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Frame Lady

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Oct 7, 2003
Posts
407
Location
Seattle, Washington
Just wanted to share an e-mail I received from a fellow framer and with her permission to share here it is!


> > Customers wife brings large poster - matted is about 32 x 40. She
> > picks LJ Sedona something. Frame is over $200. No way! Too
> > much! Husband says he can make frame out of old fencing they
> > have at home. Save $200 big ones! I am to mat, mount, and fit up
> > with NG glass. He will do the rest. Great by me. Order done.
> > Customer picks up matted and glassed poster.
> >
> > Two weeks later, husband back with poster. Broke glass trying to
> > put into frame. Wants me to remat and reglass and give him a
> > discount because, heh, this is costing so much money! Since I
> > was charging them for a complete fit and finish on the first order, I
> > charge them for 1/2 fit and finish on the second order, and package
> > up the broken piece of glass for them to take home with them to
> > use on another picture.
> >
> > Two weeks later, same scenerio.
> >
> > Two weeks later, husband comes in with frame he has made from
> > fencing. Held together with metal L braces. Out of square. Routed
> > so that two corners come together like a Z. Begging me to help
> > him get the poster and glass into the frame and hanging hardware
> > on.
> >
> > Now, they have paid for two complete fit and finishes by now, plus
> > three mats, and three pieces of glass, all to save $200. I oblige him
> > and fit the picture in and install hardware, and give him the hangers.
> >
> > While I am doing this, he is talking about their home (just the
> > master suite is 1100 sq. feet, with a whirlpool soaking tub in the
> > room by a fireplace. You can look out any of the windows and have
> > a view of the lake front where their home is located).
> >
> > Then he moves on to their two vacation homes and their other
> > property. This poster is going in their vacation home up in the San
> > Juans. As soon as I am done with it, he is going down to Renton to
> > put it on their plane, so he can fly it up to the island, get it hung,
> > and then fly back down so he can get some quality time out on
> > their boat. Next weekend, the family will fly up to the island and
> > spend a few days, probably doing some fishing and boating on their
> > other boat which is moored up there.
> >
> > As he leaves, he tells me that I must make a fortune charging the
> > prices I do. $200 for a frame! Imagine that! Maybe I would be
> > interested in paying him to make my frames so I could sell things
> > for a reasonable price.
> >
> >
 
Love it!

What's he do for a living????

Sell bottled water? Costs more than gasoline!

Dave Makielski
 
Sometimes when we fear giving a price, remember these types of stories. I had an lady who told me the money I was charging was criminal and I should be ashamed. I asked her what she would be willing to pay for the job, it priced out at $43 and she huffed that she wouldn't pay more than $6.

Ask them how much they pay for sheets, for pillows, for their couch? When my husband and I added to our house, every single element in it cost an average of $1,000. It became a joke as we shopped, and trust me, we were not buying expensive.

We make a custom product and they can't get many of them out there anymore. I can't believe how high moulding is now and glass? I priced up a job last night and am shocked at how much it added up to, but it is a one of a kind, totally custom product and worth every dime, even to my customer. She told her son when he asked why she was so excited about me doing her picture that there were lots of pictures for walls and then there was real framing.

Just my two cents and probably not worth even that, but it's early here.
 
My dad, God bless him, had quite a sense of humor. He used to say after waiting on a difficult person, "This business would be a lot of fun if it wasn't for the customers!".

Of course he loved people and that's why he chose the career he did.

Dave Makielski
 
I just love customers like that.

32x40
Three sheets of glass,
A mat
and 2-1/2 fitting charges for 1 fitting

I wonder if his place in the San Juans looks as cheap as his frame is gonna make it? :D

What HE was focused on was "Saving $200", probably his wife was focused on keeping him in his woodshop and out of her hair for about mmmmmm 6 weeks? LOL
 
Agree with you Erin!

While we're at it don't you love the ones that come in, have a family "airloom" needlepoint and balk at lacing. Take it home to do themselves, and come back in with it on Needlepoint glue board! I mean this was a work done in 1856 for god's sake!

"Lost" two "good paying" jobs because I wouldn't use those glueboards, even if they provided them for me! Personally, I'd rather "lose" their job than gain the liability!

These are the folks you wince at on Antique Road Show when the Keno's say "Of Course, if you hadn't removed the 'gunk' all over it, it would have been worth----"
 
Oh good, we're on a roll today! Last artist came in all mad at me because the frame she picked out didn't match the painting she just finished!

She came in last week with two blank 8 by 10 art boards (ok), wanted frames to fit (ok), and now that the works are "in process" the frames don't work (umm, ok) the colors not right, can I make two more for her?

Oh..oh next couple coming down the walk! Merry ****ing Christmas has started! (no rush, we don't need it today, can we pick it up tomorrow?)
 
Bob- Since you watch Antiques Roadshow, you also know that some of the antique needlework samplers people bring in are worth many thousands of dollars. I love it when the appraisers comment on the framing of people's items. I often find myself talking to the TV, saying, "Tell them to get it out of those acidic mats right now!"
:cool: Rick
 
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