Woulda Coulda Shoulda

When the Customer Asks for a Design Before Paying the Design Fee, Here’s What We All Want to Respond

We know where this request leads.

Published

4 months ago

December 17, 2023

Big Picture Staff BIG PICTURE Jan-Feb 2024 Issue

PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO

“WE DON’T WORK FOR FREE!”

“The customer would not sign an estimate or an order to begin work for designing his vehicle graphic. There was a design fee of $130 included, and he thought [the design] should be done before he signs. We know where this leads: Take our creative, shop it around, then never pay us! What I wanted to say was, “Will you please come to my house and service our HVAC? Then when you’re done, get me all the part numbers, info and contacts so I can buy all the parts direct, then find somebody to put them in cheaper.”

Woulda Coulda Shouldas are printed anonymously as things you print pros wanted to say to frustrating customers, but didn’t.

What’s the Brain Squad?

If you’re the owner or top manager of a U.S. wide-format printing business, you’re invited to join the Big Picture Brain Squad. Take one five-minute quiz a month, and you’ll be featured prominently in this magazine, and make your voice heard on key issues affecting wide-format professionals. Sign up here.

Printvinyl Scored Print Media

New Printvinyl Scored wide-format print media features an easy-to-remove scored liner for creating decals, product stickers, packaging labels, and more. The precision-scored liner, with a 1.25” spacing on a 60” roll, guarantees a seamless and hassle-free removal process.