some freaking customers

[mooseman]

I meet some guy at a local trade show in august 2011..........I am selling souvenior shirts to the masses from a booth
he contacted me about 2 weeks ago via e-mail
re-introduces himself.....via e-mail, I don't remember him at all

needs 100 shirts light color  printed one color one side black ink for a trade show.....around January 15th... we say no problem.... he even has good art

We quote he likes.....

Time goes by, he comes back via e-mail... now he only needs 50 shirts we requote , he says needs approval from home office..we say Ok

Time goes by....he comes back forgot to mention the shirts are needed in NEVADA for a trade show......

Time goes by he comes back now wants Charcoal and red shirts and wants me to select the size mix...and OH by the way he says did I mention we need the shirts by 1/11 In FREAKING NEVADA, I am in FREAKING New York, 5 days by ground.....

Oh did I mention he seems to have completely missed the requirement for pre-payment + $50.00 deposit toward cross country shipping.

So I got no $$$$$ need to ship by 1/5 to make Nevada by 1/11 and he wants me to start art and select size mix for him.

At 8:35 PM Eastern, 12 /19/ 2011 we poilitely told him to PISS OFF...thanks but no thanks.......get another printer...strong letter to follow....   

I knew when I saw his title it was all over...here it is, and i quote from the signature on his e-mail   
Webcaster, New Media Publisher, Internet Marketing Spirit Guide, Wannabe Sax Player, DJ/MC

some freaking customers........................

mooseman
 

[tpitman]

Internet Marketing Spirit Guide??? What the hell is that? Sounds something like Mel Brooks' "Standup Philosopher" . . .

[mooseman]

Internet Marketing Spirit Guide??? What the hell is that? Sounds something like Mel Brooks' "Standup Philosopher" . . .

I think it is French for WTF
mooseman

[jason-23]

I get that kind of crap all the time.....send him my way...

[GraphicDisorder]

I meet some guy at a local trade show in august 2011..........I am selling souvenior shirts to the masses from a booth
he contacted me about 2 weeks ago via e-mail
re-introduces himself.....via e-mail, I don't remember him at all

needs 100 shirts light color  printed one color one side black ink for a trade show.....around January 15th... we say no problem.... he even has good art

We quote he likes.....

Time goes by, he comes back via e-mail... now he only needs 50 shirts we requote , he says needs approval from home office..we say Ok

Time goes by....he comes back forgot to mention the shirts are needed in NEVADA for a trade show......

Time goes by he comes back now wants Charcoal and red shirts and wants me to select the size mix...and OH by the way he says did I mention we need the shirts by 1/11 In FREAKING NEVADA, I am in FREAKING New York, 5 days by ground.....

Oh did I mention he seems to have completely missed the requirement for pre-payment + $50.00 deposit toward cross country shipping.

So I got no $$$$$ need to ship by 1/5 to make Nevada by 1/11 and he wants me to start art and select size mix for him.

At 8:35 PM Eastern, 12 /19/ 2011 we poilitely told him to PISS OFF...thanks but no thanks.......get another printer...strong letter to follow....   

I knew when I saw his title it was all over...here it is, and i quote from the signature on his e-mail   
Webcaster, New Media Publisher, Internet Marketing Spirit Guide, Wannabe Sax Player, DJ/MC

some freaking customers........................

mooseman
 

This sounds like "all" of my customers except they all pay in full up front and the 11th in NV is no problem if you wanna send him my way. 

[mooseman]

Hey guys I have no problems with referrals to board buddies but in this case I am going to pass...this guy or who ever he is has completely ignored the requirement to pony up the cash and shipping $$...likes my prices but who cares if there is no $$ sent,. price doesn't matter. This is some kind of bad deal just felt it from the gut, can't even get this guy to call me.
We run like hell from bands, promoters and race car teams and customers like this guy...lots  of smoke no $$$$$$$, the requirements keep changing I am too old for this crap
mooseman

[Fresh Baked Printing]

I had a guy last week who specified he wanted a non-expiring quote.

[JBLUE]

I had a guy last week who specified he wanted a non-expiring quote.

Will 20.00 dollars per shirt do?

[Command-Z]

I know this is a running joke in our industry, but sometimes these gambles actually pay off! A local shop in my town actually gets a ton of re-orders for a line of art shirts that actually took off that started out as a kid with an idea walking into a shop...

Just stick to your pricing and demand pre-payment. If it turns into a RUSH job, then charge accordingly. The ones who are serious will have the money and the will to invest. The ones like Mooseman's guy here, who go in with no capital and expect everyone else to take the risks, are poor planners and poor businessmen and will probably fail anyway.

Just sayin... You never know where the next big thing will come from.

[mk162]

I agree, you have to stick to your guns with these guys.  They are ridiculous sometimes, but charge accordingly and most of the time their requests turn more reasonable.

[Frog]

Just yesterday I had one who didn't even say a word when I told him that his thirty hoody (customer supplied) job required at least seven screens set up and their cost...
He just hung up.

[mooseman]

Just yesterday I had one who didn't even say a word when I told him that his thirty hoody (customer supplied) job required at least seven screens set up and their cost...
He just hung up.

At least he was respectful of your time
mooseman

[Frog]

Actually, the number of "uh's" and "ummm's" and general backstory before finally getting to the meat and potatoes negated any good from the call.

[Homer]

we don't and can't expect customers to have a clue how shirts are made, or what it takes to make a screen. What we do expect is them to understand and listen to our advice and respect our time frame. Like when I go to NAPA and the guy tells me the cost of a new underwater muffler bearing. . .I give him the ol' blank face. . .just give me a new one and I'll be on my way. . the point is. . hell I don't have one, I haven't slept in days . . .

[mk162]

Welcome to having a baby, I'll know that feeling again in about 6 months!!!