alltex

Come on... They used outdoor rated rivets....Looks like Flashing used for the returns. LOL! This is why I refuse to get in pricing wars. If price is a customers only priority. There's zero reasoning with them. Honestly I don't feel bad for the customer. You get what you pay for. And they're paying for it now.

I did a removal for them direct (GC) a few years back. May try calling them.

That's one thing I haven't had to replace in 25 years.

What size truck? They normal have service doors on the booms. Take a lot of before pics. And get after it. If no one can help you. You're forced into a DIY scenario.

Getting a CDL isn't that hard. Plus it makes your employees accountable on the personal driving as well. I'll never buy a non CDL truck again.

Disabling them is my plan, as stated. Still awaiting an answer from the manufacturer. I guess no one has used these/came across these before. My guys said they worked well. No turds on the raceway cover. Too bad they can't get me some supporting UL docs. I could sell miles of these. We do use the spikes. But if those flying rats get one nest established. They tend to continue it down the entire spike strip. The D/FW area needs to poison about 50 million sky rats. And get this problem under control.

Electric Bird strips on signs. Anyone use them? We ran across some on a service job yesterday. This is my first time in 24 yrs in the sign biz. I can recall actually seeing these in place. The voltage was fluctuating from 110-440 volts. The sign we were working on was approx 30' of raceway. And this "Strip" was continual, and siliconed down. So my techs had to cut it. So they could access the section which had the bad transformer. (They did remove all screws on all the lids. But couldn't wrangle 30' of lids with 1 truck) Anywho, that made me wonder about the safety of these products. So I tracked down the manufacturer. Went through their website. Looking for a UL/MET or any certification label on their product. The only Label I could find. Was on their "Power Supply" Which stated it was UL compliant for an Electric Fence. I left a voice mail, and an email. Still awaiting their reply. I am by no means, trying to knock their product. But, this poses a problem for me. The fascia this raceway sign is attached to is Efface. Obviously this has been in place for a while. So my tech reconnected the cut out areas. Spliced them, and weatherproofed, the best to his ability. Tested the raceway lid, for any bleed through voltage. Found none, and turned it back on. We have to go back and and replace a trim cap face. I'm going to have the techs disconnect. Unless I get a confirmation this is up to code. What say you S.S.? Pic attached.

Yes! I remember working on an old church 20+ yrs ago. They had transformers from 1939 and 1940 in it. Some still worked, as well as some of the units. They were used as cove lighting. They weren't cold cathode units. We ended up replacing everything with new neon and transformers. One thing I do remember were the literally 100's of mouse/rat skeletons in those coves. I have a trans at my shop dated 1954. Which my guys pulled out of an old Movie theater. I was going to use it for a door stop in my office. I need to go look for it!

I've seen those foam sign specs. Which call out for 2" to 3" PVC direct burial... LOL...

I made it 6 mins and had to tap out. This is why you don't argue with idiots. Eventually they'll drag you down to their level. Then beat you with experience.

Sorry to hear about this. I didn't know him personally. But we have chatted on the phone a few times. Sorry for your loss.

Here's the email (edited to save the innocent) Dear Vendor, (Did not attach the list on the first email.. here it is again) We are coming up on the busy holiday season, and Black Friday is the most important shopping day of the year for our **** *** account. They must have all of their signs & lighting running at 100% prior to their annual sales event! Our main focus is getting their “****** Sign” and “Channel Letter” outages repaired. However, some locations may also want us to repair wall packs, parking lot lights, , multi-tenant signs, and pylon signs. It is very important that we do not wait for them to report outages to us, and get a jump on things before it’s too late. We are aware that Installer schedules fill up very quickly during this time of year, and we want to minimize last minute scheduling conflicts by being proactive. Let’s get the business for these locations, and address the outages now, before things get too busy! This is how it works. Any outages that you report to us will be proposed to the customer. If the work is awarded to us (which it often is) we will give you the work. Please see the attached list of **** *** locations in your area, and let us know which locations you will be able to visit. Then, perform a night patrol, take pictures of any outages that you see on the property, and make a note of the location address. Then, email the information to us, and we will ask them to issue a work order to perform a more in depth site survey. If you are going to be in any other areas, please let us know, and we will get you a list for that region. Night patrol locations will be scheduled with vendors on a first come / first serve basis. So, please respond as soon as possible, if you are interested in participating. WE have just been awarded the Texas market for our customer, for the quality of work we have done in other states & regions. This is a great opportunity for us to provide excellent customer service to our client in their Texas market. The more we do this, the more locations & territories we will be awarded. Also, the more likely we will be contacted as the “preferred vendor” for these locations. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, and thank you in advance for your help & cooperation!

I'm not going to name the companies. But they are "nationals" who don't have the best reviews on this site. One of them isn't too far from you. They're on the West Coast.. ;)

Occasionally I'll get emails to run "Free Night Survey's". As they say, "They're real simple. Just go to the site(s), photograph all signs and exterior lighting. Email the pictures in, with a description and location of what is out. And you'll probably get the work, if it's approved." Yeah... I can't/won't do it. Not to mention the companies usually requesting these free survey's. Are ones we rarely work with. What say you SS board members? Do you all do these? Do they pan out? How do you re coop your initial survey/office time?

Thanks for the reply. Now get your PM's to give me a chance on some service with a little lead time! :)

I was wondering what was going on with them, over the last year or so. We've always done a few jobs for them every year. But the last 12 months, we've been getting more calls. Which we can not fit into our schedule. They would call late morning/early afternoon, and want a crew on site the same day. I think we did one job, since we were already down the street from it. They've always been good payers. I guess with their new(er) mgmt style. We won't be doing too much work with for them. It just makes me wonder,how many phone calls they have to make. To get same day turn around on service calls? Oh well, good luck to them. I hope they maintain their great payment times.

My old company I worked for did their first one. I made 2 more after I opened my shop up. I've passed on their work. Have fun!

I do offer Health insurance. The best plan available. I pay for 1/2, employees pay the other 1/2. It's their choice not to sign up for it, not mine. As far as retirement goes. That's not my problem. All of my employees are well compensated for their time. This is up to them to take care of their own retirement. As an employer, I'm already forced to contribute to their retirement. It's called my matching Social Security payment for each employee, each paycheck (at 6.25% of gross payroll). I wonder if the mandate will force us business owners to invest in our own retirement? There goes another employee....

No shit! I'll tell you this much. If the Union ever comes into my shop. These doors will be shut permanently. I'll move to the beach and flip burgers for $15.00 an hour.

IMO this new law is all about Obama Care, and Unionizing (Socializing) the unskilled labor force .Here's my short take on it. But, take a Hotel chain for instance. Let's say they use "XYZ Maid Service." Those maids are hired by a temp agency. Who does not offer; health insurance, 401K, paid Holidays, or Vacations. The corporate workers at the Hotel get these benefits. This new law basically forces "XYZ Maid Service" to match the Hotels benefits (Health Ins).. Which they can't do and stay profitable. So the "temporary workers" get absorbed into the corporate Hotel umbrella. As far as the Unionizing/Socializing the unskilled work force. That's their (Progressive/Liberals) main agenda. Why do you think this wage inequality B.S. is being pushed so hard? That's where the Unionizing part comes in. This law gives the Unions free reign to go into pretty much every company. And try to get the employees unionized. Then the Corporations will no longer be dealing with employees on a H.R. level. They'll be negotiating employee contracts with the unions. Good luck trying to fire a bad employee... This is all about wealth re distribution. Will it effect Sign Companies? I'm sure it will. When, and to what extent, I have no clue? I can tell you, the Gov has no clue either. It's going to be a huge mess, this I assure you.

In the Dallas-Ft Worth "Metro Plex". It can be anywhere from 2 days to 2 months. I had a simple monument sign take 9 weeks in Garland. It would have been longer. If I didn't go in person, and demand to see the planner. My shop and residence is in Garland. Most are taking 2-3 weeks around here. I'm guessing we deal with at least 80+ different municipalities yearly. Each who want their yearly contractor registration fees $75-$200.00. Oh well, beats not having any business.

I hear ya brother! I preach this daily when I send my crews out. LOTO! Learn it, Know it, Live it... Also, quit taking things for "Granite"... ;)

I use .063 all the time. I've never used .060 gauge. As far as alloy goes, we use 3003, or 5052.

I'd drop the UL listed out of your drawings. Unless you are a UL shop. Nice drawings. Not to nit pic, but .060 alum ? I've never used .060 alum before.

I'd have to see the drawings. But 19K seems a little cheap for constructing and EMC sign. I wonder why it took 6 weeks for the check to be deposited and clear? Was it deposited in Brazil? I'm sure there's more to the story. But my guess is being low bidder. He couldn't produce the product or deliver for contracted price. So he cashed the check. Decided to double his money, to cover his low bid. Put it all on Black. The Roulette Wheel hit Red.... Or he's being a thief, or died....