[Mike Thornley]

Just followed up our quote and had the reply that they have had a quote for £640.00 to do the van to the style as per the photo. Asked if I would lower our price.

[Mike Thornley]

White Acrylic

[Mike Thornley]

Brilliant – thank you.

[Mike Thornley]

Have a web search for Doctor Vernon Cooper – food for thought.
This mass panic proliferated by the media is going to ruin us all
More people have died this last year from common flu
I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I just get the feeling there is something else going on here
Plus where this started from in China, strange there is a large biological installation…

[Mike Thornley]

I don’t think Omar is suggesting you have done anything underhand, but perhaps that your supplier has gone against an agreement that Mounters Mate has with them regarding marketing territory.

[Mike Thornley]

Just a quick review

We went ahead and purchased a Smart Station and Laminator from Omar at Mounters Mate.

The laminator is very easy to use and set-up, the Smart Station took a little more time to get the mounting technique correct, but credit to Omar he came back and gave us further training to get the technique just right and everything is now really great. A big investment for my business, but the speeds up the production of the sign production and mounting considerably.
So if you are thinking about it, go ahead you won’t regret it, plus Omar and his team are great to work with.

[Mike Thornley]

Hi David

Could you confirm the link please, doesn’t seem to go anywhere, thanks

[Mike Thornley]

Mortgage until I am 70, then fuck knows.

[Mike Thornley]

Hi Ian

PM sent – thanks

[Mike Thornley]

Open to reasonable offers.

[Mike Thornley]

Anyone interested before it goes to Ebay etc

[Mike Thornley]

Have you approached any local sign companies?

[Mike Thornley]

It would have been good for a bit of publicity etc

[Mike Thornley]

Thanks for the replies – the order never happened

[Mike Thornley]

Hi David

Customer was a stretch it implies they are spending money…. he was a condescending time waster.

[Mike Thornley]

Hi

Thanks for the replies, politely told customer to go away this morning after receiving a patronising email from him expressing surprised that we had spent anytime on his project after I mentioned an artwork charge.

I have explained several times that the quote we gave was for a standard style van signage and we were working to achieve a good job within his 350 quid budget.

He only sent me the examples posted here after seeing our proof, which again explained that they are at a higher level, so are more costly. He seemed to think that our design and artwork services are free and wanted to see more ‘creative design’ before making a decision. I saw little point in doing designs on paper that I know would cost the amounts discussed on this thread to implement on the van, when the client didn’t want to spend that much, which he didn’t seem to get

So because of the tone of his email I decided to move on.
Thanks all

[Mike Thornley]

Thanks for the replies

I don’t have a laser cutter and in the back of my mind, I know the customers wants to pay as little as possible, so was looking for something off the shelf. So yes I could probably make them one, but time = £. (Excuse the pun).

[Mike Thornley]

Hi Phil
Budget is £350.00

[Mike Thornley]

Hi
Its not a clock, its to let customer know when someone will be back in the office etc
But thanks anyway.

[Mike Thornley]

Hi David

How did you attached the triangle piece to the back?

Regards
Mike

[Mike Thornley]

Hi Dave
We are going to need 50 rolls!!!!

[Mike Thornley]

I had a similar problem with my SP540v, doing as you described. We finally found an engineer who know his stuff and it turned out that two bolts the hold the pinch arm lever housing in the machine had over time worked loose, so when we were putting the lever down, we weren’t putting the full amount of pressure on the media, but taking up the slack these two loose bolts had created, so the media was able to move slightly on cut jobs.
Since doing this our SP has worked great.

[Mike Thornley]

Hi

We produce 5000 little service stickers at a time for a client. This stickers are written on and then stuck to the machines they service. We use Digisol 3005 from Allprint. It works well, not sure about the jet washing though

[Mike Thornley]

Hi
Thanks for the input – Wasn’t really looking for recommendations as such, more of a sort of list where members place different manufacturers in terms of quality that you have tried and used etc.
Like a Ford Focus is a car, but its not a Ferrari…. same thing but better.

[Mike Thornley]

Hi

Yes, still available, send me a private message with your postal address and email etc

Thanks

[Mike Thornley]

Hi Steff

Could be interested in the 9800 if David doesn’t take it.

I presume it is all working OK, what did you use if for etc.
Have you had it from new?

Thanks
Mike

[Mike Thornley]

The reason we invested in our own sign studio was poor quality work from trade suppliers who damaged our business and lost us clients, so for us every cloud etc

[Mike Thornley]

My SP540v does have ethernet connection, connects to a hub which connects to the PC.

[Mike Thornley]

Hi
I have a SP540v and was bought as a refurb from a dealer as a ‘dip the toe in the water’ and it has been a great addition to our business, it has been very reliable, and it is a general work horse of a printer and relatively cheap to run.
We are not churning out lots and lots of prints everyday and when we do have longer runs we added a take-up unit, which means we can leave it going overnight with no problems.
As a general sign printer its a great machine, but if you need speed and more colour range than just having CMYK inks, for like skin tones etc, when it comes to upgrade time this is what I would be considering.
But as a start-up machine I would say you wouldn’t go far wrong.
All the best

[Mike Thornley]

Is that a sidecar outfit or a boat!!!

Having done a bit of racing myself, those sidecar lot are mentalists

[Mike Thornley]

When winding the roller wheel it never felt right, I reported it to Vivid the fact that is had started to run out and now I see why, this was causing the pressure to be uneven across the roller.
Yes I do use it to mount to board, but only I use the laminator, so never tightened to such a degree to cause this. This says to me that thread was never square in the housing to start with.
I shall be taking it further when the engineer is here.

[Mike Thornley]

Hi Steve
Do you have to change inks when using this and what benefits do you gain. I have an SP540v also
Regards
Mike

[Mike Thornley]

Hi Alan
I would say sign companies I used in the past caused me more agro than anything else, hence deciding to bring it in house.
My background is commercial print, so over the years I have seen it all. But yes in this case the designer has no idea of the processes involved in getting this on the van, which is where we come in.
Client did ask if I would negotiate on price as she said she had better quotes, asked her for copies of said quotes to check the spec etc and we were all quoting like for like. Nothing forthcoming.
Thanks all for the input.

[Mike Thornley]

Well gone in at just under a grand, explained that what may work on paper is not easily transferrable to the actual van, they have just placed an order. Waiting on the designer to send the graphic to see what we have.

[Mike Thornley]

I was thinking trampoline :smiles:
Ok I’ll get me coat

[Mike Thornley]

Takes a while for admin to catch-up, they will be along shortly

[Mike Thornley]

Hi Jean
Have you tried Victory they are an avery stockist, just a thought.

[Mike Thornley]

Thanks for the reply, close, n is slightly different

[Mike Thornley]

We use Northern Flags based in Leeds

[Mike Thornley]

Hi Phil
Thanks for the reply – I seriously underquoted this at the time, £600.00, then they added stuff we did as part of the deal like the top spoiler, then they wanted it doing at the weekend. This time I am not doing for that price.
Pic of the finished truck.

---

Attachments:

[Mike Thornley]

Chris, your reasons for not liking the poly from Grafityp?

[Mike Thornley]

We have just changed to using Grafityp Monomeric Vinyl and laminate, good price and good quality. We were using MD3, but we have also tried Intercote (German) and Poli-Tape (German) and MD3 is no better than any of these others and for us doesn’t justify the price increases,using Brexit as a reason to increase prices seems dubious to me as the other three makes we have tried are all manufactured in Europe.
We do at the moment use Metamark Mdi for Poly, but are next order will be trying Grafityp

[Mike Thornley]

I use Venture banners for larger and display stuff.

[Mike Thornley]

Thanks for that – spot on.

[Mike Thornley]

Wasn’t casting doubt on your skills, just more if you had not done a bike before.
Plus depending on what model R1 it is I wouldn’t

[Mike Thornley]

oh its my fault that a client didn’t pay a deposit when asked and I told him the turnaround time on chapter 8 kits, was 4-5 working days, so we cannot do his van tomorrow, as no materials ordered as we didn’t have the deposit as requested. I even reminded him…twice!!!
Ce la vie….

[Mike Thornley]

Hi Pete
I would suggest practice first, or I can put you in touch with a guy that specialises in motorcycle wraps.

[Mike Thornley]

Great idea, I could bleat on at you lot instead of the Mrs every evening. Ermmmm!!!

[Mike Thornley]

It was for cut vinyls we have gone with Oracle’s 5400.
Thank you

[Mike Thornley]

Any reasonable offer considered, if anyone interested.

[Mike Thornley]

Sorry just seen the last line of your message. I don’t think any software will ever be as good as an actual person

[Mike Thornley]

Hi
I have found a company that offer the service to convert bitmap to vector.
It is an online service, you buy credits.
For the cost I have found them a great service and a timesaver for us and their fee per image to me is a bargain.
See what you think

https://en.compuzz.com/logo-vectorization/

[Mike Thornley]

Here’s a quote I have on my website (meant tongue in cheek)

“If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.”

[Mike Thornley]

Oh…No
Been for a quick demo on a Summa cutter today and spent more time looking at the 315 and 335 HP latex machines.
Really impressed with the quality of colour and print on the HP. Not so the heat it gave off.
I have been offered a good deal, I don’t have the room to keep my Roland and have the HP or have the amount of work to warrant two machines.
Love my Roland, and I have in mind the cost to run the HP over say a traditional solvent printers. My Roland being an older machine is cheap to run.
So I would like views from new owners too on living with a latex machine.

[Mike Thornley]

Main reason is need the width of the larger cutter.

Yes spoke with Neil yesterday and they have been very accommodating.

[Mike Thornley]

Just had a similar job, client was advised by another company that foamex would do for exterior of her new shop front. (45ft long) I advised otherwise and that the extra cost for using a composite would be money well spent in the long run, plus I said we wouldn’t be interested in quoting if she insisted on using foamex. She came back, job done and all happy.
So sometimes it pays to stick to your guns.

[Mike Thornley]

Hi David
Your offer much appreciated, Graphtec are going to bring a demo machine to us next week.
Mike

[Mike Thornley]

Hi David

I have a CE6000/60 so was just wanting to see how much better a 8600 is over this model and how it handles media and its tracking capabilities. I was also interested in seeing how they both handle print and cut jobs (i.e. print on Roland, cut on plotter etc.

I also presume the graphtec software / interface is the same and they can both be operated via a Mac or PC.

Don’t want to go to Signmasters as not buying from them as they never bothered sending me a quote. I have already set up a demo with the Summa at their UK base in Nottingham which is not far from us. Graphtec in Wrexham, to far.

[Mike Thornley]

Hi David
Just one working, nothing out of the ordinary, I want to compare against a summa before I purchase.

[Mike Thornley]

I think you will find members are quite coy about that information

[Mike Thornley]

Like the idea of Latex, but what about print and cut jobs if you only have the one printer?

[Mike Thornley]

Could you not include the cost of buying the font into your quote. £42.00 I have found it for. I think for a client such as DP, the investment for me would be worth it.

[Mike Thornley]

Hi John

Here is the link to the page, we purchase the 3005

http://www.allprint.co.uk/extra-thick-m … t-list.htm

[Mike Thornley]

Hi John

We do exactly the same thing for a client and we found a product called Digisol, that is available from Allprint.

It has a textured scratch resistant finish wth a grey back adhesive and can be written on with a biro.

We have printed around 50,000 little labels as a print and cut job for a client with no complaints, they use them to attached to machinery when they are serviced, the engineer dates and signs the label.

Hope this helps.

[Mike Thornley]

Hi
Have you tried Ashby’s?

[Mike Thornley]

Thanks.

[Mike Thornley]

The reason for the question, was we use Metalmark, but price increases, driving me to look elsewhere.

We found MD100 to be OK.

[Mike Thornley]

I suppose the decision is if they are a one off client or a regular one and it comes under the heading of swings and roundabouts.
We have probably all made mistakes in pricing, I tend to look at it over the year and think OK my mistake I will take the hit, but make it up over the year and not upset the client. Personally I always honour the quote.
Have you tried any chemical intervention (the vinyl and not you) and leave it to soak in etc.

[Mike Thornley]

Its 8 x 2, but still have to buy the 8 x 4

[Mike Thornley]

Hi David
For once in this instance is a PDF at the correct size.

[Mike Thornley]

Thanks of the replies – appreciated

The hoarding is for the pitch side of a local rugby club, feedback today is that some other company has priced at £50 all in.
No point in being a busy fool.

[Mike Thornley]

I’ve based my quote on £50 per square meter.

[Mike Thornley]

Hi Martyn

I am right in thinking you are not in the UK?

[Mike Thornley]

As an addition if divulging prices is to sensitive, what do you tend to mark up board materials by? Like dibond, core, foamex etc

[Mike Thornley]

Hi Hue
Possibly the time of the year, but if your heart is not in it, then a clean break for me, could you sell the business as a going concern. This is the one advantage of being your own boss, you can do what you like when you like.
Good luck in whatever you decide.

[Mike Thornley]

Hi James

Yes, I did see it had changed its name to ShopVox, my main issue is knowing what to charge, which is what I need to work on combined with some good estimating software, that is either cloud or will work on a mac.

[Mike Thornley]

Anyone using SignVox for estimating?
I would need something mac based or cloud.

[Mike Thornley]

Here’s a good one from last Christmas

We do offer design and print services as my background is commercial print.

Client placed an order for 2000 16 page A4 brochures to be delivered before the christmas shut down, because time was tight, I took them myself and duly delivered the dozen boxes inside their premises, delivery note signed etc

First week back, irate customer rings up, where I my brochures, delivered them I say, delivery notes signed by xxxx etc.
Oh right we’ll get back to you as we cannot find them.

Turns out because they were left near the door, some bright spark didn’t check what the content of said boxes were and promptly skipped the lot!

Order for another 2000 to be printed duly excepted, you can’t make this stuff up!!

[Mike Thornley]

Granthams compatibles are pretty good, no problems since changing.
Half the price

[Mike Thornley]

Well, just to add my two pence worth, I have bought two of the Signgeer bench frames, I spoke with them before hand, to determine the sheet size I could work to (8×4) I put my own adjustable feet on one and height adjustable heavy duty casters on the other, with some heavy duty threaded bar. Both solid and fit my space well
I have been happy with them as I didn’t have the time or inclination to go making my own, added a sheet of MDF and then covered with polypropylene sheet as the cutting mat.

[Mike Thornley]

Thanks chaps, I will give them a try

[Mike Thornley]

We run an SP540V

In versa works try the changing the setting in >Quality >Colour management change the option to ‘Density Control Only’ this seems to get close to greys for us when wanting more greyscale colours.

Also if you haven’t got daylight bulbs in your place etc, check the print outside in daylight. I know seems obvious but interior lighting can affect what you are looking at.

Good luck

[Mike Thornley]

Hi

Try Granthams, they do a very good compatible ink that I have been using for a few months, with no issues.
And the cost if £39.95 per cartridge, so good value too.

No flushing required and I have also mixed with genuine Rolands with no problems.

The also offer a guarantee if you switch if you have machine issues.

[Mike Thornley]

Vista print good for print – don’t make me laugh. Thats like saying stork is the same as lurpack!!!
My business started off in the print industry, we moved into signs, why, coz there are a lot of so call sign companies out there who are not good at it, the ones I dealt with when we out worked. I wouldn’t trust to run me a bath.

[Mike Thornley]

Thanks everyone, after sending a solicitors letter (costing £3.00) he finally paid up 5 months after the job, the day before the deadline before proceedings would have been issued. What an idiot….

[Mike Thornley]

Hexis, always performed well for us

[Mike Thornley]

Thanks for the wise words

Letter now gone off, would anyone go the the level of actually stripping the graphics from the catering van we sign wrote.
After all my terms and conditions state that all goods remain property of my business until paid for.
Are we legally entitled?

[Mike Thornley]

Hi Iain

I dont have access to private messages.

Mike

[Mike Thornley]

Hi Iain

Yes that would be good if you could send me the details please

[Mike Thornley]

Hi Iain & Simon

Which Kombi’s did you get. Just seen one for sale local to me on a 14 plate. T30 Kombi BMT Highline, with 60k. In black
Standard interior with the goodies, the car dealer has fitted new wheels and tyres, so it looks very smart.
The price would be a big commitment for 5 years, but as you say they hold there values.

[Mike Thornley]

Hi Iain

Thought about a VW Kombi with the removable seats, they are just very expensive because of the surfer and hipster set, yes something like might be good.

Problem I have is that I am very picky when it come to vehicles, I’m not good at compromising, but might have to learn to.

[Mike Thornley]

Sorry not James, but Stafford.

[Mike Thornley]

Hi James

Thanks for the offer of help, I don’t mind paying for a site visit, not getting very far with our current suppliers.

The printer is an SP540V and was fully serviced in January, which included the cutting strips being replaced.

Problem 1.
When doing a print and cut job, the printers goes back and cuts in the wrong position, that happens if its a straight print and cut or if we print with the reg marks on, laminate and put back in the printer etc. Its very hit and miss.

Problem 2.
Discovered the printer is printing short, (i.e. a job we printed should have been 1530mm it measured on the print about 1512mm) This is printing down the roll measurement. The measurement the other way was correct.
We have adjusted the feed correction percentage.

Thanks
Mike

[Mike Thornley]

I am also having cut problem also, machine moving off one way, very hit and miss.
This must also be part of the same problem for us also.

[Mike Thornley]

Yes, one major advantage of running your own business, you can tell certain types to f-off

[Mike Thornley]

Hi

Yes less slivering and the heat make the laminate softer so does seem to go on better and smoother on the rollers.
Yes we do get a little curl, but nothing excessive.

[Mike Thornley]

I bought a 1400h about 9 months ago – new.

Always works better with the heated roller, never had any problems etc

[Mike Thornley]

No it wasn’t for a courier company, the job was for a client of a design agency (our client), the end client had also decided to shop around for prices, obviously the person shopping around has no real idea on what they are buying, just looking at the price.
I did say to the design agency to mention to their client to not to go only on price but enquire about the materials being used on a like for like basis in the quote.

[Mike Thornley]

Never a good idea to burn bridges, but No I am not happy and I am not going to lower my price to be inline with theirs either…. good to be busy, but not a busy fool.

[Mike Thornley]

Asked the customer who quoted the lower price…. think I have been stitched up…. The company I sometimes subby wrap work to, is the company who has come in at the lower quote, but they quoted me higher just for the wrap part than what they quoted van owner direct. No Christmas card for them.