What to charge? Or not?

Yeah, that's a toughie.........

If he's too dumb to get it on ebay or wherever, I'd sell it to him for double your cost, plus any freight that was connected in getting it. With die-cut vinyl, you can make a lotta profit. I wouldn't argue with him about being a kinda competition, but let him know you are indeed a business and need to make something on ALL of your sales.

 

I came to the conclusion that I don't see supplies to the public. People ask for blank substrates or vinyl and I just say call a sign supplier. Then again, I don't have a retail shop so I'd loose $$ trying to sell and deliver them stuff.

 

Keep your friends close and enemies closer. I occasionally sell supplies at a reasonable margin to the part-time 'semi-professional', but not the nickel/dime stuff. Gives me a better idea of what they are doing and if you force them to work at building supply lines, they will just take the next step and start competing for real. And if it's a legitimate everyday competitor, I sell it at cost or have them replace. Have had those favors returned many times and some of them are my best print customers.

 

I think double cost covers the convenience fee...but you are creating a monster.

 

He works as a designer at a place that has a vinyl plotter....why is he coming to you, do they use it as a paper weight? Sounds suspicious to me.

 

"I'll have to charge my typical markup, is that ok?"
I had direct competition call at something like 5:30 on a Friday. They needed premask, and fellers would be closed by the time they got there, oh and of course they needed to do this install over the weekend. I priced them a half roll of Rtape conform series at my cost on a full roll. Evidently they aren't used to the mid tier product cost... They got mad and hung up on the receptionist. I was dumbfounded. When presented with a rock and a hard place, don't b*tch. Especially if it's your own damn fault for not stocking/counting your materials.

 

Charge him double plus shipping. And then he will find this place later on and post how someone took advantage of him when he just started out.

 

Yep! This right here.

You do realize that if you sell him the materials THIS time, he'll definitely come to the NEXT time, and the next, and the next. I'd personally stop if before it gets started.


JB

 

I'd do it for double cost, but i'd also let him know this is a one time shot then give him grimco's number.

 

I don't see the conflict.. he's going to do it anyways, might as well make some money off it & get rid of older inventory to boot... What about the transfer tape?
I don't have a router, so I have a sign shop down the street do my routing, they're great to work with and do a great job & as a "thank you" I send good jobs their way
that are outside of what I offer.

We're not enemies, if we work together we can all make more profit.

 

When I need routing I find engraving shops, not for fear of losing business - they are easier to deal with than "sign guys". The last "sign guy" I dealt with was working on approval for a final flex face in an over $60K sign package from me and asking me for approval wtitout giving me a proof! - after I had sent 100% print ready art with a screen cap of how it needs to look) that they decided to remove my clipping masks from and destroy.

If you need help, you might offer this guy a job, since you have already begun teaching him.

 

The equivalent of the guy down the street doing routing for you is Stacey cutting the lettering for the fire department.

If they want to get into using their plotter to make signs they can darn well order their vinyl and supplies from a sign supply store. And let him use crappy vinyl if that's what he chooses.

 

i will go a step further than andy

i don't see what is so disturbing?

it can't be the mere existence of someone else making a sign, or we wouldn't be members here. if you don't want to sell to him don't.

stacey asked a simple question about markup, as a "professional" courtesy

in the past i have had competitors in the same building with us and life went on.

we loaned each other equipment, received packages for each other, even covered emergency calls when someone was on vacation

 

Double plus freight sounds good. Don't forget to add in the C-19 charge. Masks, sanitizer, and take-out food are not free.

 

Yes he's your competition. But I'm sure he can goto grimco or fellers or whatever supplier you have nearby and buy it just as easy.

May as well sell it and make a profit. Weve sold rolls at cost with a lot of our direct competitors.... We always buy rolls from them at cost. It pays to have friends, we help them and they help us.

Maybe one day pull be too busy for a job and need him to install for you for cheap? Or do some design work.... Etc. Just because he's your competition doesn't mean he can't be your ally as well. Not saying sell it to him at cost, with no relationship wed definately mark up as well.

But he likely already has the job, so subbing him because he's competition gets you nowhere. Plus if he buys from you at a higher cost... He's not making as much profit, maybe doing the work won't be worth it to him and it'll be his first and only job. You never know!

 

Im friendly with all of my local competitors and really don’t consider them to be competition. I buy some supplies in bulk and sell them to them for a little markup. It works out better like that. We get work from them and we all know who each others bread and butter customers are and stay away. I have ran out of something at a bad time or needed a tool and and can call any of them to borrow it. Put some beer money on the material and invite them over to drink a few one afternoon. Id make my money elsewhere but thats just me.

 

I'd compromise. I'd tell him you'll take his design files and cut them on your vinyl plotter at X price. He can weed, mask, and install them.

That way you're making the gravy money and he's doing all the grunt work.