Full Version: Wanna come up and see my etchings?
From: precisionlaser [#13]
18 Mar 2005
To: John (JOHNRMONTG) [#12] 19 Mar 2005
John,
I found this article the other day addressing this subject:
http://www.sandcarver.org/curvetext.htm
Of course, I'm a complete newbie at this, so haven't tried it, but I thought it might be useful for you.
Mark
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#14]
18 Mar 2005
To: John (JOHNRMONTG) [#10] 19 Mar 2005
John,
Thank you for the kind words.
I actually had to call UCONNDAVE for some help on these. I am doing 250. As a point of clarification the picture that I posted is NOT the job I am doing. The JOB has already given me a challenge.
That challenge was getting the Rapid Mask to conform to the compound curve of the glass. Daves suggestion is a laser resist which he says is more pliable and has more stretch.
Come Monday, I'm on the phone to find some.
As for advice John, as wiling as I am to help, at this point in my dubious career, I am not the one to ask. David Takes, or UCONNDAVE are the ones to ask. At least they are who I am asking.
Now to STRESS that point let me tell you how I just spent the last hour, or maybe I shouldn't, I'll be tarred feathered and run off the forum. Ah what the heck, here goes....
I just spent the last hour ( today) and at least a couple yesterday working on a logo ( the one in the picture )in CorelDRAW 12 to get it ready to blast... as I ungroup all, and click and point and invert ( did somebody say invert? ) I am thinking to myself that there has to be a better way. Well, after I FINISHED doing all of this, THEN I click help in corel and find out how to manipulate the image in four clicks of the mouse and about 15 seconds of my time . AAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! But there is good news! I learned something and I will never go through THAT again.
Whew! Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
As for pricing? If I keep charging the price I did for this job. ( It was pretty much dictated to me since it is a state project), I will actually be PAYING people to do work for them.
Hey! Need and Award? Here Let me pay you to allow me to make it for you.... yes folks that's right! Here at Awards - R - US, we pay YOU!!! Hurry in today.....
From: John (ICTJOHN) [#15]
18 Mar 2005
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#14] 18 Mar 2005
Chuck,
I think most all of us have "Been there, Done that" even if we don't admit it outloud. The point which I think you caught, is to learn when to say NO. I know it is hard to turn down a job, but sometimes it is not worth it "to pay someone" to produce a job for them.
I had a Biddy Basketball league that for years I couldn't get the "bid",
after I priced every part that went into the trophy and looked at a realistic time frame for labor there was no money left -- actually I found I would be paying them to take my product. That made me even more mad............So after I thought and thought about it, I can turn jobs away a little more easily now.
Just this past week I explained to a customer that "I could not get close to that price and in fact I probably would call them to do work for me". I wasn't rude but explained what it takes for me to keep my doors open.
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#16]
18 Mar 2005
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#14] 18 Mar 2005
Chuck,
One advantage you have right now is that you have the free time to learn.
You don't have to apoligize for your position in the learning curve. Many of us have been in your shoes. You did not waste three hours. You probably learned more about Corel Draw in those three hours than you would have reading a manual, and like you said, you will never forget it.
The first job I accepted four years ago when I opened my business was 200 champagne glasses. It was a last-minute job that I worked on until 4:00 in the morning. I new I would have to do them on my laser to get them done in time and within my customer's budget. I charged $2.00 per glass. The best thing I learned early on from that job was that I shouldn't let my customer's budget dictate my prices.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#17]
18 Mar 2005
To: John (ICTJOHN) [#15] 18 Mar 2005
John,
This brings up my perennial question, one that got my wrist slapped in Las Vegas. How do you determine what to charge for what?
:)
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#18]
18 Mar 2005
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#17] 18 Mar 2005
Chuck,
After you do those 250 wine glasses you will have a much better idea what you are dealing with in terms of time material. Keep a log of your time on this job.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#19]
18 Mar 2005
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#16] 18 Mar 2005
Not letting customer budgets dictate my price is a lesson I'm learing now too :)
From: John (ICTJOHN) [#20]
18 Mar 2005
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#17] 18 Mar 2005
Chuck,
Use this job as a pricing tool. Keep track of your labor (the hours/minutes it takes to do the whole job), your cost of the glasses, cost of all materials, figure in your equipment expense (based on minutes used) and your overhead rate (the cost of all insurance, taxes, rent, utilities etc., etc., etc.).
Even if you are home based, you need to price like you are in a retail store, so if your dream is to move to a bigger shop, you don't have to raise your prices to make that happen. Customers will not like to see a huge price increase just when you move to a different location. Customers usually don't like change unless it is a lower price for a better product. They want you in the same location with the same hours with the same phone number with the same sales clerk.
From: Myyk [#21]
18 Mar 2005
To: ALL
I have been sand blasting for a number of years and find that if any customer wants more than 6 glasses, they will not pay the price I want. I now just send them(The Customer) out to the Laser engraver as she can do them for about $5 - $8 each.
I won't do champage flutes for less than $17 each (inc tax). The time & materials easily warrant this price. We have to obtain film from Australia.
I had an enquiry from a customer the other day who claimed she could get 50 flutes engraved for $50 and could I do better?
I feel that blasting gives a more attractive finish, but there is far more time spent in preparation and cleanup than lasering. Accordingly, that side of my service is winding down.
Luckily I have other more lucrative work to take it's place
From: Frazee1 [#22]
18 Mar 2005
To: Lynn (LYNNDENO) [#5] 19 Mar 2005
From: sawdr73 [#23]
19 Mar 2005
To: Lynn (LYNNDENO) [#5] 19 Mar 2005
Etched look vinyl should be available from most sign suppliers who carry vinyl. If they do not have it in stock, they should be able to order it.
Mickey Parker
Vital Signs
From: John (JOHNRMONTG) [#24]
19 Mar 2005
To: precisionlaser [#13] 19 Mar 2005
From: John (JOHNRMONTG) [#25]
19 Mar 2005
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#14] 19 Mar 2005
Hi Chuck... thanks for the reply... yep, we are allways learning so that is a good thing .. 'course we want to be takin' and makin' those very profitable jobs the quick and easy way but unfortunately we have to take some baby steps to get the job done. Fortuantely for us we have this forum which can help save a lot of time and frustration .... but we still have to go thru the learning process. I know I have to do more then just 'hear' a solution ... I have to hear it, smell it, touch it & see it then: practice-practice-practice.
I am very happy to hear when I get a great big job tho that you will pay me to do it! Does that include freight from the Islands as well? {insert great big laugh here}.
Anyway, i hope you get the answers you are looking for on this first 'big job' of yours.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#26]
19 Mar 2005
To: John (JOHNRMONTG) [#25] 19 Mar 2005
John,
For you Big Boy, sure I'll include the freight from the islands. I believe in customer service, and if I'm going to pay you to let me do the job, you shouldn't have to even pay the freight. Now THAT is what I call service.....
:)
From: John (JOHNRMONTG) [#27]
19 Mar 2005
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#26] 19 Mar 2005
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#28]
19 Mar 2005
To: John (JOHNRMONTG) [#27] 19 Mar 2005
Thanks......
........ I think.
:)
From: JHayes55 [#29]
20 Mar 2005
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#28] 20 Mar 2005
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#30]
20 Mar 2005
To: JHayes55 [#29] 20 Mar 2005
Joe,
Not a problem. At Awards - R - Us we strive for superior customer service, so not only will I pay your rush charge for you, I'll double it so you can get your glasses done sooner.
:) I just love getting the business.
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