What to charge? Or not?

[Stacey K]

A young man just came in. He is a graphic designer, at his work place they have a vinyl plotter. He also works at the fire department. He would like to buy 2 rolls of vinyl from me so he can do all the lettering on the outside of the fire department garage doors. He had planned to use calendared vinyl (one reason you call a professional). Anyway...I sometimes have people come in and ask for a piece of vinyl and I sell it to them but have never had "competition" come in and ask me for 2 full rolls.

Please advise, it's a job that I COULD be doing and making money on so it's slightly irritating to me. On the other hand, it's not a business, it's the fire department. Not sure I can look at this objectively. Thanks!

 

[Gino]

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.

 

[Stacey K]

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.

OK, I was also thinking double plus shipping, wasn't sure if I was being greedy but he's not a business so that's what I would charge anyone else. Thank you!

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

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.

 

[Stacey K]

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.

I sometimes have some hobbiest who hand cut decals for their model cars etc...or maybe I should say, instead of me wasting my time I offer to sell them some scraps LOL That's another good rule of thumb to remember for next time! Never really had this happen before!

 

[Reveal1]

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.

 

[greysquirrel]

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

 

[Billct2]

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.

 

[Johnny Best]

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.

 

[James Burke]

...but you are creating a monster.

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

 

[Jay Grooms]

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.

 

[Andy D]

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.

 

[RaymondLoewy]

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.

 

[unclebun]

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.

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.

 

[netsol]

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.

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

 

[GAC05]

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

 

[ikarasu]

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!

 

[Notarealsignguy]

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.

 

[rossmosh]

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.

 

[Stacey K]

A few of you might think this guy is a business, he's not, he's just a young kid who is looking to do this job for the fire department. To my knowledge he's done nothing more than make some stickers for his workplace and apply them to the medical cabinets they make (my boyfriend worked there and no decals are larger than 18"x4"). Obvioulsy, with the other local businesses I have a good relationship. We swap materials, I once borrowed a heat press from one shop. I've made last minute signs and banners. That's not the issue.

I think he may have been fishing more than anything. Looking for the right material, etc. Darn my conscience in telling him he can't use "the thick stuff".

I do like Rossmosh idea of offering to cut the vinyl and he apply it. I'll price some things out...