what would you do?

[TradeBalanceBoss]

So, while I agree with you. I actually had a customer come in to pick up decals that he thought he had ordered from me. He was TRYING to order from me. He was a farily new customer to me and had only placed a couple of orders. When he googled printers, he assumed it was the other guy. THEN, when he put the picture of both of our businesses on my google page, he was intentionally trying to confuse people. So we have flooded our google page with updates and photos where his business is completely blacked out. He got mad. LOL too bad.
But, heres my issue...he's selling banners and TENTS. those tents are a grand a piece.

Ask that customer if he would be willing to provide a statement about his experience (write it down with date and details). Also make sure you keep track of any other instances like this. Every confused customer is a lost sale and is evidence of actual harm.

That is really good that you have flooded Google with your own marketing but also, report to Google more formally. Report the competitor for adding misleading photos to your listing. I'm pretty sure Google takes this pretty seriously because they pride themselves on being a trustworthy source of information and not a scam system.

This actually could be a strong case for unfair competition claims and tortious interference with business relationships. Have an attorney write a cease and desist letter. With tents at a grand each and banners in the mix, this isn't small potatoes. Most states have laws against business practices designed to confuse consumers about the source of goods or services. What he is doing the "welcome enter here" signage and the gooogle photo manipulation could be exactly that.

You have a customer who intended to do business with you and was misdirected due to the competitor's actions. Straight text book interference.

If his advertising is giving a false impression that your businesses are affiliated that could be considered false advertising.

Put him on formal notice with a cease and desist "stop doing this or we'sll pursue legal action" start the paper trail.

Then with your landlord, you said that there is no exclusivity clause in your lease. But you could talk to the landlord directly explaining what's happening with the deceptive practices. Landlords usually don't want tenants who create legal problems or drama in their center. Negotiate an exclusivity clause at renewal and get it in writing next time, document everything, in the next lease renewal you have some leverage there.

 

[binki]

this bold enough? The landlord made us remove the curb stops but they are polar tac. Yep. they stick. in fact, the landlord thought it was paint.

OMG! I love it!

Fun Fact, those window banners are illegal in Los Angeles. Generally they are limited to 10% of the window area unless for light control or privacy are generally not restricted by these specific signage ordinances, provided they do not function as or contain commercial signs.

 

[binki]

When we started at our first commercial/retail location we were one of at least a dozen companies doing the same thing as us. A few years later it was down to three. I wouldn't worry too much about it but would repost the picture on your google page with a big red X through his storefront and some snappy caption.

 

[Geneva Olson]

When we started at our first commercial/retail location we were one of at least a dozen companies doing the same thing as us. A few years later it was down to three. I wouldn't worry too much about it but would repost the picture on your google page with a big red X through his storefront and some snappy caption.

The business has been there for 40 years. He is the 4th owner. The last owner, we got along with really well. He would send customers to us and we would send customers to him. This guy..he's doing something fishy.

 

[binki]

The business has been there for 40 years. He is the 4th owner. The last owner, we got along with really well. He would send customers to us and we would send customers to him. This guy..he's doing something fishy.

Understood. Out of the dozen by us, several were there, several started up. As of this year there is only us and one of the originals left. The other guy moved to a larger facility.

 

[Pauly]

yep. he's got 3 big copiers. that's it. He doesn't even have a plotter. he has to farm plottered graphics out.

Sounds like an opportunity to partner with them?
Probably burned that bridge though.

 

[Geneva Olson]

Sounds like an opportunity to partner with them?
Probably burned that bridge though.

Dude burned that bridge when he very sneakily put that picture on my google page and he thought we couldn't see that. No, he wants my business. literally wants to take it from me. It aint happening.

 

[Pauly]

Dude burned that bridge when he very sneakily put that picture on my google page and he thought we couldn't see that. No, he wants my business. literally wants to take it from me. It aint happening.

how do you put a picture on someone elses page?

 

[bob]

Merely do whatever your competition does better than he does and cheaper. Immensely better and cheaper if you can swing it.

 

[StarSign]

Sorry, cheaper is a race to the bottom.

 

[Geneva Olson]

how do you put a picture on someone elses page?

You just upload it. BUT, GOOGLE tags the person who uploads the photo so the owner of the google page knows who posted the photo. Many times people will leave google reviews and post photos of the job that we did. In this instance, he just uploaded a photo. You can turn that feature off. but, like I said, people post photos in reviews.

 

[Geneva Olson]

Merely do whatever your competition does better than he does and cheaper. Immensely better and cheaper if you can swing it.

Sorry, cheaper is a race to the bottom.

I have 2 advantages over him. I have my printer in house, so I CAN make things cheaper AND I have a quicker turnaround time.

 

[StarSign]

Push the turnaround time and have great customer service.

 

[Geneva Olson]

Push the turnaround time and have great customer service.

I'm good at both of those! LOL

 

[JamesLam]

My instinct tells me he did not do his homework.

 

[Eforcer]

this bold enough? The landlord made us remove the curb stops but they are polar tac. Yep. they stick. in fact, the landlord thought it was paint.

Love ----> Enter here not over there...

 

[Geneva Olson]

Our latest arsenal: a 16ft box truck parked facing the street with our logos bigger than sh*t on it. No more confusion.

 

[Stacey K]

I outlasted multiple sign shops in my old area before I sold my building. I believe it was 4 or 5 other young ladies opened up shops and all closed up due to stress over 8 years. Only one man remains who was several miles away and not really my competition on much.

That guy will be out of business soon enough, if he acts like that to you then he's doing that to his customers also

 

[The Blind Signman]

I remember I bought a book from a sign guy on Signcraft from the early 80's ..and he described himself as a "Snapper" thats someone who goes from town to town...city to city and state to state ,,husteling HAND LETTERED signs...waht a great story

 

[TradeBalanceBoss]

I outlasted multiple sign shops in my old area before I sold my building. I believe it was 4 or 5 other young ladies opened up shops and all closed up due to stress over 8 years. Only one man remains who was several miles away and not really my competition on much.

That guy will be out of business soon enough, if he acts like that to you then he's doing that to his customers also

This for surely isn't an easy business. It is one of the hardest and the competition is extremely high. But it is a strategists dream. You have to be a true maverick.