Do offer more than one wrap film when quoting?

[David Hammond]

Sometimes yes.

We wrapped the sides of a maxi mover in print, I gave the customer 2 options.

Using MD5A or using MD3A, it made no difference to us for fitting & printing, but if the customer wanted cheaper, they could have a shorter term vinyl.

Other than that I dont, unless they’ve specified a colour or material, so they can see 3M/ Avery vs Oracal,

[RobertLambie]

There are some instances when I may offer an alternative material for volume budget signage, but when it comes to wrapping, I don’t.

If I wrap a Car in a premium wrapping cast, I have to…
Design it > Print it > laminate it > Install it.

If I wrap a Car in a budget 2D polymeric wrap, I have to…
Design it > Print it > laminate it > Install it.

So both processes are exactly the same, but the material costs 50% less!
15 metres of cast = £300
15 metres of polymeric = £150

So over the full process above, you have found a way to save “the customer” £150, fair enough.

Now consider this, if you are using a budget 2D wrap…
* Your installation is going to take you longer.
* Your installation, may not have as good a finish.
* Your installation has a higher chance of a fail.

So you are buying a cheaper material to try and save your customer money, but adding to your time on the job, whilst increasing the chances of an inferior finish and a possible failure.
If there is a failure, you will be back on the job trying to make it right. what you won’t be able to make right is your tainted credibility as a wrapper.

now for the record, I am in no way saying you cannot wrap basic shaped vehicles with polymeric. you can, and I have. But it’s when “I know” the polymeric is more than capable of doing the job. and any savings I can make for using it, goes into my pocket, not the customers!

Wrapping properly is a slow tedious tiring job, by the end of the day. Make it as easy and as profitable as possible, for you! Because I can assure you, when something is not just right, that smiling customer, may turn into the Pain in the Arse, from hell! 🙂

My prices etc. above, are just generalised.

.

[Kevin Mahoney]

If winning or losing a livery job comes down to a couple of hundred quid, I wouldn’t want the job anyway. I select the material based on the client’s budget, the client is rarely qualified to make this choice & only confuses them when given the option, they’re much more likely to throw it back to you to decide. For me, the material is a minor part of the job, same time for design, print, laminating, & roughly the same time to fit bar stretching & post heating or trimming out recesses. If you are giving them the choice between two premium wrap films, it’s for colour choice only, any saving is for you, not them. If it’s between cast or polymeric, just explain the limitations of the cheaper material as opposed to the benefits of the premium one. It will probably come down to a difference of a couple of hundred quid/euros but that’s for me or you to decide where to trim the fat & make sensible savings, not the punter. He wants the cheapest, the fastest & the best quality. He can’t have all three, maybe two at best.

[David Hammond]

I agree with you, but there’s also a miss understanding with some customers.

I’ve had customers tell me they wanted 3M 1080 material for a cut vinyl logo, I’ll happily do it for them, but it’s totally overkill, and there’s a similar colour in M7 at a fraction of the cost. Most appreciate the advice, that there’s no need for 1080.

Same with customers who are leasing vans, if it’s a short 2-3 year lease I can offer an alternative (granted only on larger jobs as)

Most customers just see a sticker, and have no idea about cast, polymeric, monomeric, and what the differences are. Sometimes I may talk myself out of expensive jobs, but get myself an easier job, and a customer who appreciates the help.

On the other hand, I’ve also had customers who’ve asked enough that they take the specification elsewhere, and shop around on price. I’ve one at the moment who knows too much about very specific medias.

[Martyn Heath]

Thanks guys, much help.

[Martyn Heath]

Also why ive got you guys here 🙂 this is the job im wrapping, but its an LWB sprinter.

With regards to the chevrons, im assuming in this day and age everyone prints them onto reflective wrap film?

TIA

[Kevin Mahoney]

Don’t know if it’s industry standard but it’s probably the way I’d do it, bonnet would be against the regulations if it’s reflective red at the front though. Do you have similar rules in Finland?

[Martyn Heath]

Rules are that on the front its not doesnt need to be reflective red and on back doesnt need to be reflective white but red needs to be. So………….

[RobertLambie]

I have printed engineering-grade chevrons like this onto Oracal reflective and laminated it, a few times and cut it as a kit, rather than a wrap. works perfectly fine.

However, it is that bit thicker and less conforming. The general application is straightforward enough but what you need to be extremely careful for, is blemishes and bruises in the reflective. it is basically how the reflective vinyl is made up, and when it’s stretched you get an irreparable colour shift in the vinyl, not the ink!
The area indicated along the side may bruise, but the change in shape due to the recess will hide it. however, in the areas of the bonnet, it’s facing you and the sun shining off it, so it’s an area where you need to make sure you don’t crease or stretch or bruising and lines may appear.

You may want to consider using Arlon reflective wrap for this. It won’t stop the bruising, which will happen regardless of the brand, but it has their flite adhesive system so it’s much less aggressive and forgiving adhesive system. And lets you focus on what you are doing with the reflective, rather than having to snap it up and down continually with the risk of bruising.

What you should do, is just go to your customer’s premises and have a look at how their existing vehicles are done. The trouble we often have is that we are trying to offer a perfect solution, when they may be currently accepting a dogs-dinner!
I am not suggesting you offer a similar meal, but it is so much easier to offer a better approach to the job, explaining the limitations like bruising etc or, you do what they currently have but make a neater job of it.

* It could be that they do have it wrapped, but the chevrons aren’t reflective.
* The chevrons might be reflective, but its individual cut lines of engineering-grade reflective fitted one line at a time.
* Are both white and red reflective or just Red?

Just some thoughts…
A sprinter is a decent size van, use a good brand of wrap that will speed the application up for you.
If you do have to wrap the chevrons, use Arlon reflective with flite adhesive. Or Oracal reflective, but less forgiving adhesive
Time saver and money saver for your customer, wrapping the roof is pointless with all that kit on top.
I don’t know what this vehicle is used for, but its colour, the markings, lights etc suggest its all about safety and they will know a ball-park figure for these type of jobs and will know its not cheap.

[Martyn Heath]

Thanks for the info rob, plenty of food for thought

[RobertLambie]

Martyn

If the white doesn’t need to be reflective mate, just wrap it white and apply the cut red reflective chevrons on top.

[Martyn Heath]

Thanks rob, yes it does need to be reflective, apart from the back.