Just Bitchin'

Create a Post
DB

DB

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Feb 7, 2001
Posts
1,067
Loc
NH
Just had a business aquaintance walk in. "Hope you can help me" (Translation: hope you will work for free!) Seems she had a display of family photos in different frames, different sizes, and wanted them all reframed in the same frame and mat, all one size. She paid a college student $300.00 to hack out 13 frames, poorly painted, but he threw in the towel after attempting the matting. Could I unfit all of her photos, cut mats out of her board, re-mount them and fit them into the new frames with my glass and backing? Sure! said I. She trotted back in with the 13 frames and the matboard. Before she headed back out to the car for the photos (still in their old frames), she asked the price. The frames were 12" x 14". I quoted her a VERY generous $28.00 each. "How much does that come to for all 13?" "$364.00" LOOONG silence while staring at me with a huge smile on her face. Then:"Forget it! I had no idea it would cost this much! I already shelled out $300.00! I'll just hang them back up the way they are! I guess I should have asked for a price before I brought all these in!" And with that she gathered up her things and left. AAAARGH!!!
 
DB:

You're a bigger man than I, Charlie Brown.
smile.gif
I would've laughed at her foolishness, and then charged her retail...shame on her for trying to do something on the cheap, and then crying when it all falls apart. I can't stand it when people expect me to be sympathetic because they tried to avoid using my services, and then realized they needed me, and then want me to give them a discount on cleaning up their messes.

And why do people think that when they bring in the matboard, the cut should be free? As if they make thousand dollar mat cutters just for sport?

And does anybody else get those people who think that the fallout on a matboard
a.) belongs to them, and
b.) should be cut for free?

I have a Donut Hole Theory that I whip out on these occasions...sure, I say, the hole's made from the same doughnut you're buying, but do you get it for free?
biggrin.gif


------------------
I don't care what color your sofa is.
 
Oh yeah.... The day started out great with three of my favorite people coming in only to be balanced by people with an attitude the rest of the afternoon. Some lady (a "Sunday framer") came in, criticized everything, tried to get me to knock my prices for readymades down, bitched about how she could do it herself for less,left, then came back and purchased the frame she whined about. Some days it's all I can do to keep my smart-*** comments to myself.

And what is the deal this year with all the price shoppers? I have most of my samples relabeled with my own barcodes plus a few digits only I understand. I have actually received calls from people, while at another frame shop, complaining that the framer can't figure out which company the frame is from!

The good thing is we have a neat little network in my area where we call each other when these shoppers stop by and compare notes.

Or how about the TM group (has a 40,000 acre compound up here) who want only "natural" materials on their pieces and gold leaf..no black backing paper or black mats allowed, no "acid-free" materials...just good, old-fashioned cardboard and paper mats! The average budget for a frame job is about $15. Alrighty then!

Oh, don't get me started! Too late!

Or all the solicitors... Depending on my mood, I like to bring them to the register and start making out a bill for $45 for my time before they launch into their speil.

Or the part timers who check two days after placing an order to see if it's done...and do this ALL WEEK LONG!

OK I feel better.
 
whew!! I guess I dont get that many of those types in my shop fortunately! Hang in there ,it can only get better! Other than that Mrs. Kennedy how was your trip to Dallas?
 
The heat is frying everyone's brain except framers....we remain cool under all conditions.
Little old lady came in yesterday with 3 packs of 25 new pencils each wanting to use
our pencil sharpener. Huh? Maybe I should have let her use the chopper.
 
Yeah, Yeah...I know...Somebody dial "Whine One One" and call the Wambulance... Waaaa Waaaa Waaa Waaa (Wambulance siren). Actually, after a nice glass of red zin in my special, special glass and salad of marinated steak on a bed of wild greens, complemented with a fresh herb garlic vinaigrette, topped with chevre I felt like a million bucks! Tonight I shall turn the game hen I got on sale into yet another culinary wonder! I wonder what the TMers will be eating! hahaha!
 
I had a customer in on two different days this week obviously (though she thought she was subtle) comparison shopping. I let her borrow samples - we also replace vendors' labels with our own. On her second trip in this lady was griling me for the vendors' names, which we don't give out. I don't mind if the guy down the road gets the sale but I'm not gonna make it that easy for him.

(Okay, I mind a little bit)
 
Transendental Meditation (ists or ers) (sp?) This group bought a ton of acreage which sits in three counties and built a huge compound for "worship".. this includes multi-million dollar homes (marble walls in the bath, gold fixtures...kind of reminiscent of the PTL days in N.C.) and multiple apartments/dorms. There are two types of TMers...those that donate millions and live in the swank homes and the ones which do work for the group in exchange for the priviledge of living in a dorm room.

I get both types in the shop. The latter will be making an encore appearance in the shop Monday, presumably to see if my prices have dropped. This is the usual pattern. Nice people, very odd. All smiles and mellow until they get a quote for framing. The transformation is kind of fun to see.

A side note: this group has thus far been unsuccessful at their bid for NPO status. They couldn't prove their association to be a "church entity". Then they started a school, but are having accredidation problems.
 
Geez, Cheryl! Boone, NC. How far is that from The Twilight Zone? I guess I'll learn to appreciate my papermakers, cheese-heads and Packer fans!

Ron
 
I'm with you there, Ron. *chuckle* I'll take the urban cowboys with their stir-fry belt buckles, bolo ties, and deep pockets anyday...

Actually we don't get many Texan stereotypes in the shop. And I still think that any man who thinks that wearing a hat indoors makes him a cowboy has never learned the manners necessary to call himself such.

Even so, I'll take 'em over a scary quasi-religious cult. You have my sympathies, Cheryl.
biggrin.gif


------------------
I don't care what color your sofa is.
 
Hey, don't get me wrong...I have lived all over the world and think my area is one of the most beautiful places. We get snow in the Winter, Spring is gorgeous, Summers cool (only this week hitting in the 90 degree temp range) and the Fall is stunning! The lifestyle is very kicked back and easy going. I meet some of the most interesting and cool people!

Then we have the TM group (big deal up here)

There are the people who claim to be from the Philadelphia Experiment and live in glass pyramids.

There are the mountain clans and areas you really don't want to go to.

We have a ton of mentally ill homeless and all around freaks (Josh who eats cats and lives in a teepee then sells poetry about it on the street, Don - his buddy - who ran into the Industrial Arts building on campus several years ago and cut his hand off because it was evil, Baxter the bandana man who talks to the air and gets in fights w/ himself, Ten-Speed - not sure what his deal is, Dave Candleman - a narcoleptic who makes candles shaped like vaginas and sells them on the street, Barefoot Guy, Mr. PallMall, and a bunch of other new people)

I had a boss who regularly went on "Vision Quest" when she fell in with a group of Native American women who turned out to be scam artists travelling the country. -During this time period, being a college student, I led the "Beer Quests" hahaha!

It makes for very interesting after dinner conversation! And I am never bored!
 
Cheryl,

So glad to see you back, and in better form that ever. Do hope you make it to Atlanta.

Watch out for your TMers. Here in Oregon, we had the Bagwan Roshneeshes (sp) build a commune/ranch in Eastern Oregon. Everyone dressed in red and daily lined the streets of their commune to bow to the motorcade of their leader. Each day he would choose one of his many Mercedes for the drive-by. Many very well-off California folks got involved and willed everything to this Indian guru. The locals weren't happy and didn't make life easy for these newcomers.

The BR's decided to retaliate by sprayng salmonella on the salad bar at a large tourist restuarant (resulting in many sick peope) on the Columbia River, followed by an attempt to assassinate the District of Oregon US Attorney. It took years, but successful prosecution revealed the true nature of this particular cult.

So, watch out. They may not be as laid-back or benign as they appear. BTH, what is it they are framing?

Marcia



[This message has been edited by Mel (edited August 11, 2001).]
 
Marcia, You are right...there is a very good reason why this group can't get non-profit status and they are trying everything in the book. The next step is to get members appointed on the local town council and other areas of gov't. This is a pattern in aother areas where this group has settled and helps them to get zoning ordinances passed, etc.
I believe the compound in our area is the second largest they have. The aerial photos of the property are absolutely amazing!
They do some in-house framing, of what, I do not know. The delivery driver is instructed to drop the materials off at the main gates where he picks up an envelope taped to the door containing the payment. No person-to-person encounters. You can only get in with an invitation, escort, and word of meditation.
Items we frame for them: Lots of sanscrit type writing done in gold glitter on big pieces of waxy like paper. Gold mat, gold leaf frame (not "unnatural" metal leaf). Then tons of pictures of gods and goddesses (Hindu, I blelieve).
They should be in today about 5 minutes before closing...maybe I should go early and get some banking done!
 
Cheryl, looks like some of the local good ol' boys could run them off, if they get pesky. The ol' boys I've seen up there look like they'd be up to the task...
 
Yeah, nearby property owners aren't too thrilled. A huge substation went up down the road from where I used to live. It serviced this group. Now, I ask...why was this thing not built on their property?

Unfortunately, most of the good ol' boys were the contract labor for construction of this compound. A lot of the guys I waited on (at the "Awful Waffle" I worked at the first year of framin') would bring in chunks of marble, inlay samples and photos of some of these homes. Absolutely amazing!

I'll have to tell you the story about the painting company in this area owned by KKK, White Supremists some time. Apparently, the county near Linville Falls (Burke?) is one of the biigest Militia/Separatist areas in N.C. That's about 30 minutes from here!
 
So much for the good 'ol boys running them off. Morale: The mighty dollar rules.

Anyway, I've been gone since I jumped in on this one, but wanted to mention to you, Cheryl, that the scenario you describe is exactly that of the Roshneeshees (sp).
As for that power station, again, someone was willing to lease/sell for that purpose regardless how it ruins their view. We had to formally protest a microwave tower that was proposed for the far corner of our neighbor's land, but would (when built) overlook our home. The neighbor was not only a friend, but my husband's law partner, but the explanation was that it was good for their bottom line. (!) It didn't get built there. It did get built in the area of an already ugly freeway interchange.

Will we hear the story of the painting/KKK company in Atlanta?
 
My friend told me about it several years ago and I'll ask him to tell me again so I can get it right. As far as I know, I'll be in Atlanta...I'll know tomorrow definitely. And I shall retell with glee! If I cannot attend, this will be the first show in 6 ro 7 years and I think it would rip out a piece of my very framing soul!
 
Cheryl,
Is the FBI still looking for the Rudolph guy (that bombed the abortion clinic)? Last we heard, they still thought he was hiding out up in your neck of the woods.
Janet
 
I just saw an update on that. They think he is indeed still in the N.C. mountains, but near the Nantahala area, I think. Then there is speculation that he is dead in a cave somewhere.

Personally, I think he is either in Belize (seems to attract a lot of people from the NC mountains) or is being helped out by sympathizers and is alive and well.
 
Cheryl--from your neighbor to the southwest (or is it northeast--not too good on directions) Anyways, near Asheville, NC--Bead Capital of the World! A lot of old hippies here, some of the top businesses are holistic medicine, massage therapy, health food, get the picture? But it is a great place to be, and to be honest, there are not many natives. We get a lot of Florida summer-home folks, New York retirees, and Michiganians.

Cults and "special interest" groups abound in these here mountains--you just have to know where to go and where to Avoid at all costs. But, I would guess that would be true about any place.

For the record, Floridians spend a lot of money, New Yorkers wheel and deal, and Michiganians, well, they are friendly!

It's great here, a very eclectic culture. And the beauty of the mountains makes it all worth it.

As they say is Asheville--Ishmael Rules!
 
Jpete, what it really does is explain where the Promised Land is. Prettiest country I've ever seen.
 
Create a Post
Back
Top