Things I don't want to hear....

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gemsmom

gemsmom

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Oct 10, 2000
Posts
3,576
and what I think when I do: "Now don't touch anything"-mother to child as she enters store (oh, oh, trouble). "I have a project I'm working on and I need some advice"-(They're gonna be here an hour and won't spend a dime). "How much to frame something this big" as he he moves his arms vertically and horizontally)-(shall I measure your wing span, sir)? "I don't want to spend alot"-($50.00 will be too much). "Do you think it's worth framing"-(Well, of course, silly!). This is( enter appropriate venders name) calling with your out-of-stock items"-(I'm gonna spend the next half hour looking for a sub). Pam, the (compressor, press, saw, etc.) is making a funny noise"-(Dad-help!) The phone at 8:00am.-(okay, whose turn is to be sick today?) "I'll have to ask my husband/wife"-(goodbye, forever). "But the print only cost me $5.00" OR "I've already spent $500.00 on the art"-(I never know what to think). "What do you think of my artwork?"-(you REALLY don't want to know, do you?) A customer chewing gum-(How can I get tactfully get someone else to wait on this one?). How about you?
 
Pam , I must agree with you 100% - especially the comment - How much to frame something this big . I used to work in the building industry and was away from home quite often and we went through quite a few occasions of frantic phone call such as " The compressors not pumping . What will I do" .Thank heavens for several handy brothers.
When we first started we worked out of my back shed - half was lined and sealed for an office and a small gallery but the work shop was not properly sealed at floor level . Imagine my reaction to a phone call "There's a five foot Brown snake in the workshop . What will I do". At this time I'm about 300km from home . I advised my darling wife to ring the Enviromental Protection Agency as this sort of problem is their responsibility as it is a no-no to kill snakes as they are God's creatures - especially if I'm too far away to shoot the things . Eventually the snake slid off - about half an hour before the experts arrived . This sort of thing used to happen a couple of times each summer untill we bit the bullet and moved down town - them was the days - I doubt she misses them one little bit . Regards Alan
 
Those are things I like to hear. I like those comments. They are opportunities to make clients.

1. Only want to spend! $6o more is the difference better okay and wonderful. How long will you have it? 10 perhaps 15 years, well that's $6 a year.

2. Those projects are very hard to do at home there are many things that can happen that the money you spent doing it at home may be lost. How will you keep the picture flat? Did you know that scotch tape soaks into the degree and shows a stain? Did you know that some mats can cause acid stains? Have you heard about a plakmount for Billy's work?

3. Framing is a very visual medium there are many choices to make. You should bring in the piece and we will play with the choices to see what looks best. Did you see anything on the wall that caught your eye?

4. I'm sorry I only see vendors by appointment you need to call before stopping. I have a busy schedule and can not fit you in. Or Can you call back in about 45 minutes I am with a client right now. We like the fact that Betty from Print Mount calls to check supplies.

5. We positioned ourselves in a market where we never have a customer chewing gum.

6. My mother picked up used toys for $.50 at a garage sale. I tell Mom the little ones don't like to come in here because there is nothing for them to do. Then suggest they check out the toys.

Take heart Pam don't let these get you down. There are too many more good customers.

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Timberwoman
AL
I cut the mat, I pet the =^..^= cat.
 
Things I wish I could say ...

You only spent $1.98 on the print? Well, that leaves you more to spend on the presentation, right?

The framing we're discussing will last 10 -20 years. How long to you expect to have the couch?

You want two colored mats and an oak frame? Going for a sort of retro look?

Please tell your child to stop that RIGHT NOW

I have a waste can here behind the counter. Would you like to put your gum in it?

Who's paying for this, you or your 'expert' friend?

Wow, that felt GREAT. Thanks for the oportunity to vent. Kit

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Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
 
BUT...infinitely better than the usual--and hopefully pianissimo--heartfelt exclamation.
smile.gif
 
The sentence that makes me cringe is, "You are the expert, you tell me what to use." Which is usually followed by, "But, that won't go with my decor."
frown.gif


No matter what you do, you can't win them all. (And sometimes you don't want to.)

Good O'l Sue
 
The one thing I really hate to hear, but hear ALL the time is..."why does this cost so much?"
My solution? Baffle them with b******t . Well maybe not B******t , but a good long-winded truthful story, ie:
"Well, first we have to pay the lumberjacks to cut down the tree. Then we have to pay the truckers to take it to the lumbermill. Then there's the milling cost to cut the trees into boards. After that, we pay the milling cost to turn it into raw moulding, then the finishers to put the various stains and finishes on the moulding.
After that, we get the moulding, cut it, join it, cut the mat, backing and glass, hinge the artwork, put it together according to F.A.C.T.S. guidelines, inspect it three times, and then paper the back, wire it and wrap it. That's why it costs so much!"
By the time I get through with that speil, their heads are reeling, and they'd pay just about anything!
confused.gif


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Seth J. Bogdanove, CPF
21 years framing and still loving it

[This message has been edited by Bogframe (edited January 22, 2001).]
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Susan May:
Uncy-Boggy, you would think that after all that they would be surprised at why it doesn't cost more!

Good O'l Sue
smile.gif
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Now would'nt ya think that was the whole idea?
smile.gif




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Seth J. Bogdanove, CPF
21 years framing and still loving it
 
If someone calls with the typical "How much would it cost to frame a 16x20, you know about the size of a poster...?" we try to explain that it would be best if they'd bring in the art so we can show them some ideas and work up a price. If they won't take no (info) for an answer, I sometimes say, "Well, it's kind of like calling a grocery store and asking how much a bag of groceries would be---it depends what you put into the bag!" Note: this must be said with an air of good humor, not condescendingly. It gets the point right across. ;) Rick
 
ArtLady, 1) I can't frame anything bigger than 5x7 for less than $50.00. If they come in with a 16 x 20, and have a price in their head of $50.00,it is very difficult to sell them on the extra $100.00 or so it will actually take to do the job. Believe me, they KNOW it will look better, they just don't want to spend the money. 2) When they want advice, that is all they want. 3) When they want a price over the phone, that is all they want. 4) I only see reps by appointment also. They all know that. (where did that come from, anyway)? 5) Are you implying only low-class people chew gum? Two reps at the Atlanta show approached me chewing gum ,and I can think of two salesman who came to my store doing same. I didn't consider them low-class, just annoying. Didn't buy anything, either. 6) I forgot about the toy thing. We had some that got lost in our move two years ago. Thanks for reminding me. 7) Do I sound depressed? I'm one of the most content people I know. The problems I listed are just some of the predictable annoyances that have come up over the years. You shouldn't read any more into it than that. Pam D.
 
We carry prints and posters.
Which leads to a lot of phone calls that start this way: "Hi, I'm looking for a poster/print with a bear in it--I saw it a few years ago--I think it was kind of big...do you carry it?"

I used to tell them that we had too many posters to go and look through them all, and that they would be welcome to come and search for it themselves.

Now I just say "No, it's out of print."

And I don't know if this is a problem for you guys and gals, but where I work, a lot of people bring in ten-twenty year old prints/diplomas/whatever, that they want to match to their new stuff. And then pitch a fit when we don't carry that particular moulding. And then demand to know why they can't find a mat to match the one they have.

"Well, your mats have faded, ma'am. They're not going to match anything anymore."

"But you don't have ANYTHING even CLOSE to it! And I LIKE this color!"

"Well, it's not the original color it used to be."

"Yes it is! I picked it out myself!"

And *pulling out hair* where do you go from there?
frown.gif




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I don't care what color your sofa is.
 
Audrey - In that situation, I tell them (gently) that their old mats were not conservation quality, explain why rag mats and conservation glass are better, and suggest that they bring in all their old pieces for re-framing. Sometimes they do.

Or how about 'Well, I do carry Dancing Bears by Beard. That sounds like what you're looking for. Why don't you stop in a take a look at it?' At least you would get them in to your shop. Kit

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Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Audrey:
"Well, your mats have faded, ma'am. They're not going to match anything anymore."

"But you don't have ANYTHING even CLOSE to it! And I LIKE this color!"

"Well, it's not the original color it used to be."

"Yes it is! I picked it out myself!"

And *pulling out hair* where do you go from there?
frown.gif


<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I keep a couple of old samples of double mats from jobs that we've redone( cut as corner samples) behind the counter to show people what happens when old mat board fades. My favorite and the most shocking looks like a light grey top mat with light green undermat. When I lift the top mat the undermat was originally a bright lavender. Great selling tool that cost nothing and always gets the sale. By the way, the customer that originally brought in that mat swore that it had been light green.


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curlyframer, CPF
 
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