Full Version: Pop Quiz
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1]
10 Jun 2004
To: ALL
Which job would be more profitable and why?
A 250 pc. order for sublimated (.875 x 2.875) trophy plates, or a 25 pc. (6x8) sublimated plaque job?
Both jobs have generic text and individual name changes. Both are plates only.
David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA
From: LJKyle [#2]
11 Jun 2004
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1] 11 Jun 2004
Black or color inkjet or laser?
Need more information before we can give you an opinion.
Larry Kyle
From: Sei (SEIMA) [#3]
11 Jun 2004
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1] 11 Jun 2004
I would say that less is more.
1) With a 25 piece order you won't have as many people asking, "Since I'm getting so many, can you knock the price down a bit?"
2) A plaque has value in the eyes of the recipient than a dinky little trophy plate. Therefore you can make it more profitable without seeming outlandish.
3) Assuming you are hand sheering, so you want to sheer out 250 pieces, or 25? The amount of time it takes to sheer a small piece shouldn't be that much different than a long piece. In fact, you have to be more meticulous with the small ones. A variance of a sixteenth of an inch won't show on an 8 inch side, but with the small piece if you don't get it square, it'll show.
4) Wanna change 250 names, or 25?
A lot of it might be personal preference and the way we do thins in the end, but I would much rather do something more substantial like a plaque than just a plate any day.
Sei
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#4]
11 Jun 2004
To: LJKyle [#2] 11 Jun 2004
Larry,
I purposely didn't give too many details. The materials involved and the method of sublimation were non-factors.
Sei nailed it.
It comes down to three words - "Perceived Value" and "Labor."
Trophies represent the bottom of the food chain. Plaques represent the higher end of the food chain.
The reason I presented the "Quiz" is that I recently completed both types of jobs. The 250 trophy plates were done basically as a favor to a local awards shop, who had originally ordered trophies from Lowball, Inc. (not their real name) which were supposed to include engraving and free freight, for less than my customer could have bought the components.
Lowball, Inc. called to inform my customer that because of technical difficulties (or whatever) they wouldn't be able to engrave the plates.
I was asked if I would supply sublimated plates for the trophies. Because the job had already been "locked in" at LBI's price, there was no room to charge a fair price. I should have turned the job down, but I was trying to be a hero.
Big mistake!
I lost track of the hours spent typing individual names and team names, proof-reading, cutting plates, printing transfers and pressing the plates. I knew it was a loser going in, and didn't want to punish myself further, by documenting the tragedy. 6 hours would be a generous estimate.
The job netted less than $200. As I said, it was a favor, but one that will never be repeated. Even at twice that price, the job would only marginally appeal to me.
In contrast, I did (25) 6x8 plates for another award shop, completed the job in less than 4 hours and made $445.
It's a no-brainer.
David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA