This might be a bit on the rant side of the fence today but there’s something I just don’t get. After doing this for years and years, I still don’t understand what people don’t get about “You get what you pay for”. Now, granted, there are people who wouldn’t know good digitizing from bad, or are just willing to compromise for price sake. These are the one’s that seem shocked when they purchase digitizing from some $4/1000 online, faceless website or overseas only to get under par or inconsistent quality designs, 3-5 business days down the line where they are pushing their deadlines and go into a panic.
Did you ever wonder how these companies can charge only $4/1000 st and still stay in business? For the overseas companies the answer is obvious (and a whole other Oprah) but what about the US companies that are $4 -$6/1000? How do they pay for multiple softwares/computers, employees, overhead, and general operating expenses on that type of income? They may use some “automatic digitizing” software feature to save time which would be fine if it worked well and didn’t compromise quality; which they ALL do. That way they can pump out more design average per hour….or is that more average designs?
They may also add their editing fees on each time you request a change. And…we know how often customers change their mind or request changes…..at least 50% of the time. How often do you get designs from the digitizer that your customer never wants to change a thing? Or, the $4 price that is advertised happens to be their price for 5 day service; if you want a more normal 2 days service, it's quite a bit more.
Believe me, I know the draw of getting something you want or need for a cheaper price. And some may still say they’ve used a $4/1000 st company and gotten a decent design and they may, in fact, have. The thing is, even using the same web company each time, they will never get consistent quality because they’ll never get the same person digitizing for them each time. Plus, it’s very difficult (if not impossible) to get to actually speak to the digitizer; the person who actually created the design, to tell them what your customer wants.
BUT ITS SO MUCH CHEAPER…….
And it’s all good, paying that cheap price, until you get it to the machine. A good embroiderer understands that the final look is only half the equation. Is it alright with you if the design looks OK at the end but you tear out your hair just trying to make it through the runs on the machine. Is it fine with you that the machine is stopping and starting multiple times more than necessary due to poor pathing, giving you false thread breaks, tearing the fabric and having multiple excessive color changes?
If you’re doing this as a business, the idea is to keep your machine running to make your money (hair intact). If your designs continually slow down or stop your production, it’s time to find a new digitizer.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to find a digitizer you could speak to all the time, is consistently providing the quality you are proud to show your customers and meets your deadlines time after time so you can count on them? People, people, people, part of what you’re paying for is experience!!! Just like everything else, the good stuff cost a little more.
In the end, you’re able to provide a higher quality product and your quantity goes up because the designs run more efficiently enabling you to turn more production in a shorter time. This also helps your bottom line in labor costs and keeps your customers happy and returning!
….and who doesn’t love happy and returning customers? I sure do!
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