John,

A while back, I received a thoughtful email from a person, concerned that "Uncle Sam" may regard our pricing discussions, as an attempt at "Price Fixing."

-Highly Illegal -

As you point out, our conversations cover an increasing gamut of processes. In the course of those conversations "pricing opinions" frequently come up. In that context, I'm confident those opinions are regarded as just that - Opinions.

If the identical discussions were harvested and placed in a "Pricing" folder, I feel that may be pushing the envelope.

I'm all for pushing the envelope, but I don't want to break the seal :-)

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

David,

How dare you beat me to it, and take the words out of my mouth!

However, that's not what has me most irritated - you said it in so many fewer words :-)

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

David,

I am a man of few words. :-0

David,

Good! You can be our spokesman :-)

David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri
DGL Engraving
Port Hueneme, CA

I need to weigh in here. Please understand that as a newbie, I am not aware of all the antitrust laws, in my old business it just didn't matter because I kept to myself and set my prices based on what market would bear.

HOWEVER, in my new endeavor in the Engaving/Awards industry, I for one could benefit by some helpful advice on pricing. I am wondering if the discussions in the "folder" if there were one, included words like "suggested" "typical" "starting point" "depends on what your market would bear" etc, would take away any percieved thoughts of price fixing.

As for the "settings" idea. I think it is great and I agree that is should be in some form of a table or database, however that would entail a great amount of initial work for someone. Were I more literate in that regard I would volunteer to do it.

About when the forum goes into "pay mode" I would be happy to pay my share for the information and fellowship that is here. But I would like to suggest a "free" area that continues, but lacks some of the bells and whistles of the other parts of the forum. This in my opinion would continue to attract new membes to the forum.

Just some random thoughts found on a day trip through my head.

Chuck

As I was once told: He who has the most to say uses the fewest words ;~)

You guys crack me up!

Mickey

Vital Signs
McNeil, AR

HUH?

;~)

Mickey,

That is me in a nutshell. Plenty to say, but a very limited vocabulary. :-)

Mickey,
I had to write and tell you what a great company name you have. Very clever.

Chuck

Thank you Chuck. The name was suggested by a very good friend. I think I am the only one in Arkansas with the name (not positive) but I do know that name exists for three or four companies in Texas. I was at a show in Ft. Worth and several of the booths ask me how big a company this was because they had seen several people with that name. I looked hard for them after that so I could collect a "franchise fee" but never saw a single one of them!

Thanks again for the compliment.

Mickey

Mickey,
You are most welcome.
I know there are a lot of sign companies out there, but HAVE you considered franchising?

Chuck

Chuck,

Franchizing? Now you are becoming one of the comics on this forum!
Seriously, no . I did call one of the big franchise offices when I started in this business, thinking maybe that might be the best way to start out (national advertising, support,etc.) but was told that I was not in a large enough metro area (had to be 100,000 pop.). Since I am only a 1 man shop and part-time it would seem kinda humorous to think in terms of a franchise. Thank you for the suggestion and confidence. I really don't posess the education and experience needed for such an endeavor.

Mickey Parker
Vital Signs

Yes, you are right. I'm too close to retirement to think along those lines. I just want to be "left alone".

Mickey
Vital Signs