I'm heartbroken. We're all entitled to express ourselves how we see fit. The internet like emails doesn't express emotions or body language. I thanked him and then with tongue firmly in cheek explained why we do things the way we do. You are more than entitled to think of me however it is you like. I like me, most of my friends and family like me, and I'm quite content with my nice, little profitable sign business.
Nothing I stated was untrue, personal or cheap. We make signs here and do our utmost to use our equipment and personnel for the vast majority of work we can in order to keep things local, stay true to our vocation as sign "makers" and keep ours and our employee's days busy. A crime that is not and there was a time when to most tradespeople thought that was a virtuous and worthy business philosophy. Sorry, if I'm not adapting to the 21st century the way you'd prefer.
Sure, I could go rent an office a tenth of the size of my shop, dump my equipment and play signbroker, but I wouldn't be as happy as I am or have been most of my 35+ year career as a signmaker. My creative desire to sell, design, build and take pride in making my ideas come alive in the from of real tangible signs that help my customer's businesses wouldn't be fulfilled. And that my overly judgemental friend is why I do this to begin with.
There's plenty of folks here that rank on the after market ink, media, ordering software, vinyl suppliers, etc. with reckless abandon in much harsher tones than I expressed.
