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Trying to figure out what cutter to get.
- Thread starter Mif4
- Start date
jiarby
New Member
You need to learn the difference between GROSS SALES & NET PROFIT.
$25-50/day!? Why bother with that!
Design/layout, Cut, Weed, Mask, Pack/Ship, Postage, Gotta buy stamps/envelopes, answer emails from buyers, post new auctions every day, deal with paypal, shipping/delivery on vinyl/mask, cutter costs amortized over time, knives, picks, blades, squeegees, work table, auction fees, paypal fees, ...
oy vey!
Just go get a PT job at McDonalds and be done with it! Plus you get free french fries!
If you DO proceed... set your sites MUCH higher than $50/day. Aim for $5K/day! There's people making that doing what we do (and some alot more than that!). Find out who they are and start doing what they do. Don't copy the $25/day folks!
Replicator
New Member
Spend more now . . . Pay less later . . . !
Welcome !
Welcome !
No, but its a start. Im just cerious whats better then. Personal sites that offer your services? Just looking for direction
chopper
New Member
I will stick with these simple questions:
Do cutters/plotters in that range only cut 1 color graphics?
yes and no, you can cut only one color at a time but you can assemble multi color graphics, shadows outlines etc..
Can plotters/cutters do anything other than cut graphics?
yes you can cut paint mask, sandblast mask, and draw with pen and markers.
How long do they typically last before needing new parts?
this is tough one it will very from machine to machine and how you use it, if you buy a cheap machine the life may be less and they are more likely to have problems, the biggest wear items are the blades and the impact strip
that the blade rides on and the life of them depends on what you are cutting, if the machine is set up right (proper blade depth) and how you maintain it..
//chopper
Do cutters/plotters in that range only cut 1 color graphics?
yes and no, you can cut only one color at a time but you can assemble multi color graphics, shadows outlines etc..
Can plotters/cutters do anything other than cut graphics?
yes you can cut paint mask, sandblast mask, and draw with pen and markers.
How long do they typically last before needing new parts?
this is tough one it will very from machine to machine and how you use it, if you buy a cheap machine the life may be less and they are more likely to have problems, the biggest wear items are the blades and the impact strip
that the blade rides on and the life of them depends on what you are cutting, if the machine is set up right (proper blade depth) and how you maintain it..
//chopper
jiarby
New Member
5k a day 5 days a week is 1.3M/yr. There are many sign businesses doing that and more. The thing is they dont make $6 peeing calvin stickers! They aren't working out of Mom's 3rd bedroom. They didn't start yesterday either!
Maybe you have to start out with an elcheapo cutter, but keep your eye on the future. Will you still be doing peeing calvins next year, or the year after that?
Think like a video game. In the early rounds you work small, the monsters die easy, and you build up your character. As you gain experience and skill you won't be happy making calvins all day long for $50
You can do great work with the combination of a good cutter, great design talent, great installation chops! Learn to airbrush gradients and effects on your cut vinyl. Find someone locally that you can job out digital prints to. Go out and knock on doors and sell. Then come back and find out how to make it or buy it. Websites and auctions are passive methods.
Next thing you know some dry cleaners will ask you to do their pan/channel sign for $3500, and you do the design, contract the fabrication and install, and pocket $750-1000.
Maybe you have to start out with an elcheapo cutter, but keep your eye on the future. Will you still be doing peeing calvins next year, or the year after that?
Think like a video game. In the early rounds you work small, the monsters die easy, and you build up your character. As you gain experience and skill you won't be happy making calvins all day long for $50
You can do great work with the combination of a good cutter, great design talent, great installation chops! Learn to airbrush gradients and effects on your cut vinyl. Find someone locally that you can job out digital prints to. Go out and knock on doors and sell. Then come back and find out how to make it or buy it. Websites and auctions are passive methods.
Next thing you know some dry cleaners will ask you to do their pan/channel sign for $3500, and you do the design, contract the fabrication and install, and pocket $750-1000.
Techman
New Member
there are several ways to get the real data on ebay sales. One is to subscribed to a ebay data listing that will tell you whats hot and what is not on ebay.
Yes there are several decal stores selling 4 a day. But over the long term there are too many dead days to make it pay.
I cna site a few examples where a decal is listed time and again but does not sell. So overall a ebaystore will list 10 items and sell only one or two. At 5 bux each this is way too much work for so little return.
There are other things going on behind the scenes that make it pay in the long run. But it ain't just decals.
Yes there are several decal stores selling 4 a day. But over the long term there are too many dead days to make it pay.
I cna site a few examples where a decal is listed time and again but does not sell. So overall a ebaystore will list 10 items and sell only one or two. At 5 bux each this is way too much work for so little return.
There are other things going on behind the scenes that make it pay in the long run. But it ain't just decals.
hilltopper
New Member
For those that are into decals for a hobby as i am: I use a Craft robo to cut 6" x 8" window decals for the local schools. Sports, band, etc. i charge 10.00 a decal and i clear 500.00 a week for about 8 hours work. so Mif4 enjoy your hobby!
Helter Skelter
New Member
Just thought i'd chime in on selling decals on Ebay.
I have Sold a number of decals on ebay, but do not any longer, since it is just too much work. Most of the decals will not sell for the listed prices. I have found that to actually sell a few decals, you have to keep your prices really low. (Lets say $2.50 for a 8"x9")
Keep in mind what that decal actually costs you to make and sell.
You must pay listing fees
You have paypal fees
You have to pay for the vinyl.
You have overhead expenses
If you do the math, you'll probably just break even. You may even lose money. And this isn't even including the labor. Ebay isn't all it's made out to be....
I have Sold a number of decals on ebay, but do not any longer, since it is just too much work. Most of the decals will not sell for the listed prices. I have found that to actually sell a few decals, you have to keep your prices really low. (Lets say $2.50 for a 8"x9")
Keep in mind what that decal actually costs you to make and sell.
You must pay listing fees
You have paypal fees
You have to pay for the vinyl.
You have overhead expenses
If you do the math, you'll probably just break even. You may even lose money. And this isn't even including the labor. Ebay isn't all it's made out to be....