Ink Mix Charge

[T Shirt Farmer]

Do you all charge for PMS mix if not in stock already, seems a nominal fee is justified but may not be a chargeable item in some shops. Sucks when you get a small order and need 3 colors not already in inventory.

Your thoughts?

[Frog]

I charge $7.50 for PMS mix and match.
On tiny jobs, I have let it slide if I already have it mixed, but, jeez, just keeping the inventory organized is worth something!

On the other hand, for printers whose main work constantly involves Pantone matches, they could roll it into their price structure easily enough.

[RICK STEFANICK]

They don't charge for custom matches here

[blue moon]

we charge if we have to make it. If it's on the shelf, there is no charge. PMS mix is $15, eyeball mix (make it look like this) is $25 or more.
If the order is big enough, there is no charge.
Most sim process work uses similar colors, we might have to mix one per job and we don't charge for those.

pierre

[shaneds]

We do not charge for this.

[BP]

15 bucks for a color mix.

[Prince Art]

Custom mixing takes extra time, and is therefore charged accordingly. (And while we don't charge for it as such, the little buckets of leftover ink we'll probably never use again are worth something, too.)

[Shanarchy]

We just got a mixing system, so this may change.

PMS mix: $25 or $50 ($25 normally, $50 for a small PITA order where the customer is being more trouble than they are worth).
Color tinting: $0

In my market, 9 out of 10 customers do not need a PMS match, they just feel it's the best way to ask for a color, or are a graphic artist in their own mind and being fussy. Most customers will then be fine with the free color tinting (aka the eye ball mix that will get you close enough).

For customers who I order in a custom mix for, there will be no additional charge as long as I still have it on my shelf. Nor will I charge another customer who wants that PMS color if it happens to be on my shelf.

For bigger customers who require it (Universities and corporate logo color match) I will waive the charge if the order is big enough and/or I think we will get repeat business. These colors will rarely change for them and most likely be involved in all their orders.

Now that I can mix in-house I will re-address this as I may start keeping less "stock colors" on my shelf.

[tonypep]

Only been open about 3.5 months and app 200 Pantones later............those 4 digit colors are quite popular!

[Frog]

We just got a mixing system, so this may change.

PMS mix: $25 or $50 ($25 normally, $50 for a small PITA order where the customer is being more trouble than they are worth).
Color tinting: $0

In my market, 9 out of 10 customers do not need a PMS match, they just feel it's the best way to ask for a color, or are a graphic artist in their own mind and being fussy. Most customers will then be fine with the free color tinting (aka the eye ball mix that will get you close enough).

For customers who I order in a custom mix for, there will be no additional charge as long as I still have it on my shelf. Nor will I charge another customer who wants that PMS color if it happens to be on my shelf.

For bigger customers who require it (Universities and corporate logo color match) I will waive the charge if the order is big enough and/or I think we will get repeat business. These colors will rarely change for them and most likely be involved in all their orders.

Now that I can mix in-house I will re-address this as I may start keeping less "stock colors" on my shelf.

So you have been ordering quarts and gallons of Pantones as needed up to now?
As for your "tints" when do they become true by-the-eye mixes, which, as Pierre alluded to, can be tougher than Pantones by formula.
When I did die-stamping, this was the only way, and it was all seat of the pants, no scale, and really changed over the years! Mix, to next mix, not so bad, but five down the line, "just awful" to quote our president elect.

Since getting a scale, I now document these custom mixes to allow them to be accurately duplicated.

[ebscreen]

Only been open about 3.5 months and app 200 Pantones later............those 4 digit colors are quite popular!

When Pantone releases their new colors we will undoubtedly get a few orders shortly thereafter using them.
Designers are an odd lot.

[blue moon]

We just got a mixing system, so this may change.

PMS mix: $25 or $50 ($25 normally, $50 for a small PITA order where the customer is being more trouble than they are worth).
Color tinting: $0

In my market, 9 out of 10 customers do not need a PMS match, they just feel it's the best way to ask for a color, or are a graphic artist in their own mind and being fussy. Most customers will then be fine with the free color tinting (aka the eye ball mix that will get you close enough).

For customers who I order in a custom mix for, there will be no additional charge as long as I still have it on my shelf. Nor will I charge another customer who wants that PMS color if it happens to be on my shelf.

For bigger customers who require it (Universities and corporate logo color match) I will waive the charge if the order is big enough and/or I think we will get repeat business. These colors will rarely change for them and most likely be involved in all their orders.

Now that I can mix in-house I will re-address this as I may start keeping less "stock colors" on my shelf.

wait till you have 100 quarts of various tints on the shelf! that's 25 gallons of ink at $50/gal. Now you are talking $1K+ of ink never to be used again. . . We charge for most of it, so it's OK (for the most part even though I feel we could do better). All those tints (by eye) are going to be hard to recreate efficiently in case of a repeat or wanting to use it again so when the bucket is low, it will just go back on the shelf and sit there taking space and collecting lint.

pierre

pierre

[bimmridder]

I hate all of you. Licensed sports leagues=800+ colors on the shelves

[tonypep]

I hear you Brother!

[blue moon]

yup, we are at about 800 qts, too! Lotsa left overs from past years and sim process jobs. . .

pierre