spelling issue question

[gabagoo]

Customer send me a doc file of 5 signs they need. All the same

I cut and paste and set up onto a template they like and everything is basically a knockout on reflex blue. I find a spelling error and fix it. Send back PDF file for approval.

Customer sends back reply and now is making changes to the wording they originally sent me, possibly 4 or 5 changes, so I figure easier to cut and paste the file again and I do. Send it back and they are approved

I print all 5 and now they sitting in front of my face and I see that word again, mispelled.

Didn't I fix that I think, then it dawns on me that I cut and paste the changes only this time I did not catch it.

not my fault...right? I tried the first time...... iuf they had thought out what they wanted origianlly then this would not had happened.

I send e-mail to client saying 2 options.... pay for my wasted time and material or pretend I did not see it and continue.

so now what response do you think I will get back.

I know it sounds like I being unfair to them, but these people do this all the time. layouts layouts changes changes. I cant be the nice guy every time

i can hardly wait~~

 

[mrfern]

I make it a practice to spell check everything before I print or cut. If they approved the errors then they get what they pay for.

my .02 cents
mrfern

 

[housemusikid]

I have been in this situation before. If the signs are printed, of course it is their fault. But in the end, it will be yours. Do you have a disclaimer on your proof sheet saying that the client/customer is responsible for spelling errors...etc.? If not, I recommend that. That way in the future, you have proof that it was explained and they have no way out.

If it has NOT been printed, call the customer and explain what you have found. Generally, they are relieved and happy you caught it. I guarantee you they will be a repeat customer.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[gabagoo]

This is a regular customer and I have no real issues with them accept that it seems lately when they need something this is now there new way of handling it.
Before you ask me to send proofs, make sure this is what you want. After I make the proof and then you go change 3 or 4 lines of text because you had not thought it out properly the first time, then you would get hit with a secondary set up charge anyhow. So I told her I would need an additional $40.00 on the job to cover my cost of material.

I wait now.

 

[mark galoob]

if you did not proof new changes to them, its your fault...you set it up, even though it was cut and paste...


mark galoob

 

[LoGl]

With any design/setup charges we expect to go 'round once or twice. It is just the nature of the beast most often. However....the reason you are sending a proof is precisely for that reason. They are ok'ing the sign. Especially in this case...it was initially their mistake....and in the end...still their mistake.

I guess it all comes down to your frustration in too many go rounds with these people. And so now you've learned what they are like. Be sure to charge enough for your time beforehand KNOWING that it will most likely go this way. It's kind of the "PIA" fee. Because if you know you've been paid for your time...every time....likely...you wouldn't feel the need to vent!

I recently printed a 40 x 96 menu board....had one glaring error...my fault. Sign was done and delivered when I saw it. Do you know how many times I looked at that thing? I just completely missed it. And so I ate it. Back to the shop it went...fixed it, reprinted it...reassembled price boards and back to a very understanding and overwhelmingly happy customer. Two more jobs have since come my way in the week after it happened. It's all in how you handle it.

Good luck!

 

[gabagoo]

if you did not proof new changes to them, its your fault...you set it up, even though it was cut and paste...


mark galoob

I did reproof it to them except she went and rebuilt her file from the exisiting and threw the mistake back at me. In the hecktickness of daily multi tasking I never told her I found a mistake and corrected it for them. i suppose if I had she might have chabged it at her end.
No problem, they paying the extra and I get to reprint.

 

[omgsideburns]

If it's like two words and one is misspelled.. sure I can take the hit.
If I had to write a book for them, they are proofing it and it's there issue if they missed it.

 

[Mosh]

Good customer? Then reprint and get it back next time!

 

["Deposit Please"]

check twice, print once.

 

[royster13]

Why are these threads about who is right or who is wrong?....Whether it is their fault or not, fix it.....The "Good Karma" will come back to you...

 

[gabagoo]

Why are these threads about who is right or who is wrong?....Whether it is their fault or not, fix it.....The "Good Karma" will come back to you...

Well your right but maybe one day I can charge a customer extra money and when they ask what the extra charge is for...I can say, well I screwed up on a few jobs today and someone had to pay for it...lol

 

[Gino]

Well your right but maybe one day I can charge a customer extra money and when they ask what the extra charge is for...I can say, well I screwed up on a few jobs today and someone had to pay for it...lol

You laugh, but that's exactly what most smart businesses do when dealing with the public on sensitive issues.
​

Many people here talk about cost of material, cost of ink, speed of printers, their computer time, proofing time, electric, heat, insurance and all your other overhead costs. After that, you calculate a profit.

Doesn't anyone figure a loss of production cost into their pricing ?? This is a very good money making strategy. If you add a small percentage... say like 3% to 5% into every job and add it on top, you'll never have to charge for doing something twice again.... unless you're just lousy at what you do.

If you take a random number... $350,000 in a year's time. You'd have an extra $14,000 built in to use for your mistakes. Now, if you make no mistakes, you're ahead of the game, except having to pay more taxes.

Realtors use this, grocery stores use, this big businesses use this and just about anyone that wants to try to re-coup some costs for their mistakes will use this. If you don't use this.... you're going to penalize customers to the point they'll look elsewhere for someone that has this already built into their pricing structure. No one knows this, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I'm surprised after this thread and the other one going on presently about the same stuff, you people don't feel responsible for your own mistakes.

You go to into a fast foods place and order something. Whether or not you told the cashier wrong or she punched it in wrong, they will more than likely replace it at no charge and no questions asked, unless you messed up the entire order. When an apartment is tenant free, how do you think the landlord keeps the place going ?? The built in costs from the renters before it was vacant.

Everyone has a built in cost factor for this kind of deal and you should too, regardless of how dinky it sounds, but then again, most people here only wanna get paid for a few cents of work and be the cheapest guy in town, makes mistakes and then back-charge the customer for not doing your job correctly. Who's business is it anyway. How can you hod the customer accountable for your mistake ?? Build it into your pricing and that's how you solve this mystery.

 

[joeshaul]

At my former employer I remember a sign almost going out the door to a major casino (think it was the Red Rock in Vegas for their grand opening or something) that said "Complementary breakfast". It took some convincing on my part to the owners/graphics dept to fix it and the word they needed was "Complimentary", but as soon as they realized I was right, they weren't about to let it go even with signed proofs stating all the jibber jabber/customer is responsible for any errors/etc. Fact of the matter was, that company always charged a premium for their signs, and part of charging that comes premium service and occasionally biting a bullet to save reputation.

 

[Malkin]

+1 on Gino's post, spot on.

Only costly mistakes that are very clearly the customers fault do we discuss how much we need to charge to fix it. Most everything else we just "fix it" and they go away happy instead of arguing.