Online sign retailers fake or real

[Devon19515]

We are quoting fabricated metal , halo back lit wall letters and the customer sends us a quote from an online retailer for the "same" design that is less than 20% of our quote from Gemini.
The online site is using an AI generated rendering and saying 10 days to ship anywhere.
Are these online sites for real or just scams?

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

how would we know if you dont tell the name

 

[Devon19515]

signs.inc and SVN signs

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

20% of the gemini quote means it's 80% cheaper? Or are you saying it's 20% cheaper? because that would be more believable.

You don't have to compete with online retailers. I wouldn't offer to install if they buy the sign somewhere else. No way to warranty it or fix it if something gets broken during installation.

 

[White Haus]

I have no dog in this fight but my first thought is that 10 days is plenty of time to ship crap over from China, India etc.

Also, the day that a customer shows me bottom barrel quotes like that that is the day that I fire that customer.

 

[JBurton]

Just send him back "Oh yeah?!"

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Also, I've never actually been on temu, that place is wild.

 

[unclebun]

If you Google Street View the address for signs.inc it's a parking lot on one side of the street and a strip mall on the other. In the second floor of the strip mall there is a sign that says 3DX Sign Shop. And if you read the "about" page, it repeats the same boilerplate paragraph of AI gobbledygook in each section of the page template. Probably not a real sign manufacturer. SVN Designs does look like it might be real and Google shows a photo of their storefront when you search it. However when you click to enlarge the photo it's clearly a faked photo, and Google Street View shows that address as Al Zubair Electric.

 

[EddieBS]

We are quoting fabricated metal , halo back lit wall letters and the customer sends us a quote from an online retailer for the "same" design that is less than 20% of our quote from Gemini.
The online site is using an AI generated rendering and saying 10 days to ship anywhere.
Are these online sites for real or just scams?

We live in a constant evolving world, and pace of changing is increasing. There is always a question of adopting new technologies from the time it pops up or wait to see where the market is heading to(because not all new technologies are a winner). Your situation might be because of:
- your running costs are bigger than theirs, so your price per product is higher
- your acquisition prices for raw materials are higher
- they have cheaper labor costs
- they have automation tools that cuts their costs
- they outsource to China/India (especially for smaller signs)
- they make that sign from scraps remaining from other jobs.

or a mix of the above, or might be something that we don't know.
Why do you think they can get better price than you?

 

[Ewan yu]

Is it this type? If so, I can share two reference price levels from China one for good quality factories and one for mid range quality. If the price is lower than that, you can usually tell they’re sourcing very low quality products from China.

 

[victor bogdanov]

I've been buying a lot of stuff directly China lately and it is mind blowing how cheap some stuff is compared to what we have in the USA. 4 or 5 times cheaper.

For example one material in the USA is $220 per roll, directly from China it is $55 delivered via fast fedex shipping and under $40 purchased by the skid (delivered price).

I can see a Chinese manufacturer being a fraction of Gemini delivered. I've seen Gemini Prices and I've seen that famous Tony sign guy prices.

 

[Kalispel]

We are not in the sign business. We are in the metal fabrication business. We buy expendable cutting tools directly from China at 15 to 30% of the US price. Years ago the Chinese tools were clearly inferior. We were philosophically opposed to using them. We would buy occasionally when we needed a special tool that is very expensive in the US. Eventually realized the quality is good and many are identical to similar branded versions sold in the US. Now we feel cheated by some of the brands that we know are importing tool with their mark.

 

[EddieBS]

Texas_Signmaker
What you didn't like or disagree from my post?

 

[Ewan yu]

victor,So what did you end up using? Can I take a look?

I've been buying a lot of stuff directly China lately and it is mind blowing how cheap some stuff is compared to what we have in the USA. 4 or 5 times cheaper.

For example one material in the USA is $220 per roll, directly from China it is $55 delivered via fast fedex shipping and under $40 purchased by the skid (delivered price).

I can see a Chinese manufacturer being a fraction of Gemini delivered. I've seen Gemini Prices and I've seen that famous Tony sign guy prices.

 

[victor bogdanov]

victor,So what did you end up using? Can I take a look?

This is for DTF film not the wallpaper stuff we are in touch about.

1/5 the price ordering from the factory and actually a bit better quality

 

[RighteousDude]

Regardless of the legitimacy of these chinese online vendors... don't race to zero, it hurts the whole industry. If they are acting like this already, they are going to have buyers remorse and no matter how perfect you do, they'll be a bad customer. Move on, it's okay to lose a client once in a while, especially if they want you to break your back for little-to-no-profit... these are the same type of customers that expect beyond realistic execution and will complain about things like a very necessary screw head or weld being visible or something miniscule and stupid like that. Let them buy from that other place, make sure they understand that if you do install (charge extra, because crap signs are crap to install) there won't be a warranty since you can't vouch for that companies product. When they find out what bottom dollar gets them, maybe they'll learn their lesson. Far too many of us are far too accepting of customers who want to haggle. We aren't some street vendor in Pakistan, don't lower yourself to that level by partaking in these type of negotiations.

 

[Stacey K]

If you Google Street View the address for signs.inc it's a parking lot on one side of the street and a strip mall on the other. In the second floor of the strip mall there is a sign that says 3DX Sign Shop. And if you read the "about" page, it repeats the same boilerplate paragraph of AI gobbledygook in each section of the page template. Probably not a real sign manufacturer. SVN Designs does look like it might be real and Google shows a photo of their storefront when you search it. However when you click to enlarge the photo it's clearly a faked photo, and Google Street View shows that address as Al Zubair Electric. View attachment 180205 View attachment 180205

This reminds me of something...