Alright, check it -

We're trying to get some stickers done, and so far we've found a shop that'll do 'em, but they're kinda asking for ALOT. We're looking to get something in the 24"X8" area, in mirror-chrome material, in not very intricate designs. So far, we've been quoted at $30ish PER STICKER, and although we are eager to get them done, we're also a bunch of broke-asses. They aren't even charging us for the labor - just the costs of the materials involved. We're looking to get 10 made of one design, and 15ish done of another design.

If anyone knows of any graphic design shops in the Olympia, Tacoma, South Seattle area, don't hesitate to holler back.


oh, and if anybody wants to buy my turbo so I can afford paint and stickers, look here http://www.hachiroku.net/forum/viewt...948&highlight=


Or if anyone knows of anybody that just wants to sponsor me, that'd be cool too.


- A.Earl

 

lol....you could afford a TO4 turbo but not a $30 dollar sticker?!?

 

I own a graphics shop and the price they gave you is way, way more than reasonable for the chrome vinyl. It’s more than half metal and it kills cutter blades very quickly. After ten window banners they will need a new blade. The blades cost from $50 to $100 depending on the type of blade it uses. Regular vinyl they won’t have to replace the blade for years. Your lucky they will do it for $30 I would have told you no less than $50 knowing it will wreck my blade. Meterial costs are more also. So i say do it.

 

Hmm. Sounds a bit high to me, for just material. A 24" x 10 yard roll of Neschen Metalized Polyester chrome mirror vinyl is about $60. Blades for our Graphtec OE3000-60 are $14 each. Obviously, there's shipping expense and you never get 100% material use (tests, screw-ups and weeding area eat up a chunk) but 75% is reasonable. Figure 30 or so stickers of the size you mentioned (24"x8") per roll. Even if you kill several blades, it should not be that bad.

Presuming you kill four blades (seems high, but let's just presume):

Material: $60
Blades: $56
Shipping: $15

Total: $131

Yeild: 30 24"x8" stickers

Cost per sticker $4.37

A professional shop using high-end equipment would certainly have higher costs, but that much?! I don't think so. The fact of the matter would appear that they are trying to charge you a reasonable amount for overhead and labor. As a business, I can't blame them *except* in claiming to only charge you material cost. I would charge at least $10 each in those quantities, just because my time is not free and the machine cost a couple thousand dollars.

 

The guy's at intec racing do stickers, not sure if they have the exact stuff your looking for.

253-872-0872

http://www.intecracing.com/

 

Where would one find a vinyl cutting machine. I was told there is one about the size of a printer that hooks up to a computer in the $500 price range. I would like to find one but don't even know what to ask for or search for.

 

They are everywhere. Try Google. Certainly Signwarehouse.com and, I bet, even Amazon.com. I would not recommend the cheepo "consumer" grade machines, however. Good results require decent equipment, software and more than a little skill. The lowest tier of professional (sometimes called "prosumer") models is a good compromise. If you can't afford the decent equipment, spend the money on having someone else cut the vinyl. You don't have to pay sign-shop prices; just find a local business that bought a cutter for their own needs.

 

Thanks for the information. I airbrush and figured a vinyl cutting machine would be a great way to make stencils, etc. so I don't want to spend alot on one because I'm not sure how much I would actually use it. But now I have a place to start looking. Thanks.