Artwork Dilemma

[Andy Gorman]

Put it this way, if I ask my solicitor for a copy of my will (which was drawn up 5 years ago) he’ll charge me as much as he can get away with. These people charge 100 quids an hour for photocopying!

Fleece the bastards. Solicitors aren’t even real people so ethics don’t apply.

[Fred McLean]

Exactly what i said to my partner 😀

[Craig Brown]

I’d justify a charge to the customer by explaining that as the file has been archived you will need to retrieve the data, edit the file to an acceptable format for their use and burn to disk – all for the very reasonable charge of £150.00…equivalent to ½ hours of a senior solicitors (partners) rates.

It’s not called fleecing, it’s called market rates!
🙄

[Martin Pearson]

I would say charge for it as well, if nothing else it is going to take some of your time to copy and send, if you were to tell them you no longer had it they would have to pay someone to redo it anyway.

[John Childs]

I’m not going to get many people agree with me, but the attitude I take is that, if the solicitor paid for the artwork, then it is his and he is entitled to it.

That doesn’t mean that you can’t make a charge for your time, materials and expenses in providing a copy.

On the other hand, if he didn’t pay specifically for the artwork all those years ago, then it belongs to you, and you are perfectly justified in charging for it to be used by someone else.

[Martin Pearson]

John, I agree with you so thats one :lol1:

I was trying to say the same thing but you just said it better’er than I did :lol1:

[Graeme Harrold]

For artwork conversion, I charge an hourly rate (quite cheap), however the vectored image remains mine…..helps with repeat business, however I am more than happy to part company with said vector as long as the customer pays the full conversion cost (quite a bit more!!). Basically can you justify charging to release the graphic???

Anyhoo…….solicitors………charge them a fortune and take 6-8 weeks to deliver!!! That’s the time they have added to my house sale!! (:)

[Fred McLean]

They want a high res PDF!!!
Am assuming they want to use it in some kind of brochure/promo stuff

[John Childs]

quote Fred Mc:

They want a high res PDF!!!

Well, that’s it then.

If they want it generating in a different format to what was done before, then they gotta pay.

[Graeme Harrold]

two words spring to mind

CASH COW!!!!

[Hugh Potter]

i suppose we’re getting into the realms of copyright now, but, in my small print on my quote forms, and art approval forms, it clearly states that all artwork i do is copyright of blah blah signs, and as such, the artwork cannot be used without seeking my permission first, or buying the copyright from me.

in the event of having already used the artwork to make their signs, and effectively earned my money from it, i will usually let them have it for a nominal fee. or more often just give it to them, if they’re a regular customer i can rely on.

if they want it for business cards / letterheads etc, they have two options, they can pay me a nominal fee to quickly alter the layout and send the design to them in a pdf for pre-press, or, if i get even a sniff that they’re taking it to another sign shop, then it’s £50 to buy the copyright.

or with new customers based on quotes being given, then it’s chargable @ x amount per hour before they take away anykind of usable copy, which will then be knocked off of the final price.

i’ve been had over before where a customer wants it, for business cards, and next thing they have 12pence worth of manky ebay signs on their new £2 ebay swing board !

i think in the case at hand, i would charge them something, simply because it’s going to take you a while to find work which was archived 4 yrs ago, tell them that if they come back as a customer, they’ll get 50% of the chrge deducted from the job ! migh be worth a go.

[Fred McLean]

Hugh that’s the way i think to go,charge something and tell em i’ll deduct off next order.

Cheers for all the input troops

[Graeme Harrold]

quote Hugh Potter:

i think in the case at hand, i would charge them something, simply because it’s going to take you a while to find work which was archived 4 yrs ago, tell them that if they come back as a customer, they’ll get 50% of the chrge deducted from the job ! migh be worth a go.

I agree, its about getting a fair price for work done against keeping the customer coming back for more.

Still doesn’t get over the fact its a solicitor……… :lol1:

[Hugh Potter]

quote Graeme Harrold:

quote Hugh Potter:

i think in the case at hand, i would charge them something, simply because it’s going to take you a while to find work which was archived 4 yrs ago, tell them that if they come back as a customer, they’ll get 50% of the chrge deducted from the job ! migh be worth a go.

I agree, its about getting a fair price for work done against keeping the customer coming back for more.

Still doesn’t get over the fact its a solicitor……… :lol1:

you could always send it with a booby trapped grenade in the box ? fair play ?lol

[Graeme Harrold]

quote Hugh Potter:

you could always send it with a booby trapped grenade in the box ? fair play ?lol

I prefer using the Taliban-a-gram mail service -googleye-