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Are you installing signs & graphics?
I had a call last week asking if we could supply a wall graphic, when I said yes, their next question was would we install it. The lady had spoken to multiple companies who would happily print a graphic, but wouldn’t carry out the installation.
Speaking to a few people, it seems that many companies don’t want to get involved with the installation side of the job, preferring to deal with the production side.
I kind of understand that, as time away from the workshop still needs to earn the money to cover the costs, and when you’re away installing that’s all you’re doing.
Good subbie’s are hard to come by, and when you do find good ones, they’re booked up weeks in advance and their rates can soon eat into a job.
I’m generally interested if this is a local thing, or have others followed suit, choosing to off load the headache of installing.
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13 Replies
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No chance, we wouldn’t be in business long if that was our approach.
Yes, there are customers out there willing to try and save a few pounds by installing a sign or graphics themselves. But those same people will buy poorly designed budget materials from online sources. I am just not interested in wasting my time with people like that.Good customers contact us sign makers for branding solutions. It is up to us how we take things from there. If straight away one of the key aspects of services is not on the table, I think you will find 8/10 will walk.
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Agree with rob. Although am getting more brutal with fitting charge. All part of the fun.
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Most of my work is vehicles and I install at my workshop.
However, after hearing from several different people that installations aren’t offered as a service, even for relatively simple jobs, I too was surprised.
If what I am hearing locally is accurate, there’s a huge amount of work on the table, as Rob says, not everyone wants to have a go and installing and just wants the job done.
My installs are usually half or full days, in a few instances I charge hourly (ie it’s literally round the corner, on my way home)
Perhaps today’s job was an anomaly, but it was far more profitable than my ‘usual’ work
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We do quite a lot of wall graphics, from self adhesive, to wallpaper, to FabTrack stretch graphics. We always sub the fitting out to people who know what they’re doing, who charge either half or full days.
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Perhaps it’s a local thing, I know the sub contractors I speak too are booked up weeks in advance. Some customers won’t wait that long.
I’m not talking huge installs either, very basic bread and butter kind of stuff, the print I did for the job yesterday wasn’t huge, and the install cost more than the print, plus there was an additional charge to install two graphics we didn’t supply whilst we were there.
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We often find that installation costs are higher than graphic costs, but as long as the client approves the price, I don’t mind.
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I think the installation comes part and parcel of being a sign maker. as you say, there can be good money in just charging for your time and keeping the customer sweet by doing the installation also.
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Agreed, although saying that I’ve concentrated on vehicles for years as I’ve always found it ‘easier’, and required less time and effort… although I think there’s certainly work out there I’m missing out on by being rather niche.
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I think it depends on the type of customer.
if you are selling to joe blogs, they sometimes do not mind if they have to install it if it saves them a few quid. but if your dealing with a company then they want the whole thing done for them because the buyer doesnt want to get off their backside and fit what they have just sourced. so they do not mind if they have to pay extra for the installation whether that’s by you or a subby. the trouble with a subby is “their service” good or bad, normally reflects on your company. -
Most of what I produce I install, larger stuff I sub contract out.
Was supposed to have a customer bring a car in for some stripes today, he flinched a bit at the price, so it was no surprise when he called a couple of hours before to cancel… but he’d get some off the internet if I’d fit them 🧐 Unusually for me I was taken by surprise I didn’t give my typical well communicated answer
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I had a similar last year, and I was in that kind of sarcastic mood:
Us: ‘No problem Sir, we will fit your eBay graphics for you, here’s the cost’
Client: ‘But that’s twice what you quoted to print and fit them!!’
Us: ‘That’s correct…….
🤣🤣‘
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It bugs me to even have to deal with customers like this. Yes, maybe there are exceptions to the rule, but to come in and say “They have bought graphics from another company or online, and can you fit it for me?”
P**s off! 😏
That said if it is for an existing customer asking for us to install their dealership graphics, which are generally sent from the head office in the USA or someplace similar. These are for companies like JCB, CAT, VOLVO, etc. We charge plenty for doing so, though.
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The job wasn’t massive so most of the cost I quoted was actually installation/time.
I love how some customers think they’re doing you a favour. I’m getting paid more today to go and do a little sub contract job for a friend.
All that said, I do need to be a little more patient and tolerant when dealing with customers I am a bit quick to dismiss enquiries and can’t be bothered with ‘idiots’.
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