Rocco

Update, We spoke to the mall again and was told that the fee will only apply AFTER mall hours, not in the early AM to do sign service calls though we still have to fill out an after hours form. As usual, it all depends on who you speak to on the phone! The moral of the story, always double check when you come up with something strange. And customers wonder why a lot of sign companies don't like to work inside of malls! Rocco

Hi Has anyone run into this before? We've worked in the King of Prussia mall for years and years, and hever had to sign it, let them know when we were coming, etc. Now we have to file an "after hours" form, but I can actually understand that. They need to know who's getting access to the mall before it's open, need our COI, etc. Fine, not a problem. However, now it's a $100 fee to allow us into the mall to do a service call before hours. I've been doing this for more than half a century and this is a new one by me. BTW, this is Simon properties, who own a good percentage of malls across the country. I'd exect this to become common for malls owned by them. Anyone have similiar experiences? IDK if this is legal or not but my customer is going to get that fee added to the invoice. I'm glad I only have another 35-40 years before I can afford to retire. ?

3/4" acrylic for push-thru faces recently cost me just under $400 each. Five sheets of 5' x 8' .125" aluminum was $1380.00. My metal suppliers are only holding prices for 24 hours now. I need a rebar cage for a job to move a pylon and the price was ~50% more than a year ago. I never made many paper signs but may have to pull out my OLD lettering brushes and knock the rust off of my lettering hand.

We just got back from installing a small set of raceway mounted letters for one of our out of town customers. The circuit was up in the soffit so my help went up to conenct to the existing power. There was even an access panel two feet from the sign - yay, no need to crawl a hundred feet this time! Then he found this. Is it any wonder that a lot of electrical inspectors look down on sign companies when some people do this crap? Sigh. Come on, I know that times are tough, but junction boxes aren't that expensive!

I double checked with my buddy and he actually doesn't have the rivet gun but just was recommending Milwaukee tools in general. He's been bugging me for years to switch over. If I did't already have too many Dewalt "toys" I'd consider switching to M.

It's a small sign world! This just came up about an hour ago for me as well. I'm in the same boat though mine would be step ladder heights and much smaller signs. A friend of mine did recommend the Milwaukee unit - all of his cordless stuff is M brand. Amazon has a bunch of good reviews on it too. Like you I would need a battery/charger as well. Rocco

It's getting to be really difficult to walk that fine line between keeping customers happy (even the 'good' ones) and being able to get and keep good employees. You need a full time HR person, lawyer, architect, engineer, social media liason, insurance expert, IT person, and more just for the paperwork. The owner of a small company has a hard time wearing all those hats.

It's almost certainly a case of their insurance company wanting to limit their liability "just in case". Say one of your employees was a deep undercover KGB spy (hey, these insurance types actually think of these things) and went into a bank where you were installing signs and... It's nuts. I won't do Walmart work because they want I-9 form (imigration) on all employees. My secretary is my sister and some my kids work part time and I know they are legally here. And by the way, make sure to read any fine print on secondary pages of PO's. Some companies are sneaking in things like this. Ruggles (one of the best nationals) now has in their PO that I cannot use anyone that was incarcerated for more than a year (might be 18 months) on their work. I think that this is the way that the world in turning towards. While society often says that we need to give people a chance to turn their life around (say they got in legal trouble at age 18) the insurance companies and large corporations think otherwise. Maybe it's time to call in the ACLU about things like this becuase it might be an invasion or privacy. I mean you aren't allowed to ask someone if they are married or not during an interview (at least I think that's correct). I'm no lawyer, just a simple sign guy, so YMMV.

Thanks! TBH I was wondering because they seem to be blanketing the country with small jobs like MC used to do. Now I won't always turn down small work because you never know where it might lead.

Lately I've been getting a fair amount of RFQ's for installation work from Signs Unlimited USA from Durham NC. Does anyone have any experience with them? So far the quotes aren't for huge jobs but IDK what tomorrow will bring. Thanks!!! Rocco

Nice Paul! i guess I'm really getting old since I don't think of vinyl lettering as "old school".

Nikki, I thought that we were still on the Stratus vendor list. IIRC we recently got an rfq for this. It's probably because our insurance renewed at the end of june and the darn agent didn't get all the coi's sent out. Anyway, the contractor didn't specify anything about being an approved vendor but I'll let them know.

Angel, thanks for the reply. I'm bidding this for a construction company and of course they don't have the info. I'm going to go by local PS signs and be VERY specific in my bid with a an option or two. Also, this is a "historic" town and won't allow 20% of what PS wants and am sure we'll have to revise when we apply. Again, thanks. Rocco

I've been playing with signs for way too long but DAMN I wish we had these 35 years ago. I have the same basic unit at Paul and it's paid for itself in a few months. I agree, it's become as necessary as cordless tools.

I'm bidding a new Public Storage location near me. The sign package page (for once there is one) states that we have to follow "Public Storage Sign System Design Intent Drawings, dated 1/16/2019 v3.0"." Does anyone happen to have a copy of this they would share? I've looked online and they look to use white face lit letters, but I'm sure it's more involved than that. Thank You Rocco

Hi all, We've done surveys for years and years and I've always had to tight with the customers (usually national companies) over survey costs. Some seem to think that we can examine each and every aspect of the building in twenty minutes and only want to pay accordingly. Others realize that a good survey does take time, plus the office time to scan/email the photos, plus the inevitable call asking about some small detail, plus plus plus. So what amount of time do you allot for a standard (yes I know that there really isn't anything "standard" in the sign business so let's call it 'regular') shopping center survey with a sign band and perhaps a tenant panel in the pylon and some window dimensions? I'm not asking what you charge, because that rate varies from area to area, but how much time do you charge for? Or at least try to charge for. i usually allot two or two and a half hours including travel time for an average survey. i have one employee who seems to think that 3-4 hours each is very fast. i don't send him out too often.

I recently bought a graphtec plotter as well though I bought the CE 6000-120. My first plotter was a Gerber 4B, which was delivered by Fred Flintstone, which I eventually hooked up to a computer. It was so nice to be able to have more than six fonts! And retirement? What's that? I'm sixty and figure I have about another 35-40 years before I can afford to think about retirement.

As usual I'm late to the party. Erik, Happy B-day. And it beats NOT getting older - this from an admitted dinosaur.

We like the plastic clips. I completely agree with the 1-2 click rule. Having that extra travel has saved us a few times. We get the face fairly tight/smooth then go around the whole thing depressing the clips another click or two as needed. The tensioning tool makes short work of that last little bit. Puckering might be a sign of having it too tight as well. Yes, I've done that. Either that or the sign needs additional supports. Its amazing how much tension a flex face puts on a cabinet, especially if it was not designed for a flex face originally.

A good friend of mine almost went under because of Image Point but he was able to get about 75-80% of the monies owed to him. I think he had to go after I.P.'s customers in some cases. And as far as the vast majority of these national service companies are concerned, I echo Paul's sentiments. Do it on my terms or not at all.

I guess this is a west coast problem? I can get all the 1/4" clear acrylic I want from harbor sales in Baltimore. They also have Weldon 16 but only in pints and small tubes.

Thanks Cindy, For this location they used Entera and I've already spoken to them. I'm waiting on approval of the stacked design.

I'll give them a call. Thanks!!!

Hi all, I've been asked to mount a freestanding sign for a different chain store (Mavis Discount Tires) on top of a BK sign at a site currently under construction. The two stores are sharing a lot and the town will only allow one freestanding sign structure. I need to contact whoever makes the BK signs to see how this can be accomplished. The BK sign would need a stub out the top or maybe two SF cabinets mounted on the pole. And yes I suggested a simple rectangle sign with both logos but of course each wants THEIR exact sign type. If anyone can help me out here I'd appreciate it. If I get the chance I'll post the drawing I was given. It's sure to give you a laugh. Thanks! Rocco

At first i was a bit annoyed (am old and decrepit and dislike change like a typical old coot) with the new landing pages, but I've come to like it.