Promo Products Vent - Engraving Etc. Forum

From:	joyce (JLADY)	7 Feb 2007
To:	ALL	1 of 10

5978.1

I was thinking of expanding into promotional products more regularly than we do but the few times I have been doing it I am thinking it is not worth it.

Here is my beef, how can I put this....

The customer seems to come in the day the vendor needs the item to avoid rush charges.....which means I have to drop everything and process the order pronto and deal with the logo blah blah blah.

With our in house orders, I order the stuff and forget about it for awhile or at least a day........

but with promo products.........I have to drop everything and that really bothers me as I am already juggling 15 things.

Another beef.........I can't ever talk to the art dept's at these places which adds to the frustration sometimes.

I Just needed to vent :-&

From:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	7 Feb 2007
To:	joyce (JLADY)	2 of 10

5978.2 In reply to 5978.1
Joyce, Most of the shops I know of, who deal in the promotional products area, have a separate person or department, specifically to address the issues you've laid out. Reorders are where the easy money comes in. Of course, to get the easy money, you have to make the hard-fought money. :/ David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri DGL Engraving Port Hueneme, CA

From:	Vicky (ANDERI)	7 Feb 2007
To:	joyce (JLADY)	3 of 10

5978.3 In reply to 5978.1
quote: <The customer seems to come in the day the vendor needs the item to avoid rush charges..... Not that I've ever had the chance to try this myself, but can't you tell the customer that there will be a rush charge if they want the items by date X, otherwise they'll be ready by date Y? That way, you don't have to stress and drop everything you're doing, and the customer is aware of lead-time requirements for the next order. Just a thought. :S Vicky Anderi Engraving
EDITED: 7 Feb 2007 by HARVEY-ONLY

From:	Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY)	7 Feb 2007
To:	joyce (JLADY)	4 of 10

5978.4 In reply to 5978.1
Back up the no rush charge date a day or two. If they come in on the vender's last no rush fee date, you collect the rush fee for yourself. Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem) When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

From:	Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY)	7 Feb 2007
To:	Vicky (ANDERI)	5 of 10

5978.5 In reply to 5978.3

Wow, your post showed me something about the bugs in the forum software. Your CODE statement showed only a scroll bar, but the text was not visible.

You should use the QUOTE instead to avoid this bug. I will edit your post so it shows correctly.

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

From:	Vicky (ANDERI)	7 Feb 2007
To:	Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY)	6 of 10

5978.6 In reply to 5978.5
Funny ... when I looked at it, I could see the text (along with the scroll bar). Must've hit the wrong icon somewhere along the way. Sorry 'bout that! Vicky Anderi Engraving

From:	Vicky (ANDERI)	7 Feb 2007
To:	Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY)	7 of 10

5978.7 In reply to 5978.4
quote: Back up the no rush charge date a day or two. If they come in on the vender's last no rush fee date, you collect the rush fee for yourself. That's what I meant to say. Thanks for reading my mind and clarifying, Harvey. :O) Vicky Anderi Engraving

From:	Engravin' Dave (DATAKES)	7 Feb 2007
To:	joyce (JLADY)	8 of 10

5978.8 In reply to 5978.1

Joyce,

Don't forget, you have the same opportunity to set your own rush charge dates.

From:	GBengraver	7 Feb 2007
To:	joyce (JLADY)	9 of 10

5978.9 In reply to 5978.1

Promotional prods. can be easy money or orders from hell.

Your customers need to be educated as to the lead time required to process custom orders.

It is better to be upfront with your customers and let them know that there will probably rush charges due to the time frame the customer has imposed.

What you have going for you is the fact that they probably will be unable to go elsewhere and get delivery in the same time frame without rush charges.

If they are comming to you for the first time trying to get whatever it is they want on short notice, chances are they have tried other places and have already been told that there will be rush charges.

Sometimes the effort is not worth the money you make, but if you can come through for them it may pay dividends in the future. You never know.

Greg

"Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else."