Do you ever NOT mark your work?

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Emily

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Joined
Dec 30, 2003
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Beresford, SD
Here's my dilemma. Sometimes I get pieces in that someone else boogered up. Or, sometimes I get pieces in to be re-framed that I suspect aren't quite "legal". They were obviously originally framed sometime ago, and have been brought in to me. I had an odd-size Nancy Glazier, did some research and that print was never made in that size. Looks to me like its a pirated edition that someone cut-down and resold as a poster. What is my obligation? I don't want to put my art/framing gallery stamp on it because I don't want people to think that I perpetrated this.

Right now, I have a limited edition sold-out work brought in to me. One of those big "50% off" places framed it (ugly) a few years ago, and the people brought it in for new frames and mats. I open it up to discover that even though the matting was acid-free, the print was scotch taped to regular foam core and is discolored all around the edge. Do I put my identifying stamp on the back of this one when I'm done? I don't have a stamp that says "I'm not the nimnal that buggered this job up originally."

What would YOU do?

thanks,
emily
 
We do not sign (label) orders that are reworks from other shops or of "1/2 work" jobs.

"1/2 work" jobs are jobs that might be done to only "make due" to hold the job together for a resale customer or regular customer. An example might be a new dust cover and wire with nothing else being done.
 
Any thing short of a complete re-framing we do not put our sticker on the back. We do run into many cases like yours (everyone goes to michels once!). We imedeatly contact the customer and explain what we found. We write a restoration condition report, attach it to the ticket for the customer and usually put one under the dust cover.
 
A shop sticker, all by itself, seems to imply some kind of approval of the whole package by your shop.

Each of us should have a more detailed label, or a printed report that is kept with the framing, showing exactly what we did with the order.

If you just leave off your shop sticker when the order is not up to your usual standards, what will you do when the customer insists on regular glass when your default is Conservation glass? Or really loves that decorative mat that's not quite c/p?

BTW, though I think the more detailed sticker is an excellent idea, and I have gotten as far as shopping for appropriate-sized labels, this is still on my list of really-good-ideas-that-I'll get-to-shortly.
 
We do not put our sticker on it unless we did the entire framing job. I have left notes inside of frame packages that indicated what we actually did, or the condition of the art when we received it. I have to confess that this does not happen in all cases, sometimes we are just too darn busy to stop and write letters that may or may not ever be seen again in our lifetimes.

John
 
A note can be added to the back of the frame that
gives the date on which it was opened and explains
what was found, when it was opened and what has been done to make things better.

Hugh
 
On jobs that I do the intire thing, I put my sticker and date of completion.

Items that I redo the work of someone else, only get the date.

I'd make sure the the customer is fully aware of the condition of the item in question befor I do any work.
 
If anything in the frame “package” is not done by us i.e. the frame, mat, backing, mounting (with the exception of stretched canvas) we do not slap our sticker on it.

However, it <u>all</u> cases, a tiny label with the work order number is affixed the the back.

If there is ever any challenge to the integrity of the work, the detailed work order can be referenced.
 
So, what do you guys do if your shop finished every part of the frame package but the customer insisted on a butt-ugly frame or mat?

I have, on occasion, omitted the shop sticker and sworn the customer to secrecy. I'll say something like, "I will use this frame if you insist, since you clearly love it, but you must promise not to tell ANY of your friends where you got this framed." Then, while they watch, I throw out the sample.

Sometimes they'll chuckle and sometimes they'll actually reconsider their choice, since they can see I'm upset.
 
No sticker. No letter. Unless it is something of true value...and that's relative!!

And, Ron, how could you have a butt-ugly frame on your wall to begin with - I'm surprised!!

But you know, some may be ugly-but, when put with the appropriate art/mats can look okay... I have to admit I have a few I question whether I will keep on my wall when I redo it soon.

Roz
 
Originally posted by Ron Eggers:
I have gotten as far as shopping for appropriate-sized labels, this is still on my list of really-good-ideas-that-I'll get-to-shortly.
Click to expand...
Buy full size sticky paper, open up Publisher and design your own. Then simply cut them apart.

Betty
 
Originally posted by Rozmataz:

And, Ron, how could you have a butt-ugly frame on your wall to begin with - I'm surprised!!
Click to expand...
If it smells, it sells.


-Mike.
 
Maybe, instead of "butt-ugly," I should have said "inappropriate." That's the term I would actually use in discussions with the customer.

"Distracting" is another good word. The next step is "hideous."

Sometimes "butt-ugly" is the only phrase that really does it justice, though.

I've trimmed my samples down to about 3,000, but there are still some "butt-ugly" mouldings up there.
 
I've been printing my own labels.

I use free UPS software. (Like anything from them is free) They send me piles of free 8-1/2x11 inkjet label paper. Each sheet has 4-4"x5.3" labels on it. They are perfect for your shop info and plenty of room for notes.

I use Avery 1"x2.63" for small work and write details on the backing paper.

TruVue has giving me a lifetime (not quite hopefully) supply of Museum, AR, Conservation Clear labels, and Cyro was kind enough to send me their labels.

So, yes, I label everything with notes about work I did not do and art condition, unLess it's a minor repair, and then I still date and make note without my label. So, if it comes back, I know what I did, or didn't do.

Even the butt ugly ones, although, I don't think I've let any butt-ugly ones out of here - frames that is.

[ 02-25-2004, 07:41 PM: Message edited by: lessafinger ]
 
Everyone has their own definition of ugly. If a finished piece meets MY definition, I don't put a shop sticker on it, even if we did all the work. And that includes trying to talk the customer into using something else.

Damage from previous framing gets a note inside the frame package - sometimes a printed itimized list, sometimes just a penciled notation on the backing board. Both are signed and dated.

I have, on occasion, included notes disclaiming responsibility for bunny-shaped mats.

I like the idea of a stamp that says "I'm not the nimnal that buggered this job up originally."

Kit
 
MVC-744E.JPG
 
If it is not my components I do not affix my label. In response to "butt ugly" we write on the order form "Customers choice" if we know that it is not going to look good. When this has been added to the work order, and we don't have to do this that often, we have never had any undesirable comments when the art is picked up!
 
Aww Ron, did you cut that just for me???

Now, if you had put a fillet in it, I'd be really impressed.

Kit
 
Yes, Kit, I cut it just for you about three years ago.

BTW, I noticed your fox eying up my bunny. I'm not sure I like that.
 
My label has detailed hanging information on it that most people seem to appreciate, so I have a Repair label as opposed to my regular one. On this label there is a box that I check off (in ink) all the components I had anything to do with. I've left room for any comments I may need to add and always date it.

Pam
 
For the majority of our frames we utilize Bainbridge's labels with checkboxes for materials used. We also use tru-views conservation labels where applicable.

We too, like Pam, use a "repaired" label - although ours reads:
"Picture Frame Refitting By:"

After disassembling a customer's frame, if we notice any interior damage (mold, mildew, acid burns, etc) we notify the customer with our recommendations before proceeding.
 
I think that it is important to put your sticker, with the "Refitted by" and "Date: ", on the back of the work. Without it, the customer must rely on their memory as to which frame shop fixed it and which one "boogered" it. I think you would be better off to remove any incorrect speculation.
As for the "ugly" choices people make, I would still put a sticker on those as well. If they like it, then you have given your customer what they want. Chances are they have family and friends with similar taste who may like it as well and will want to know where they got it framed. If their friends don't like the colors, they probably have the same taste you do and know that the picture owners have poor taste and will blame the selection of mat on them, not you. They may however, like your workmanship and the fact that the customer can get it framed the way THEY like.

You can put something on the back that says "customer's choice", but isn't all framing the customer's choice (even if you talk them into it ;) ). What you really are saying is "I disapprove of their selection". I know I have my opinions but I don't think I should place a sticker of disapproval (however nicely worded) on the back. "Customer's choice" is open for speculation and can be misunderstood.

In the case of choices which will damage the art, I would want to document that the customer was offered these choices but did not choose them.

Just my penny and a half.
 
You're right, Carol. My refusal to put a shop sticker on design work of which I'm not proud is just a small act of defiance to make me feel better about it. After all, I wasn't too proud to take the money.

Decisions that affect the physical condition of the art are written on the work order which is then signed by the customer. This would include things like "No glass at customer's request."

Kit
 
Inspired by this thread, I finally developed a detailed label for my completed orders. I'm using a standard Avery label #6464, 6 to a page, 3-1/3"x4". The date updates each time I print a label and I'm working on having my POS export the rest of the data to the template I use for the labels so the process is more-or-less automatic.

Here are the last two labels I printed so you can see how I'm going to deal with orders that are only partially my work. Every order will get one of these labels, even if I'm just putting new wire on it.

There's some space left for special instructions or disclaimers, like, "It's Kit's fault."

label.jpg


I'm open to comments or suggestions. (Aren't I always?
party.gif
)

Oh, and this is going to completely replace the label I've used for the past 12 years. We had it professionally designed and bought about 20,000 of them, and I'm sick-to-death of it.
 
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