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General => General Discussion and ??? => Topic started by: lrsbranding on March 07, 2017, 06:42:05 PM

Title: Really Dude???
Post by: lrsbranding on March 07, 2017, 06:42:05 PM
I had a repeat customer come in yesterday to drop off 4 shirts that HE purchased to be left chest embroidered, just like all his previous jobs. As we're standing there talking he notices a shirt hanging up high on the wall in the shop that has the screen printed logo of his archenemy neighbors "out of business" business. After standing there for 20 minutes listening to the same rant I've heard before about how this guy is a crook, thief, swindler and everything else, he tells me that if I ever want anymore of HIS business I need to take that shirt down.
Here's the problem..I've been thinking about taking the shirt down for a while because it's no longer white. It's kinda off yellow with a nice blend of dust down the shoulders. I don't really like the way the print turned out but at the time it filled the spot. NOW that this guy came in and said that CRAP, that nasty yellowish rag is going to have to hang there until the moths eat all of it or it rots to the point it can no longer hold its own weight. What's wrong with people...Really dude????
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: Dottonedan on March 07, 2017, 07:06:41 PM
Those people are hard to just let alone and ignore. Makes you want to stand your ground just due to the fact that he put you in that spot.  Alas, sometimes, it's really no big deal when you step back to look at things form a different perspective to just eat up some of your pride and let him have his way. In the end, whats it hurt?  What do both of you benefit from if you don't take it down...and what do both of you benefit from if you do take it down?
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: Frog on March 07, 2017, 07:21:50 PM
I'd take it down...
... and replace it with a nice new one, even if you have to pay someone for DTG. ;D
But then, I've reached that point where I call the shots, and hopefully, not for much longer.
Retirement, here I come! Hah. I've been saying that for more than five years.

Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: lrsbranding on March 07, 2017, 07:35:12 PM
I agree Dan. It's just not that big of deal but I'm with Frog. I'm at the point in life where I won't surrender. This guy is a real verbal bully. I always have to listen to the stories of how he gets his way with everything and everyone he deals with. He's already tried it on me with our pricing and turn around time. Didn't give him nothing on those occasions. Don't know if I will on this either. 
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: screenxpress on March 07, 2017, 09:40:57 PM
I'm an old guy as well staring at retirement. 

I like Andy's idea......... a lot.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on March 08, 2017, 01:12:47 AM
I would display prominently up front as soon as he walks in.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: Homer on March 08, 2017, 05:23:37 AM
make 2, put a new one up and have one ready when he shows up, put the other one on...


if you you use the phrase " if you want my business, you're going to have to"......you can see yourself to the door, I am not interested.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: mooseman on March 08, 2017, 08:23:19 AM
This is easy decision for me.....I am with Frog all the way. Look at it this way give in to  this ass hat  pretty soon you will be calling all of your customers to see if you can take an order from any of your customers.
Everybody has an axe to grind never let them bury that axe in your business
I used to catch a bunch of heat because I do business with a local Indian tribe who run several local businesses and do not pay taxes.
I used to hear if you are selling to the Indians I don't think I can do business with you, these were the same a holes that bought gas and cigarettes from the tribe because the prices were so much better than buying from a pale face !!!!!!!!!
WHAT FROG SAID .......Go with it
mooseman


Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: Sbrem on March 08, 2017, 08:50:35 AM
I know my response would be something on the idea of "You're not really trying to tell me what to do in my own shop are you?" and then let him walk. I'm old too, and don't need their crap anymore...

Steve
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: mk162 on March 08, 2017, 08:54:58 AM
I had a guy get pissed because I wouldn't sewn on his worn shirts.  I don't sew on customer supplied shirts anyway, and when he dropped these off while I was out they stunk up the whole office.

It was bad.

Sometimes it's best to let folks walk.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: lrsbranding on March 08, 2017, 10:01:26 AM
Customer supplied shirts are great. He's a chain smoker so guess what that does to the shop. We get some that must have been worn by the perfume sampler at Macy's.
I wonder how he would act if he found out the shirt is on my Facebook page and his is not. I may have to tell him.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: mk162 on March 08, 2017, 10:10:36 AM
Customer supplied shirts are great. He's a chain smoker so guess what that does to the shop. We get some that must have been worn by the perfume sampler at Macy's.
I wonder how he would act if he found out the shirt is on my Facebook page and his is not. I may have to tell him.

Why are customer supplied shirts great?  I rarely have those jobs end well when one of their shirts gets eaten by the machine.  Not to mention most retail shirts aren't designed for printing, some of the fabrics are horrible.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: lrsbranding on March 08, 2017, 10:17:29 AM
It was a facetious comment, but since 80% of our business is contract I'm accustomed to customer supplied garments.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: mk162 on March 08, 2017, 10:32:55 AM
I realized after I posted that it might be.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: cleveprint on March 08, 2017, 10:34:28 AM
I had a guy get pissed because I wouldn't sewn on his worn shirts.  I don't sew on customer supplied shirts anyway, and when he dropped these off while I was out they stunk up the whole office.

It was bad.

Sometimes it's best to let folks walk.

We have this sign hanging in our front office. Its amazing how many people bring in used clothing. Or clothing they went and bought at goodwill. We flat out tell people its gross.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: Sbrem on March 08, 2017, 11:23:59 AM
great sign, love it!

Steve

just yesterday we were numbering some pinnies, and by the time the second was in the oven, the smell was in the air... yes, gross.

Steve
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: 3Deep on March 08, 2017, 11:24:40 AM
We had something like this happen to us many years ago with a political organization, we had did some shirts for the governor's campaign and they ask would we put there sign in the door/window, didn't think nothing of it until they ask did we support that candidate.  So now when we do anything political we don't display it, people are just to silly about there parties.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: Frog on March 08, 2017, 12:46:31 PM
great sign, love it!

Steve

just yesterday we were numbering some pinnies, and by the time the second was in the oven, the smell was in the air... yes, gross.

Steve

I can't help but bring up a story I have told many times before about a local  H.S. cross country team that asked me to add something to their uniforms.
I agreed, with the stipulation that all be laundered prior to bringing them to me.
Well, someone  thought that they could sneak their dirty one in. I discovered it of course with the vapor stench from the heat press.
Finished the job, packed it up and left it in my reception area. A while later I was greeted by the sight of my dog happily chewing on the offending shirt, which he had singled out and removed from the rest.
I folded it back up, and packed it on top of the others, and told them exactly what happened, and tough luck! You break the rules, you lose.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: Doug B on March 08, 2017, 01:39:25 PM
  Worker came in on a cold rainy day... Proceded to deposit his wet socks in the dryer.
You can imagine the rest...
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: lrsbranding on March 08, 2017, 01:44:35 PM
We have embroidered on worn or washed garments but never screen printed or applied vinyl to them. I was told that soaps, fabric softeners, etc. would affect the adhesion.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: Frog on March 08, 2017, 02:12:47 PM
We have embroidered on worn or washed garments but never screen printed or applied vinyl to them. I was told that soaps, fabric softeners, etc. would affect the adhesion.

My business involves a lot of tiny runs, so these do come up sometimes.
Never had an adhesion problem, but with recently laundered ones, sometimes the scent from laundry products can be as bad as the funk.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: mk162 on March 08, 2017, 02:13:34 PM
i tell people that so I have an out...if that doesn't work I plainly tell them I don't handle your laundry.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: Inkworks on March 08, 2017, 07:23:03 PM
Try worn hockey jersies. it doesn't matter how well washed they are, when they hit 300+F it gets stinky fast...
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: Admiral on March 09, 2017, 04:41:12 PM
Try worn hockey jersies. it doesn't matter how well washed they are, when they hit 300+F it gets stinky fast...

Try having a hockey sanitizing side business - boy do we get some fun bags of hockey gear...

We load them into the 'stink chest' which is where they stay for a couple hours to dry.

Unfortunately we have also had to embroider once worn hockey jerseys (not enough time between receiving garments and completing the order before first game).  For the most part our sales team says no to customer provided though...
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: lrsbranding on March 09, 2017, 09:55:35 PM
Nasty.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: Prōdigium on April 09, 2017, 11:35:24 PM
To get back on the original topic, not only would I take it down I would consider the idea that the product displays need to be changed more often.

If you have a good deal of repeat business than alternating your displays with you current works not only shows off the latest and hopefully best prints your doing, but it can also give ideas or show printing methods that your clients may never have knew existed. Think about advertising in general, you would never put up a billboard and think that its message will resonate for 5+ years.

Personally I would make it a point to keep it fresh. If there are shirts so old they have sunburns than its long past time to ditch them. Even if a customer does not care whats on the garment, the fact that is rotting off the display says a lot about your image from a customers viewpoint.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: Dottonedan on April 10, 2017, 12:12:31 AM
To get back on the original topic, not only would I take it down I would consider the idea that the product displays need to be changed more often.

If you have a good deal of repeat business than alternating your displays with you current works not only shows off the latest and hopefully best prints your doing, but it can also give ideas or show printing methods that your clients may never have knew existed. Think about advertising in general, you would never put up a billboard and think that its message will resonate for 5+ years.

Personally I would make it a point to keep it fresh. If there are shirts so old they have sunburns than its long past time to ditch them. Even if a customer does not care whats on the garment, the fact that is rotting off the display says a lot about your image from a customers viewpoint.




I'd agree with that. Make sense.
Title: Re: Really Dude???
Post by: lrsbranding on April 10, 2017, 08:19:06 AM
I agree. It doesn't show well. That same customer came in last week with more shirts and didn't say anything. So, since the soda lost it's fizz I'll throw it out.