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HansonSigns

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Posts posted by HansonSigns

    Plastic recyclers ??????

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    Yeah, we don't have a plastic recycler anymore either, so it gets dumptserized.  Same with our wood, but we do have a few locals that come out and get some of the usable stuff for sheds/coops etc.  And we have taken sign faces home for yard projects (around the bottom of my green house).  It is a shame that so much gets tossed.

    ImageWorks

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    I happened to be on Signweb (horrible forum site, but I had time to cruse thru the crap to find some relevant posts) that ImageWorks is out of business?  We haven't done anything for them lately, I was just wondering if it's true...

    CnC/Digital Print/Vinyl operator

    in Employment Job Listings

    Posted

    Sign Shop CnC / Printer Production (Silverdale)

    compensation: DOE / Health, Dental, Vision. 

    employment type: full-time Mon. -- Fri. 7:30 am -- 4:00 pm. No nights or weekends required

    Duties Include:

    • Large Format Printing (Roland Printer) – Some experience preferred..
    • Laminating Digital Prints

    • Plotting, Weeding and Transfer Taping Cut Vinyl
    • Trimming Prints to size
    • Apply printed and cut vinyl onto various substrates • Vehicle and Window graphic installation
    • Knowledge & use of CnC router
    • Be well organized & punctual

    Typical Physical Demands:
    • Ability to stand for long periods of time
    • Must be able to lift 40 + pounds (for loading and unloading vinyl rolls)
    • Be able to lean over a waist-high table and use back and forth hand motions to apply vinyl lettering and graphics to a substrate.

     

    Please send resume to nancy.bergATwavecable.com

    Wow I love nationals payment terms! NET 45 my ass

    in General Message Board

    Posted · Edited by HansonSigns

    Wasn't that part of ImagePoint's downfall? and I have a form that asks for net 45 - in writing -with a signature. Lien if not paid in 60 days and the lien fees will be added to their invoice. I've not had to do it yet, but if someone goes over the 60 day mark they become a pay up front customer. And if they won't sign it we don't work for them.

    low moral in our industry (especially tech's in the field)?

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    Eric, we didn't use our sign associations - it seemed like we were just sending money out for nothing. Then we found out some interesting programs. Our local county was changing the sign code and we had lots of input. Long involved process, but ISA had all the info in the right order and actually sent out James Carpentier to go thru the ordinances and attend meetings. That was a huge benefit! And our local sign association (NorthWest Sign Council) is trying to get cities on board with an engineering program - they have engineering specs for signs, so if the city/county will accept it, we can use it at $70 versus $200-$300 for a "wet stamp" engineer report. NWSC also sends us weekly safety meeting sheets and keeps us informed of any city/county code changes. There are more programs in place, we just never made the effort to contact anyone about them.

    I've looked in the RCW/WAC codes for Washington state and still can't determine if it's legal for out of state contractors to hire us to work. But we do it for nationals that we like - the ones who pay on time, send us QUALITY product and have all the testing lab labels. We won't install crap. We always prefer installing signs we make in our shop. We had a great year last year and this year looks to be even better.

    low moral in our industry (especially tech's in the field)?

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    We do charge for travel time, but they try hard to eliminate it.

    One of the most frustrating aspects of our job is our state Labor & Industries. We have to have so many licenses just to walk out the door it's silly. and in Washington state, we can work on parking lot lights and replace like-for-like parts, but we can't replace the entire fixture with - say - an LED fixture. And the rules get interpreted by each inspector (especially the newbies) differently. That's a real buzz kill.

    low moral in our industry (especially tech's in the field)?

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    We're busier then we can handle. Sadly we've been telling people, no. My techs, seem to be happy. But they're mature adults. Who get paid very well for what they do.

    Everyone gets O/T. And everyone gets at least 1, 3 day weekend a month. (Except me)

    I have no problem doing all the paperwork required by our customers. My techs fill it out at the job sites, on the customers dime. Before we get a sign off, or clock in/out of an IVR system.

    If they require a ton of individual pics to be uploaded. Or have a huge list for a technical survey. I cover that in my price to them.

    That being said. One of my favorite national customers was bought out/sold about 2 years ago. Haven't done much for them since the big change. They sent me a survey request today. To go 50 miles, survey a full building, pole sign for reface, lamp count, and check circuits. Then add a ton of office time. They wanted to pay $150.00.... Sent them my price back. No reply...

    We are also busier - to the point of looking for more employees. Our guys are very well paid also and moral here is generally good. But I totally understand about the requirements from the national sign companies - my techs absolutely HATE those call in/call out requirements. The nationals do that so we can't charge them time to travel to the sites. And those low "NTE"s just kill me. They always say to call from the jobsite if the NTE needs to be adjusted. We don't have our techs EVER quote prices for the customer, the techs can call the office with what they need and we call the customer - and most of the time can't get an ok to do the work, so they have to pay another trip fee. Just ridiculous to spend time sitting at a jobsite waiting for an ok when we have so much work to do.

    I actually prefer photos of the sign working - a manager's signature doesn't mean much because most of the time the managers don't even know the sign is out. Since we all have smart phones now I just signed us up for DropBox and we can easily download the photos now. But it is pricey. Then again, what in this business isn't?

    Trac Services Tajunga CA

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    We have been asked by Tom from Trac Services to do some work at a local gas station. Seems like a reasonable guy, but we have not worked for these people before. Their website is the worst - much of it is badly worded (the website must have been developed overseas, the syntax is poor). We have not received a purchase order, but I just got a call from them verifying our physical address as they are sending us the product. In the background I heard a woman, obviously talking on a telephone, saying "Well I hope we have the money". So - I was hoping someone had done business with these folks and could let me know how it went.

    In advance thanking you I am!

    Pricing in the San Diego / LA area for installation

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    I think we received the same info from a national co to do work for a teeny tiny budget. We bid on work for our local store, at our price (not their stated budgeted amount) and refused work on the other locations they wanted. We haven't heard back from them.

    In Washington State, you have to be a licensed crane operator; rigger & signalman licensed; licensed electrician with 24 hours of continuing education every three years, CDL driver for your crane truck, 1st aid card and a few more I can't recall. To install signs in most of the municipalities here, the signs have to be national testing lab certified (UL, Met, etc) shop. Our crane has to be certified every year.... not to mention that our labor & industry (workers comp) rates for our install crew is about $3 / hour.... add all the needed insurances, pay scales and benefits and there is no way we could work with some of these little budgets. Oh, and the shop has to have an electrical administrator (who oversees the rules and makes sure they are followed), electrical contractors license, construction contractor license, state business license, license for every incorporated city and county,and pay taxes for everything and everyone.......

    • Like 1

    NEW USHIO LED Lamps on The Sign Syndciate

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    Well, we just bought the LED Utopia S14 bulbs for one of our customers - he has chasing lights on his sign and you know incandescent lights just don't last. These are great - everyone remarks how bright they are when they come on, it's a nice clean transition when they go off and on. I'll try to get a photo of the sign. The customer is VERY happy!

    Eco Tyranny

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    Even if you don't want to read the book State of Fear by Michael Crichton, read the appendix - it's a free download online, and there's interesting stuff on his website.

    “Why Politicized Science is Dangerous”

    I 80 Equipment

    in Cranes, Buckets, & Trucks

    Posted

    Has anyone used/seen/heard about this company? Sells refurbished crane/ladder trucks. They have some bad reviews online, which I know you have to take with a grain of salt (and tequila), but if anyone has experience with this company I'd like to hear about it.

    Thanks!

    • Like 1
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