer would pay."

"Wow, that much?"

YES, WE STOCK IT AND PAY FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STOCK YOUR OWN DAM VINYL !!!!

Sorry, I feel better now.....

 

[Marlene]

just tell them you are not a wholesaler and no discount as a job is a job and all treated equally

 

[TheSnowman]

I usually try to give pretty good discounts to other shops, mainly ones that don't do my exact kind of work, but are still in my "business". Lately, I've had to figure out the sizes, come up with artwork, and then deliver the final product...they're getting a heck of a deal, cause that's basically a retail customer! I like not having to deal with the customer, but it's not saving me much time for the money I'm not charging.

 

[Gene@mpls]

just tell them you are not a wholesaler and no discount as a job is a job and all treated equally

And... Marlene shoots... and SCORES

 

[TimToad]

We're willing to do some wholesale work on our flatbed for a 20-25% discount, but they have to handle every aspect other than us ripping their files, printing and trimming to size.

I've been simply amazed to frequently stop by colleague's shops and see hundreds of simple, solid color, 18"x 24" coroplast signs done up with laminated digital prints done on 3m IJ35 when they never even asked what we could direct print them for.

Maybe its pride or lack of other jobs that keeps them from taking advantage of our services and collegiality, but if folks prefer to make less on a job with higher material costs, that's not my problem.

 

[TimToad]

I am so tired of other sign shops calling for us to print something.

"We dont carry this type of vinyl, What would you charge us to print it?"

"20% less then the customer would pay."

"Wow, that much?"

YES, WE STOCK IT AND PAY FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STOCK YOUR OWN DAM VINYL !!!!

Sorry, I feel better now.....

We used to get hit up by a competitor all the time for either window perf or IJ180 because " I just ran out and need to finish this job" and then one day a customer asked us if we did wraps and of course I said yes. Her response was "Well, ----- down the street at ----------- told me he was the only company in town that does wraps"

After that, the next time he needed anything, we told him we were either all out or what we had was already reserved for a job because we also do wraps. After a few times hearing that, he stopped asking.

Treat us with just a little respect and we'll do anything for a colleague in need. If you can't do that, then you get treated like the DIYers who call and want to buy two yards of vinyl and make their own signs. In fact, we treat those folks better because they at least can't say they should know better than to abuse our good nature.

 

[BannerStandDeals]

I am so tired of other sign shops calling for us to print something.

"We dont carry this type of vinyl, What would you charge us to print it?"

"20% less then the customer would pay."

"Wow, that much?"

YES, WE STOCK IT AND PAY FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STOCK YOUR OWN DAM VINYL !!!!

Sorry, I feel better now.....

Special Trade Pricing should be for 2 reasons:

1) They bring you a lot of business and so the money is made on the quantity side and repeat business

2) They're local, you're local and you're doing someone a favor so that if you ever need a favor maybe they'll help you

Aside from these two, I think it should be same for retail vs 1-off sign shop.

My 2 pennies

 

[Gino]

I think if you have a shop that pretty much does quite an array of work, your competitors will look at you as kind of like a warehouse. For over 30 years, our competitors, large and small, call on us for things which they either ran out of or didn't have in stock. It's easy to see through their little white lies, but we have several people who will call and say..... I have 3 sheets of Cor-X and need to cut it. Can I use your equipment ?? Yep. Hey, I need 7' of black vinyl, can I get some ?? Sure. Can you print this up for me later today, I ran into a jam. Not a problem. Over the same 30 years I asked maybe 3 or 4 times for something I was out of and no one could ever help me. I've never asked for a cent, so I've never been paid for the helpfulness. One time a guy left a 10 spot and said treat everyone to lunch. There are 4 of us full time.

Had a competitor some years ago ask if we would hire his son so he could learn the ropes to become a sign guy. Why don't you, I asked him ?? Oh, I can't afford to pay him and he needs the money. Wha...... ??!!??

Like mentioned, treat us fairly and we'll return the favor. It's been kinda downhill the last few years. No one, including the distributors have anything in stock anymore, so sometimes you are faced with a problem of being outta stock and no place to turn, except your competition.

 

[ChaseO]

I think if you have a shop that pretty much does quite an array of work, your competitors will look at you as kind of like a warehouse. For over 30 years, our competitors, large and small, call on us for things which they either ran out of or didn't have in stock. It's easy to see through their little white lies, but we have several people who will call and say..... I have 3 sheets of Cor-X and need to cut it. Can I use your equipment ?? Yep. Hey, I need 7' of black vinyl, can I get some ?? Sure. Can you print this up for me later today, I ran into a jam. Not a problem. Over the same 30 years I asked maybe 3 or 4 times for something I was out of and no one could ever help me. I've never asked for a cent, so I've never been paid for the helpfulness. One time a guy left a 10 spot and said treat everyone to lunch. There are 4 of us full time.

Had a competitor some years ago ask if we would hire his son so he could learn the ropes to become a sign guy. Why don't you, I asked him ?? Oh, I can't afford to pay him and he needs the money. Wha...... ??!!??

Like mentioned, treat us fairly and we'll return the favor. It's been kinda downhill the last few years. No one, including the distributors have anything in stock anymore, so sometimes you are faced with a problem of being outta stock and no place to turn, except your competition.

Your sentence in bold really hits home. We get asked to print, and give vinyl to other shops all the time. There are a few other guys who always treat us right and don't abuse the privilege. The rest of em I wouldn't give you a nickel for, and I'm too prideful to ask them for files or vinyl as they won't help me when it comes down to it.