Full Version: Pricing for perpetual plaques
From: Ed (EMERY) [#1]
11 Feb 2007
To: ALL
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#2]
11 Feb 2007
To: Ed (EMERY) [#1] 11 Feb 2007
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#3]
11 Feb 2007
To: Ed (EMERY) [#1] 11 Feb 2007
From: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#4]
11 Feb 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#3] 11 Feb 2007
Here's a hypothetical for ya, Dave T (strictly hypothetical):
I am one of your local competitors. My customer has purchased a big perpetual from me - with 104 plates - and she needs ALL of the plates engraved now. The problem is that I don't have time engrave them before she needs it done (in the next couple of days).
What will you charge me to engrave all of them? Assume 3 lines of variable text per plate, from typed copy (no "soft" version available).
Hmmmm...
From: gt350ed [#5]
11 Feb 2007
To: Ed (EMERY) [#1] 11 Feb 2007
For the most part, our perpetual plaques are the ready-mades offered by our various suppliers. There are different levels of quality available. In our opinion, our time to lay out plates, etc. is worth more than we could charge for a perpetual plaque that we can get all ready to go from our supplier, aside from engraving.
Having said this, we do the occasional custom "perpetual" plaque or trophy that is not available as a ready-made.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#6]
11 Feb 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#3] 11 Feb 2007
David,
I would disagree with that. The price of the perpetual plaque is the price of the perpetual plaque. Period.
In my opinion the initial price has nothing to do with the possible charges for the individual plates down the road. Reason being you may not get that work.
Therefore the initial cost of the plaque should not be lower up front.
Just my two cents. Want change? Or should I just give you 4 cents now? ( insert gregarious laugh here)
From: UncleSteve [#7]
11 Feb 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#6] 13 Feb 2007
I believe he meant the total charge... ie, $99 for the plaque plus 12 x $7 for the 12 plates for a total up front charge of $183.00 rather than $106 up front and whatever the plate charge each year for 11 more years.
From: Ed (EMERY) [#8]
11 Feb 2007
To: gt350ed [#5] 12 Feb 2007
Thanks to all for answering that question! I kind of figured that plates would be done on as needed basis after the original plaque, but I had to make sure.
I've been in business all of 4 months, so I've got a lot to learn!
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#9]
11 Feb 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#6] 13 Feb 2007
Chuck,
The price for the plaque will be the price for the plaque with engraving on the header plate and the first plate. By not charging for the engraving on the additional plates up-front, that does makes the overall up-front investment in the plaque and engraving less.
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#10]
11 Feb 2007
To: Cody (BOBTNAILER) [#4] 12 Feb 2007
From: Joe (SMITTY61) [#11]
12 Feb 2007
To: Ed (EMERY) [#1] 12 Feb 2007
Ed,
I would charge per letter on all engraving with a $10.00 minimum per order. You can charge $.20 cents perletter on the header plate and $.10 per letter on the bottom plates. Every time they come back to update the plaque, charge the $10.00 minimum engraving charge. It encourages them to wait untill they get a couple of plates to engrave to make it cost effective for them. Unless of course they are annual updates, then they would get them done one at a time. Nine times out of ten, they are going to come back to where the plaque was purchased to update them. Plus, you have saved the settings as far as font and size.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#12]
13 Feb 2007
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#9] 13 Feb 2007
Interesting way to look at it David. I have always used my formula for pricing. Due to frieght issues my formula is 4 x X=price.
So if the perpetual plaque costs $22.00 (including all the plates) I would sell it for $88.00, with the header and one plate engraved. That is what I perceive to be the upfront cost of the plaque. Then I would charge as necessary for the individual plaques. I'm getting $8.95 per plate.
I think we are both saying the same thing, just coming to the conclusion by different roads.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#13]
13 Feb 2007
To: UncleSteve [#7] 13 Feb 2007
Yes, that makes sense.
As I mentioned to David I think we are getting to the same town, only on different roads.
From: Ed (EMERY) [#14]
13 Feb 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#13] 13 Feb 2007
Guys...
I have got the answer to what was probably a poorly worded question.
Charge upfront for the plaque, header plate and one plate, then charge for each additional plate as they come in.
I'm surprised by the difference in prices for engraving the plates. I've heard (by way of email) as low as $3 and as high as $10.50. My guess is charges are established by local business practice. I'm pretty comfortable with $5...
Thanks for all the input, folks.
I figure I'll hear from the customer this Sunday, and I feel prepared. Meanwhile, I'm using the snowstorm respite from my day job to finish up a big (for this newbie) trophy order.
From: Bobby (SHARPMACK) [#15]
1 Mar 2007
To: Ed (EMERY) [#1] 1 Mar 2007
Just a quick answer to your question.
If you charge - $ 99.00 for the Perp Plaque. You have two choices
1) Charge per letter for the header plate ,
2) All Engraving is free
Bobby