Blueprint Service Cos.

plumbingpro

I don't even know if I'm in the right forum for this topic. Apologies if I'm flubbing up here.

Print service companies.

Something that just doesn't smell right to me, wonder if others have encountered same.

As we struggle for new contacts in this slowing economy. We've run across several contractors who are all too happy to send us to a "print service" company for bidding.

In case you don't understand. There is a blueprint company. That's what they do. They have on hand, ...... and will print for you at a a cost, ...... copies of prints. So, essentially, in order to bid these jobs, (with these varying new contacts) one has to incur the expense of ordering prints. That doesn't seem right to me. Thru all these years, we've bid on 10's of thousands of projects. This seems to be a new way of doing things.

Does anybody else encounter this? Am I just out to lunch here?

macmikeman

This ain't new, been similar tatics applied when bidding private large jobs since way way back. Its like this- if you want the work, pay the ante, and include that cost in your bid, or stay home. Simple.

On the flip side, how many costly sets of plans get loaned out, and come back virtually destroyed during the bidding process, or don't ever come back at all cause of lazy and incompetent potential bidders?

RizzoMaryland

I've seen it too. Nice way to weed out some of the mickey mouse contractors too.

__________________
"An idea is salvation by imagination"
Frank LLoyd Wright

KentWhitten

There are thousands of reprographics places all over the US. I've used one in particular to take what I draw and they will package it for me and UPS or FedEx it for me, overnight, etc.

What these guys better watch out for and realize is that those prints are copyrighted. If they are copying them from anyone but themselves, they can get into a whole lot of trouble. I know if I found someone copying my prints that I would go after them without one hesitation.

I've seen guys who want to bid off of .pdf files, or ask for the prints back so they can distribute it to the next sub.

It's all business niches. This'll fill fast.

__________________
If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

ultimatetouch

doesnt sound like a bad idea. There has been times when I wish I could get more guys to bid on projects and had to hunt them down. Find remodelers or builders and pay the fee, but expect to make a little less working for a builder or remodeler. I expect a better deal, mostly because I understand the costs associated with construction and I have the potential to give the trade a lot of work. Like my plumber for example. He has had aproxamitely 20,000 in business a month for the last three months.

__________________
Ultimatetouch
Illinois Remodeling Company, Kitchen Remodeling Chicago, Room Additions Illinois

KillerToiletSpider

Almost all government project are done this way, and a lot of retail chain stores are the same way, especially for remodels.

__________________
A flush is better than a full house.