Hey, everyone, I know I'm a little ecstatic but I just got a call from a company wanting us to engrave 100 pen, now get this . . . 24 designs each . . . HELLOOOOOOOOO, that's like 2400 pen! Yeap I'm excited. Now, the hard part, how much do you charge for something like this? Now I know this is not a lot of money since they have the pens and only want us to engrave them but its a beginning . . . with a company.

Any help you gals & guys can give is very much appreicate.

God Bless,
Zelma (Psalms 18:2)

I would create a fixture to hold the pens and then do a 0% power run to see how long it takes - divide your hourly rate by the pens per hour and you have a starting point. Add in your prep time, fixture creation time, packaging, etc. and you will have a number you can work with.
Add in a "perceived value" amount and you should have a price that is profitable and reasonable.

I created a spreadsheet that I use to calculate the various factors in a job like this and it really helps me to see the big picture and make sure I am making what I need to make.

Gary

Your Profile would help us determine if the items are going to be lasered or Rotary engraved.. Help us to help you, please.

How big is the image/Text. does the pen have to be rotated.

Packaging, Delivery Time.

All important factors

And Congrats on the Contract/Job.....

I would suggest making two fixtures that you can remove and replace in the bed of the laser. While one is running, load the second one.....When the laser is done, remove the one that was just run, place the loaded un-lasered, fixture in the machine, and start un-loading and re-loading the fixture you just pulled out while you run the new one is lasering.

Not sure how the timing will end up....but when you add unpacking and re-packing into the mix it may keep a person busy without any breaks throught the order. I agree that a timed test run over said fixture makes alot of sense when estimating your time. Always give yourself extra room on time. Things always seem to take longer than expected when dealing with larger volumes. Even a few seconds add up quickly with that many pieces.

Hope this helps......

RallyGuy beat me to the punch, I was going to suggest the same thing.
I would also suggest that you crunch the numbers on set up time for each design. You can clearly make enough on this that, if you wanted, you could waive the setup fees, but be sure to let them know the discount they are receiving so that they are aware that they are getting a good discount on this order. Everyone likes to save money and it would look good on you that you are working them a good deal. Eventually those pens will be gone and you will find yourself with another order for 2400 or even more.

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under". ~Ronald Reagan