I'm badly burned out on some aspects of the work.
The instant a caller tires to beat me down an a price I hang up. If they try to bargain in the office I say thank you for coming in and get back to work.
I have not cut vinyl in any real amount in many months. I gave away my back up cutter. I do not cut any window decals for cars ever any more. I rarely do banners either.
They call asking for a quote.. I tell them sorry ,, no quotes over the phone.
"How do I know how much it will cost for a 18x24 no parking sign"?
You come in and order it and leave a deposit.
"But it might be cheaper somewhere else".
Go somewhere else then.... click!
I do plenty of printed materials. However, I will not print it if someone sends me junk Camera ready art. I recently refused a job.. a brochure job for 5k pieces where copy ran over the fold lines. The amateur photos had white around the pics over the colored backgrounds. One shot had a hat rack growing out of the subjects head. All this from a "professional" marketer and designer. I will not spend time telling a professional why I won't print it either. Let them get their photo editing training from someone who needs the ego boost..
It is hard to understand but I am making more now than in a long time with my "attitude". Set a new record last month for gross income. Plus now I have to time to study new concepts and develop new products. It is a good day to be a grouch.
Good God you sound like me!!
About 5 years ago, I started to notice a trend where people were more interested in 'how much' a job was gonna cost them, over the quality of the final product. Grrrrrrr
Now I've got a new next-door neighbor to my shop, (it's a big multi-unit shop) who got these terrible 'wraps' on his box trucks (from an outta town cut-throat), that he parks out in front of our building. GUESS WHO EVERYONE THINKS DID THESE????
GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm afraid to answer the phone anymore as 95% of the time, because it's NOT a customer...it's a tellemarketer from Bangledesh!!!
My name has 3 letters....how hard it THAT to pronounce????????
GRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!
I built this business nearly 30 years ago. I'm pretty good at what I do. I try to offer the best product I can give my customers, based on whatever budget thay have to work with. If I skrew something up...I'll fix it. If I tell you that you can pick up your truck tomorrow morning at 8:00 am...and I have to pull an all-nighter to make that deadline...by Gawd I'll do it.
I had 2 main customer groups...business owners & their trucks, and people's toys.
The plumbers and truckers are NOT buying any new equipment these days...they're just trying to survive the economy...like me!
And the guys with the custom motorcycles and hot-rods???........they're hoping that they don't have to sell them to make their house payments.
And ya wonder why I'm grouchy & depressed?? Burned out??
With this wonderful new economy, I find myself completely starting all-over again in business.
I DO love this business with all my heart. I just hope I can build a new niche* that I can make an honest living at.
All the best!!