TSB

screen printing => General Screen Printing => Topic started by: Shawn (EIP) on August 17, 2011, 02:22:01 PM

Title: another pita customer complaint
Post by: Shawn (EIP) on August 17, 2011, 02:22:01 PM
Had an arugment today with a customer that has a design with 5 shades of the same color grey, priced it as a 5 but the customer (who knows more about my job than I do...) proceeded to tell me Im ripping them off it's 1 color just different shades. No matter how I explained it, it wasnt doing any good. I think from here on out I'm going to ditch "colors" and go with "screens" but that might be even more confusing for the stupid. 1/2 tones wasn't an option.

The kicker is when I get asked if white and black are considered "colors"  :o
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: mk162 on August 17, 2011, 02:30:18 PM
Wait, why couldn't you do it as halftones?
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: Shawn (EIP) on August 17, 2011, 02:33:37 PM
Wait, why couldn't you do it as halftones?

they thought it looked like crap on the computer screen which it does...
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: mk162 on August 17, 2011, 02:34:37 PM
ahh, makes sense.

so they thought it looked bad, you recomended a way to fix it and you are ripping them off?  Sounds normal to me.
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: Northland on August 17, 2011, 02:40:56 PM
Give him a handfull of Gray ink (-or- grey) and ask him to divide it up into the 5 shades he wants.  :)
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: Fresh Baked Printing on August 17, 2011, 02:45:36 PM
Give him a handfull of Gray ink (-or- grey) and ask him to divide it up into the 5 shades he wants.  :)

Perfect!
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: Shawn (EIP) on August 17, 2011, 02:58:29 PM
I think he was trying to save money having it printed as a grey scale rather than in full color but to us that doesnt mean shiit , a color is a color, a screen is a screen.
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: mk162 on August 17, 2011, 03:27:19 PM
but black and white aren't colors, so don't bill him for those ;)
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: terryei on August 17, 2011, 03:43:30 PM
Had an arugment today with a customer that has a design with 5 shades of the same color grey, priced it as a 5 but the customer (who knows more about my job than I do...) proceeded to tell me Im ripping them off it's 1 color just different shades. No matter how I explained it, it wasnt doing any good. I think from here on out I'm going to ditch "colors" and go with "screens" but that might be even more confusing for the stupid. 1/2 tones wasn't an option.

The kicker is when I get asked if white and black are considered "colors"  :o
I'm going to assume you are using CorelDraw, or another program that does not render Half tones very well.  For this reason we keep a few samples of printed half tone stuff, and the art to show what it looks like on the monitor and how nice it prints.
That aside, there are more customers out there, go get one of them.
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: Command-Z on August 17, 2011, 04:25:11 PM
Maybe give them a tour of your shop. Show them how the process works...
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: mk162 on August 17, 2011, 04:59:54 PM
And when you get into a room where nobody can hear their screams...
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: Fresh Baked Printing on August 17, 2011, 05:50:52 PM
Maybe give them a tour of your shop. Show them how the process works...

I'm constantly surprised how many people think that screen printing is a 15 minute process from start to finish. After explaining to them just what's involved, they have a little bit more empathy for me :)
I guess we shouldn't assume that customers know our profession any more than a pharmacist assumes we don't know theirs.
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: RICK STEFANICK on August 17, 2011, 06:07:16 PM
This really does sound like the customer had a lack of understanding of the process but why did it matter how many screens colors etc. after the fact. Did your client agree to the charges up front and sign off on everything befor you ordered shirts and printed?
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: Shawn (EIP) on August 17, 2011, 06:15:33 PM
This really does sound like the customer had a lack of understanding of the process but why did it matter how many screens colors etc. after the fact. Did your client agree to the charges up front and sign off on everything befor you ordered shirts and printed?

I sent the customer packing. Felt kinda good but sure wish I had my hour back. The cheapest of the cheaps are coming out of the woodworks today.
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: Dottonedan on August 17, 2011, 07:30:37 PM
but black and white aren't colors, so don't bill him for those ;)

Well,

Gray is a shade of black so (FREE PRINTING). Just have him pay for screens, but then he will want to take the screens home since he he did pay for them.
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: Shawn (EIP) on August 17, 2011, 07:49:12 PM
but black and white aren't colors, so don't bill him for those ;)

Well,

Gray is a shade of black so (FREE PRINTING). Just have him pay for screens, but then he will want to take the screens home since he he did pay for them.

I had a band that wanted thier screen so they could print tees out thier tour van, when asked what ink they would be using " spray paint man..."  ;D
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: Fresh Baked Printing on August 17, 2011, 09:57:59 PM
I had a band that wanted thier screen so they could print tees out thier tour van, when asked what ink they would be using " spray paint man..."  ;D

I think that's how Marc Ecko got started. Seriously, I think.
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: jason-23 on August 18, 2011, 09:57:27 AM
And when you get into a room where nobody can hear their screams...
LMAO! ;D
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: Shawn (EIP) on August 18, 2011, 02:19:59 PM
Swear to god just had a customer ask me if black was a color even if its just an outline... It took everything I had not to lose it.
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: mk162 on August 18, 2011, 02:38:08 PM
I am really working hard at getting PITA customers out the door.  I am not a fan of the ones that come in and ask 10,000 questions for 50 shirts.  I just sort of move them along in a graceful manner.
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: ebscreen on August 18, 2011, 03:09:51 PM
I always try and remember that we do operate a fairly complicated process and not everyone knows
how it works.

However, when I first started someone told me that "the people who spend the least amount of money with you will take
the most amount of your time, and vica versa". I have absolutely found this to be the case.
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: Shawn (EIP) on August 18, 2011, 06:48:58 PM
I always try and remember that we do operate a fairly complicated process and not everyone knows
how it works.

However, when I first started someone told me that "the people who spend the least amount of money with you will take
the most amount of your time, and vica versa". I have absolutely found this to be the case.

The ones that spend the least with you are the ones thats going to be looking for flaws and maybe invent a few.
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: ebscreen on August 18, 2011, 06:58:37 PM
Wait, don't you market towards these types?
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: Homer on August 18, 2011, 08:19:49 PM
Wait, don't you market towards these types?

haha -ZING
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: screenxpress on August 18, 2011, 11:56:37 PM
Wait, don't you market towards these types?

haha -ZING

I dunno Jason, I've been sensing a "new" Shawn lately.  Not the ole "discount to get the job" Shawn.

I really thought the "spray paint" was hilarious.
Title: Re: another pita customer complaint
Post by: Sbrem on August 19, 2011, 09:16:15 AM
I've said to more than a few, "I've been printing since 1972, and you never have. Explain to me how to do what you want." Silence, followed by a bit of stuttering. "Well, my friend said..." to which we say, "So why are you here if your friend can do it?" More silence and stuttering. I very politely tell them that I run my shop, and no one tells me how to do it. If they don't like my work or my price, or want me to do shoddy work to meet their price, then they need to go elsewhere, it's a big world.

Steve