
You are not logged in. Consider these WOODWEB Member advantages:
A personal "member history" that displays your posts at WOODWEB
Your forms at WOODWEB will be filled in automatically
Create your personal "My Favorites" page
Numerous automatic notification options
Learn more about WOODWEB Member benefits ...
time wasted at looking at work -- 0 -- 
11/13

How many of you go to look at a kitchen and give the people ideas on there kitchen while in there homes and after they get all your ideas they run to the big box store with all your professional ideas on what will work for them. How far do you go without giving to much info but still give the ideas. I don't give measurements just a good understanding of color and design. What do others do so I don't keep wasting time when the people have no intention of getting you just the ideas
11/13 #2: time wasted at looking at work ...

The folks you talk to may be saying the same thing after you leave - you are wasting their time.
What you don't say is why they go to the BigCabCo - obviously it is money.
Therefore, get the money out on the floor first thing. Ask their budget, tell them a ballpark and what that includes and excludes. You will know within a few minutes of meeting whether it will proceed further or not. Then spend a short amount of time explaining 3 things that make our product superior. 3 sentences, no more. As you get better (at the product, and at reading prospects), your reputation may help winnow them out and you can hit more than you miss.
11/13 #3: time wasted at looking at work ...

The shoe can be on the other foot as well . Before the big box stores came along , customers would go to the high end cabinet shops first. They would get a mit full of glossy brochures and computer generated pricing . They would then go around to all the smaller shops figuring they would get it done cheaper because of supposed lower overhead . Many times I would walk in and spot the glossy blue folder on the kitchen table and knew instantly who I was bidding against .
11/13 #4: time wasted at looking at work ...

time never get wasted when you looking for job, It is dependts how capable is your business, good working business should complette any big box store, see how the big box stores getting customers, that can give you an idea.
11/13 #5: time wasted at looking at work ...

Website: subercustomshutters.com
I often try to look at it this way. Not everyone that calls me for a quote, is the customer I want to work for. If they want cheaper prices than what I quote, I do not want to work for them. If they are too focused on the price of the product, then they probably don't appreciate my level of skill, attention to detail and the service they will get when they pay my price. I don't enjoy working for people that do not appreciate what our company offers. The quoting process helps me discover who is, and who is not my customer. And last, I consider that if I am not tied up with this type of customer, then I will have the time and production available for the next great customer that gives me a call. And hopefully they are keeping my competitor all tied up and annoyed, working way too cheap to make a profit. They probably deserve each other, don't they? Sure it annoys me to have given them time and ideas, but this attitude helps me to keep from getting discouraged. There really is a positive side to not getting orders from certain people.
11/14 #6: time wasted at looking at work ...

Unless I know the people or they come referred from a client I ask if they have a plan ?
If not I make them the offer to come measure , design and layout the kitchen and bid it as well , a set of complete plans will be made available for $250 as an example .
I call it an insurance policy for the clients ,they can take it and get as low a bids as they want but we do get paid for our time .
I offer to give them the cost of the plan off the project price . So it is our job to design a job the big box simply can't produce and some shops won't want to do it the way we see it , sell your abiltiy by showing them what you do , offer a trip to a clients kitchen no big box will do that .
11/14 #7: time wasted at looking at work ...

Thanks everyone fig that these days you have to give free est everyone in the area does and if I would start charging I would think that would cut me out into putting myself in front of people that I can show what I can do as workmanship and a design. After telling them drawers would be nice in this area because, Also pantry would be nice here for all your foods. 90% of people cant see there kitchen in any other way that it was. Big box doesn't do this So now they have ideas.They jump in car go get second est or price from big box they have a great layout because the min wage guy can punch it in the computer and give them low overhead cabinets. How many people go look at electronics at best buy play with it and talk to the guys and learn about it and walk out and get it off amazon. Well amazon don't have stores low over head and can sell for less. kinda same. Guess just have to get some better selling ideas. This is why the mom and pop stores are hurting
11/16 #8: time wasted at looking at work ...

No time is ever wasted looking at work. That is unless your admiring work you have already done.
11/16 #9: time wasted at looking at work ...

"Guess just have to get some better selling ideas"
Think how many skills you have to improve and how much you have to invest to trim your production time by 5%. And how many skills do you have to improve to get your pricing up 5%? Selling and perhaps designing.
An oversimplification, perhaps, but I know what I'd invest in first.
11/16 #10: time wasted at looking at work ...

Website: http://closetdr.com
I personall y sell a bout 300 jobs per year many of those are shopped against very good competition. I close 50-60% of those deals and avg. $3500 per sale. I'm rarely the lowest price. Part of being good at selling is to have a well put together plan that you follow that sets you apart from the competition. I go over my company history, online reviews, licensing, insurance, employee background checks. I then educate them on products and explain how options effects prices. Then I design and finally price. I try to set appts. With both decision makers present. I schedule all follow up appts at my showroom.
11/17 #11: time wasted at looking at work ...

A percentage of our time is spent bidding , talking , looking ,chasing materials and otherwise doing things that are not earning dollars . So how many hours a week are spent in unproductive ways , I figured about 6-10 hours a week average .Based on a 40 hour week it is about 20 % or so of my time . If your hourly rates are say $50 then you need to charge more per hour to recoup .You could just figure it in to your overhead costs but it is a real factor not to be forgot about .
11/17 #12: time wasted at looking at work ...

Here's my take. First off, you should be around 20% cheaper than Lowe's or HD as their pricing (high end at least) is stupid high.
I have my clients start at HD after I talk to them. Have them get their free prints and pricing from them...they'll do it in 30 minutes, even over the phone. At least in my case, when they see my pricing and what I can offer them comparable to what they think is top of the line I usually get their business.
If any of you say that I should be higher than the big boxes...there is no way in my market. Nearly all custom shops in my area are 15-30% lower that big box when you compare apples to apples as closely as possible. Their prices step up dramatically just to go from 5/8 cab sides to finished 3/4" which is my standard. If you throw in pullouts, soft close everything, and glazed finishes you should be able to beat their prices easily.
11/21 #13: time wasted at looking at work ...

I usually ask them pretty quickly for their budget. Not specifically, but ask if they will be choosing a 50 dollar faucet for the sink or a 500 dollar one. If they are cheap enough to buy a 50 dollar faucet and don't care about how long it last, they are not my customers. If they don't mind spending a few hundred for a decent faucet I can usually sell them a kitchen. My designs usually include something a big box does not have in their catalog also.
11/29 #14: time wasted at looking at work ...

One thing I stopped doing, was leaving drawings and suggested ideas/designs behind... The next guy should be able to do the same on his own, on his dime.
I think the faucet comment is pretty close to how I feel, but I'm not there to educate them on plumbing fixtures.
0 -- 
Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Other Resources | Site Map
Buy and Sell Exchanges
Job Opportunities and Services Exchange
Employment opportunities and services within the woodworking industry
Lumber Exchange
A worldwide buy/sell exchange for lumber and wood products
Machinery Exchange
A worldwide buyer and seller exchange for woodworking machinery and equipment.
Classified Ad Exchange
Classified advertising for the woodworking industry (for advertisements that do not include machinery, lumber products and employment listings)
Forums
Adhesives Forum
Discussing topics related to adhesives within the woodworking industry
Architectural Woodworking Forum
Discussing quality standards and production of architectural wood products
Business and Management Forum
A forum for the discussion of business topics: from sales and marketing to dealing with difficult customers.
Cabinet and Millwork Installation Forum
Discussing all aspects of installation issues encountered by cabinet and millwork installers.
Cabinetmaking Forum
Discussing 32mm and face frame cabinet construction including fabrication, casegoods design, and installation.
CAD Forum
Shedding light on the all-too-often shadowy world of CAD.
CNC Forum
Discussing CNC (computer numerically controlled) woodworking equipment, software, and automated product manufacturing.
Dust Collection, Safety and Plant Operation Forum
Discussing topics related to maintaining a safe and productive working environment.
Professional Finishing Forum
Finishing issues for the production environment
Forestry Forum
The science and art of forest cultivation and timber management, planting, surveying, tree diseases, silviculture and timber harvesting
Professional Furniture Making Forum
Helping professional furniture makers improve quality, save time, and increase profits
Laminating and Solid Surfacing Forum
Issues related to laminating and solid surface materials and processes
Commercial Kiln Drying Forum
Discussions covering issues faced be commercial drying operations that process at least 750,000 bd. ft. of lumber per year
Sawing and Drying Forum
Discussing topics related to primary processing and drying of lumber
Solid Wood Machining Forum
Discussing topics related to the machining of solid wood
Value Added Wood Products Forum
Learn how to improve your output, find new markets, and boost sales of your lumber products
Veneer Forum
Discussing topics related to veneer processing, manufacturing, and fabrication
WOODnetWORK
An electronic discussion group for woodworkers throughout the world
Galleries
Project Gallery
Where professional woodworkers can post examples of their work
Sawmill Gallery
Professional primary processing companies display and describe their sawmill facilities
Shop Gallery
Professional woodworkers display and describe their shop facilities, products and equipment
Shopbuilt Equipment Gallery
Professional woodworker's jigs, rigs, and shopbuilt equipment
Other Resources
Industry News
Late-breaking news from all sectors of the wood industry
Video Library
Index of industrial woodworking related digital videos on the web
Auctions, Sales and Special Offers
Advertisers offering woodworkers discounted prices on good and services, and announcements of upcoming auctions
FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)
WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
A valid email return address must be included with each message.
Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
"Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
(return to top).
Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.
You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.
WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.
Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).
Libel: Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.
Improper Decorum: Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).
Advertising: The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).
Repeated Forum Abuse:
Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.
There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).
The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)
Forum Posting Form Guidelines
|
Your Name
|
The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
|
Your Website
|
Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
|
E-Mail Address
|
Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
|
Subject
|
Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
|
Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines
|
Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
|
Thread Related File Uploads
|
Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .FLV .MP4 (Image Upload Tips) If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
|
|
|
|