Technical Direction - Purchasing Project

Question:

What do you do if the vendors you call keep saying to fax in the drawing of what you want done? I tried to basically bs a project, but they keep saying fax it in, bring a drawing of it to get a price range.

Things like scaffold rental I could get a price range, but a lot of "fabrication" services-they say it's impossible to do it over the phone. I got other useful information, like the type of services they provide, but that's pretty much it.

Is that ok?

Answer:

all you can do is ask.

sometimes you can get someplace asking for a roungh number for square foot purposes - if its something that makes sense for square feet.

sometimes they can give you a rough price based on an example piece, so like a powder coater might tell you the cost of doing an average motorcycle frame.

if they're being twitchy, best to tell them the pricing is for your being able to do rough estimating on future projects, as opposed to a quote you are going to show up tomorrow and demand they live up to.

TDProf (2:30:53 PM): what are you asking them about?
BuddingTD (2:31:15 PM): neon fabrication
TDProf (2:31:37 PM): that will be a tough one for them to give you a pricing estimate
TDProf (2:32:03 PM): unless you want to send them something to bid
BuddingTD (2:32:45 PM): I mean, they gave me information on the PROCESS. like, I'd have to send in a basic sketch via fax..and then pricing is determined by size and color
TDProf (2:32:45 PM): you could send them the "DRAMA" letters image and tell them you want a neon outline 24" tall pro width
TDProf (2:33:00 PM): up to you how much you want to chase
BuddingTD (2:34:54 PM): hmmm
BuddingTD (2:36:42 PM): I kinda told her something like that-and she said she'd have to know what the sign was made out of
TDProf (2:36:59 PM): then I guess don't worry about it
TDProf (2:37:05 PM): or ask what the options are
TDProf (2:37:07 PM): but
TDProf (2:37:11 PM): you could say
TDProf (2:37:41 PM): just green neon tubes outlining the letters, mounted on clear plexiglass - to be used in an interior setting only
BuddingTD (2:39:51 PM): I'm gonna try that..thanks TDProf