Very annoyed.

[klingsdesigns]

I hate it when a customer calls or email and ask how much for lettering on vehicle and they send a picture of what they want, no accurate size, no quality of material and thats it. Then i try and send them a decent price and they say they can get it somewhere else cheap. They dont care about the product quality, customer service etc. How do you guys deal with this?

 

[thesignguy1986]

Tell them thanks for coming to you for a quote and they need to realize you are providing quality products and the other person most likely isn't. If they go somewhere else I wouldn't worry because in 2 months when the stuff is peeling off you can make sure they understand you know what your talking about and next time they should listen to you a little closer

 

[J Hill Designs]

price and forget

 

[Gino]

I hate it when a customer calls or email and ask how much for lettering on vehicle and they send a picture of what they want, no accurate size, no quality of material and thats it. Then i try and send them a decent price and they say they can get it somewhere else cheap. They dont care about the product quality, customer service etc. How do you guys deal with this?

Well, to your scenario, ya win some, ya lose some, but you can create a way to have less of it. It's called customer education.

Regardless if a customer calls or e-mails, make sure you explain a few thing to them before giving them a price.

What I usually do is, figure out a Plain Jane price, a middle-of-the-road set up and then a really nice set up... with a little room to go up from there, if need be. Called a 'three tier' method.

I explain how they will all do the job, with some being better looking and longer lasting than than others. There is a way for any shop US-A to get almost all of your quotes. Be able to roll with the punches. Not each and every truck, sign or banner need to be home-runs. Singles work, triples and even walks, but a strike-out will happen usually if the customer doesn't know any better and that's what you are complaining about and you did nothing to elevate them to your level. You left them in the dust to be picked up by a...... hack. They'll take anything at any price. So, ask yourself.... are you a hack or a professional sign person ??

 

[Craig Sjoquist]

It is frustrating, but use that frustration as a fuel & find better customers, more sales, find ways to prove your brand.

 

[Mosh]

Truck lettering I have a "farmer's special" $30 you get a name, town and DOT number. One color, your choice of font (I provide list). This is NOT installed.

Then I have the full blown lettering and it starts at $100 for two doors, and goes up from there.

Some guys do just need a name and DOT number to get by, not looking for anything special, so I have this "farmer's special" truck lettering price. I do this will all products I sell, I have a cheap version and then the normal one. Not all signs can, or have to be, works of art.

 

[Shadowglen]

Well, to your scenario, ya win some, ya lose some, but you can create a way to have less of it. It's called customer education.

Regardless if a customer calls or e-mails, make sure you explain a few thing to them before giving them a price.

What I usually do is, figure out a Plain Jane price, a middle-of-the-road set up and then a really nice set up... with a little room to go up from there, if need be. Called a 'three tier' method.

I explain how they will all do the job, with some being better looking and longer lasting than than others. There is a way for any shop US-A to get almost all of your quotes. Be able to roll with the punches. Not each and every truck, sign or banner need to be home-runs. Singles work, triples and even walks, but a strike-out will happen usually if the customer doesn't know any better and that's what you are complaining about and you did nothing to elevate them to your level. You left them in the dust to be picked up by a...... hack. They'll take anything at any price. So, ask yourself.... are you a hack or a professional sign person ??

X2 We assume customers know the dynamics of materials and they often don't. Some shops prey on that and just push low quality at lower prices. It is not that hard to explain to them that materials range from yugo quality to Lamborghini and the prices reflect.

 

[klingsdesigns]

Thanks guys i really like the 3 price option. Even doing a basic door price and full blown price will help because they could always say they want something in between.

 

[bikecomedy]

Potential New Client: How much for lettering on vehicle? Here's my picture.

You: Thank you for your inquiry about our services and products. We would be happy to give you a price for this work. Before we do we need to ask a few questions. Would that be alright?

Then wait for a response. Email or on the phone or in person.

If they respond

You: Before I ask you the questions I would like to let you know a little about us. Would that be alright?

Once you have explained why they should chose you (a little about us, building value).

Collect all the information you would if you were writing up a contract or work order for them to sign. In fact fill out your form. Include asking about other quotes and what they are.

Then ask then for any information you need to provide the quote.

Then close the sale. Ask then to buy from you now.

Practice doing this and close more of these. It is hard to do at first because it takes time to learn how to turn the conversation skillfully back to these steps.

Understand being annoyed but only you can control that one. Decide to practice closing a difficult prospect instead. Practice and use it to better your close.

 

[klingsdesigns]

Its interesting how I have been doing this for 8 years and I am still learning stuff everyday!

 

[Marlene]

I hate it when a customer calls or email and ask how much for lettering on vehicle and they send a picture of what they want, no accurate size, no quality of material and thats it.

are they sending a picture of the truck or a "picture" of what they want it to say? you must have some idea what the sizes of truck doors and van sides are so you can guess some on that for pricing. as far as material quality goes, not their job to know this stuff. just give them a price based on what you have and if they are just looking for cheap who cares, let someone else deal with them as those kinds of customers are never happy no matter what

 

[Biker Scout]

When it comes to vehicle lettering, I don't like offering any levels. It's a waste of time. I refuse to apply calendared vinyl to a vehicle, period. I only use the good stuff, but where my prices tend to be different is in the design. Vinyl is only a few cents per sq. in. Installation is easy. I do have case study pics that I've taken around town that show the effects of a hack shop using inferior products if I need to illustrate why I'm at least more knowledgable and actually care about their image, and not their wallet.

I collect my money on design, because at the end of the day, image is all that matters. To me and them. I would hate to have the reputation of being the guy who installed a cheaper product, that looked awesome, but was edge curling, or looked like a crackle bar.

 

[Gino]

When it comes to vehicle lettering, I don't like offering any levels. It's a waste of time. I refuse to apply calendared vinyl to a vehicle, period. I only use the good stuff, but where my prices tend to be different is in the design. Vinyl is only a few cents per sq. in. Installation is easy. I do have case study pics that I've taken around town that show the effects of a hack shop using inferior products if I need to illustrate why I'm at least more knowledgable and actually care about their image, and not their wallet.

I collect my money on design, because at the end of the day, image is all that matters. To me and them. I would hate to have the reputation of being the guy who installed a cheaper product, that looked awesome, but was edge curling, or looked like a crackle bar.

I don't know where you got the notion a three tier pricing structure means using inferior products.

I also don't know why if a guy comes to you with an old van with dents and in need of a new paint job, but has to have his truck lettered, you'd waste cast on it. There is a need for all of it, but YOU the professional needs to know when and where to use either or.

I have nothing against a good design or layout, if executed correctly. Therefore, I have a question for you :


If 4 people a day come to you for prices on vans or even pick-ups..... how can you take the time to dream up 4 knock-out designs a day..... 5 days a week to make a sale ??

So, how does comparing quality images with inferior design even enter into the equation..... and how does that set you apart or even get you work ??
​

 

[Marlene]

I also don't know why if a guy comes to you with an old van with dents and in need of a new paint job, but has to have his truck lettered, you'd waste cast on it. There is a need for all of it, but YOU the professional needs to know when and where to use either or.

we only use 3M cast too and there's no sense in having crappy vinyl around. way back many years ago we did have some to do temp jobs and other things that were short term. too many people who were all for something that only would last a few months coming back when it came off in a few months. not worth the hassle. if they want down and cheap, there are shops around who will do it. my job is to put out a good product that is made to last. what the customer wants to put that on isn't my concern

 

[Biker Scout]

how can you take the time to dream up 4 knock-out designs a day..... 5 days a week to make a sale ??

So, how does comparing quality images with inferior design even enter into the equation..... and how does that set you apart or even get you work ??​

​

That is the only reason why people come to me... because I can. I'm that fast.

I have no signage out front, I'm a Design Studio first and foremost with 2 bays and a workshop. If they are coming to me, they already know my work and that I'm willing to bend over backwards for them.

The 3 tiered approach doesn't work for me personally, because I'm not about to do 3 different layouts and have them pick one. I'm sorry, I'm not going to put any effort into an awesome design, an OK design and just some type only to have them pick out the type. I'd be pissed, especially knowing they like the really nice one. I only have so much genius per day before I get burnt out if that happened to me day in and day out. Boring. Not why I'm a designer. I'd rather them be totally happy with my stuff. They don't have to know I only buy cast material. It's not on their radar, why should they care? But .14¢ vs .28¢ per sq. ft. isn't going to break me, especially when I just use a flat rate for vinyl sq. ft. charge, and the design and install fees are mandatory.

The showing of inferior product is actually a good sales tactic here in Las Vegas. Plenty of heat to destroy calendared vinyl on a business window facing the sun or on a vehicle. Inside sign, temporary sign? 651 all day.

 

[Z SIGNS]

Don't be annoyed.
The price of truck lettering should be based on the effectiveness of the design.

If your work is over the top you can charge top dollar,have a backlog of customers who will seek you and gladly pay top dollar.
You will have the kind of customer who doesn't care about the price and understands the difference between you and the hack down the street.

On the other hand if your work is no different than the guy down the street who bought a printer & plotter and has no wow factor
your stuck down in that cesspool that's filled with modern day sign writers all competing against each other to get the job of
some customer who only care about price,don't see the difference and can't be educated.

Mike Stevens talked about this.
You don't want every job you only want the good ones.

 

[Moze]

I hate it when a customer calls or email and ask how much for lettering on vehicle and they send a picture of what they want, no accurate size, no quality of material and thats it. Then i try and send them a decent price and they say they can get it somewhere else cheap. They dont care about the product quality, customer service etc. How do you guys deal with this?

I have a pretty standard two-thought process for stuff like this:

1.) This isn't the kind of customer I want to deal with.
2.) If I go out of business because I didn't take on customers like this, I don't want to be in business.

That makes it much easier to give them your price and let the rest work itself out. Much less stress than haggling and chasing customers that want to beat you down on price.

 

[Biker Scout]

You don't want every job you only want the good ones.

DING! DING! DING! DING! WE HAVE A WINNAH!

Exactly how I built my current business model. If we can live our lives by design, why can't we run our businesses the same?

Much less stress than haggling and chasing customers that want to beat you down on price.

I've changed my thought process to match this as well. I actually turned down a potential branding job this past week. Thought long and hard about it. They wanted to just pay me hourly, but I've got a strict $5k design fee for that kind of stuff. The client was kind of taken back by my refusal of money. But I made my case, and said thanks but no thanks. Guess they are coming in today with their credit card after all.

 

[Pixels Are Bad Mmmkay?]

This is the reason why I'm doing less "quotes" these days and more "proposals". I believe if you call it a proposal and detail the materials used, they realize they do have other options, at least, and that they may be comparing apples to oranges when comparing quotes.

 

[Gino]

I understand, I really do, but those of you making the assumption of using cast is the only way...... do you not remember any cast vinyl failures ??

Although it was primarily one manufacturer, it's happened to many different manufacturers. Granted, it doesn't happen often [luckily] but one never knows, huh ??



That being said, many things have changed in our shop, since we now use flatbeds and roll to roll printers. While we only stock a few colors in intermediate vinyl, I can't remember a truck or sign with it on... lasting less than 5 or 6 years. We've had great success using it and we don't consider it inferior, unless you were using it on an electric face, a permanent sign or a fleet of trucks. Then it would be dumb to use intermediate and I would agree it was an inferior product, but if the shoe fits.........

Today, if a customer wants a 4' x 4' Cor-X sign, we'd flatbed print it and it still only has a life expectancy of 1 to 2 years. However, whether it was one color or 13 million colors, it costs us the same to print it. 5 years ago we would've done that in intermediate vinyl and still made out like bandits. For us, it's all about making a happy customer.... who keeps coming back.

 

[Marlene]

I understand, I really do, but those of you making the assumption of using cast is the only way...... do you not remember any cast vinyl failures ??

only one I know of is Avery and we don't use anything from them. been using Gerber 220 series since the 1980's and have yet to have an issue.