GGgggrrrrrr - I really should know better!!

[Traynor26]

Morning All,

Sorry, i could find the 'Vent your anger section' so i have decided to put it here!!

Anyway,

i was contacted last week by a company looking for 300 mugs, im only a small set up, so after picking myself up from the floor, i got a little excited :rolleyes:.

Is sent them a quote, gave it the '100% dishwasher safe', 'Top quality mugs', 'Quality Ink' etc etc etc, they haggled 25p off each mug and we settled on a price, 'Bingo' i thought :redface:

We then spent most of Friday emailing designs back and forth, 'Yep like that, can you move that to there' etc etc, the normal stuff, til finally at about 5 O'Clock Friday evening they had a design that they really pleased with. Sent them the invoice and they said that we would sort it on Monday morning...............

...................Yep, you have all guessed it by now, got an email this morning from them stating that they were going to see if they could get them done somewhere else for a better price Gggggggrrrrr

I know this is all part of the business that we are in, but it still really gripes me!!

OK, rant over, sorry, just wanted to get that off my chest!!

So if any of you get a company asking for 300 mugs today......... lol

Suppose i had better go and cancel that Ferrari

[DS Designs]

I learned the hard way too..a long time ago. I ALWAYS now send a small proof heavily watermarked so virtually impossible for the customer to take the design anywhere else to get printed. Either that or tell them all design work is carried out after a percentage of payment upfront.......sorry to hear about it though

[Traynor26]

Yep,

good idea, think ill go for the watermark idea

[Ian M]

Lee, I would be tempted to invoice them for all your design work which I think is only fair.

[Earl Smith]

Hi, I feel for you.
Here is a link for a supplier I use that might give you a better price to offer your customer. If you register with them as a business they give you a discount off the price you will see on their website. Their sublimated mugs are the same price as ours/mine but the "oven" baked one are much cheaper. Especially for 300 pieces. Hope your Germans ok but if you ask for Andreas, he speaks good English.
http://www.mister-ad.de/
If you arent registered then contact me, maybe I can get them for you for a small %.

PPS , I am still waiting for a reply for the offer you gave me.

Good Luck.

[Traynor26]

Thanks Ian,

I foolishly offered a 'Free design' service, not expecting them to take the design then run! I think this is just going down as a 'Lesson Learned', i will certainly be a bit more guarded next time.

Hi Earl,

thanks for the info, will certainly have a look, no worries about the other thing, just give me a shout if i can help................im not going anywhere, well not til the 'sand box' again next September

Lee

[gstk]

We watermark every proof but it still doesnt stop someone copying your design unfortunately. chalk it up and move on is all you can do.

[Paul]

Thanks Ian,

I foolishly offered a 'Free design' service, not expecting them to take the design then run! I think this is just going down as a 'Lesson Learned', i will certainly be a bit more guarded next time.

Hi Earl,

thanks for the info, will certainly have a look, no worries about the other thing, just give me a shout if i can help................im not going anywhere, well not til the 'sand box' again next September

Lee

thats fine then... tell them design service was free if they go on with the order. you not a charity!

[Ian M]

I think Paul has a good suggestion. This is where I have found the PS scripts to be of great value in sending or printing out a virtual 3D mug with the customers design on. This is going to make it almost impossible to copy the design & I'm finding that the customers love seeing them.

I really do feel for you Lee & know only too well the time it takes to make up any design.

[Earl Smith]

Good points about the watermarks. I know about it but have never used them.
Ian M, what is or are the PS scripts ? If its a Photoshop thing is it also available in Corel?

Earl