Junk Customers Today

UzZx32QU

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So far three prints that were given as gifts w/o a frame and three shocked clients as it cost their real money to get them framed. Zero sales all walked.

Two dime store frame givers wanting me to fix the frames they gave. None left, it would cost real money to fix.

Well it's still early maybe something cool will still show up.


framer
 
It would be wonderful if we could provide every service for every potential customer, within their perceived budget. But it probably isn't practical for us to try that approach.

Some customers walk, and that's OK. If everyone who came through the door bought our framing, I'd know my prices were too low.

You are right to hold out for the profitable jobs.
 
If everybody who walked in the door bought your framing, you'd be making a heck of a lot of money. Every day, we go over sales resistance and figure out how we can overcome instances of it. We don't get a lot.

Prices have nothing to do with overhead, cost of materials, etc and everything to do with what customers are willing to pay for our products. Get that price and work back through the other factors and find a way to make them fall into line.
 
Warren, that works fine when they're willing to pay something!

What do you do with the lady that wants her discount store frame fixed and wants to pay less than the 6.99 she paid for it?

There are SOME things you have to say no to.
 
Cliff, when that happens, and it does, it's usually a small matter and we fix it for nothing. The job might take 10 minutes. We give away hangers to people who come in asking for one. We figure if we can't make any money off the job, we might as well get a little good will.

"Nah, we couldn't charge you for that." It makes us feel good rather than annoyed with the customer. I don't think the policy over 27 years has hurt us much.
 
I had THE WORST one yesterday! (must be sun spots...) A guy calls up; gotta a 9/11 flag for the ol' firehouse that they want to frame. I use uv plex, a frame we have in stock so they get the ValueLine discount, price comes to $600 plus or minus. Oh, He says, I was hoping to pay $50 or $100.
faintthud.gif
I told him how to sew a sleeve on it...
 
Well yesterday was the first day back. It must have been the framing god that wanted to show me who's in charge. I hope those gremlins crawl back under the rocks from which they came and I'll have a fine day.

framer
 
Y'all are making me dread going in today. It'll be my first day back, but I have 4 customers who made appointments. That's the only reason I'm opening today. In a small town like ours, a lot of small businesses close the entire wk between Christmas and the New Year. Hope that framing god stays in RI!
 
I keep large acetate bags in stock for cheapies. The patter goes something like this:

"Well, if you want to hang it up so that you can enjoy it, and you want to take care of it, but you want to keep the price down, I can wrap it in acetate, on a piece of fomeboard (show sample) like this. That way you can enjoy looking at it while you save up for a really nice frame."

Sometimes they look at the acetate in disgust (it doesn't look "right" for their decor), sometimes they are relived to find an inexpensive solution to their problem. At least, I am offering alternatives.

If the poster is a gift, the wrap is often the best solution. They can slide the thing under the bed, and pull it out to hang up when the relative that gave it to them comes to visit. They can use the "saving for the proper frame" excuse for why it is in plastic.

This is also a good solution for teenager's rooms.
They can have a whole slew of protected posters stashed in a closet or under the bed, and rotate them at whim. Mom is happy that the "potentially collectible" posters are not getting pinholes and tape on them, and the kids are happy to have control of their bedroom decor.
 
Man, I haven't had any cheapies. Tuesday, I waited on two customer's who spent $2,200 between them for three pieces total between them. Today, the first one I waited on spent over $800.00 for one piece, a husband and wife spent over $400.00, and I had one little sale for $140.00. The owners no longer seem to be apprehensive about me working the front counter for some reason.
 
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