alanbell

iTrader: (6)

If you had a Building firm working at your home would you be prefer a sign written van outsde, or a plain unsigned van ??

hodgy0_2

Depends,

Painting and decorating, no problem

safe installation services, Rat and Cockroach infestation services, prob not

And The **** intruder aftercare service van, deffo not

97TURBO

Signed if it were me.

Justme103

iTrader: (2)

We are having loads of work done at the moment (Full house refurbishment) & only 2 van's so far that's turned up has been sign written & that was the Bathroom fitters & National Grid ones

The Cement truck & grabber truck that came to do the new drive way were sign written up but they were contractors to the driveway company.

Jer

I am living in a street with a lot of building work going on (everyone building their own houses). The kitchen fitters turned up for the house next door with clean, newish vans with quality sign writing on them. They then posted letters through all the neighbours doors apologising for the disturbance and outlining how long they are going to be working on the house etc. On the second page they outlined the services offered, awards won and a few photo's of their work which I thought was fantastic marketing.
The guy's doing the work are in new clean overalls and it just gives the impression of a quality company who think about things.

killbill

iTrader: (3)

bit of a hard one this..

i get the whole nice van and sign written ect.

being a small sole trader in the single ply roofing game some of the mian contractors that give me work stipulate they DONT want any vans that are sign written when arriving on various sites etc.

so in teh above case there is not much choice

Busterbulldog

iTrader: (1)

I have 2 vans one signwritten to death one plain and totally unassuming as you dont always want to be noticed.

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

I don't think it makes any difference unless the van they pull up in is a piece of crap. I don't have my van signed but then I'm not after advertising my services as I would never have the time for more work.

hodgy0_2

Put up your prices then

BoozyDave

iTrader: (8)

it depends really

i'm a sparky and my van is plain, i don't want gypo's knowing my van is full of tools and rolls of cable ,
and the 'No tools left in the van overnight' sign's make it more obvious that you have a van full of tools and you probably can't be arsed to take the tools out every night

other thing, i have plenty of work on and i don't want random calls for quotes for swapping a light or wiring a new socket, then having to go to the house and give them a free quote and then they either say 'we've been quoted less' or 'can you do it cheaper for cash?' or they never get back to you


near my house there is a window cleaning firm, they specialise in 3 story houses. they have just got 2 x 13reg tranny vans with 18" alloys, viper stripes. they look good, but i think 'how much extra do they charge?'

all these expensive new vans need paying for, are you happy to pay extra for the job so they can pay for them?

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

Personally, I feel better when the van turns up looking good. Newish, clean and well advertised.

Makes me think (rightly or wrongly) they care about their appearance and can afford to make the effort.

BoozyDave

iTrader: (8)

Are you happy paying extra so they can drive round in a new Van?

RobsyUK

iTrader: (2)

As a nosey neighbour i wish the plain vans around here had some details on... One house had his roof done and from what i could see through my nets. They did a bang on job.vi now have to speak to the neighbour to get details grrrr.

However. Sometimes i see vans that are completly covered in advertising all over the van. Call today, 7 phone numbers etc... Over the top IMO.

How bad is this though... My theroy is that if a contractor advertises by knocking on your dor saying someone in the street is having work done. I wont use them!

joz8968

iTrader: (13)

FPMSL!

The Pink Ninja

iTrader: (23)

Also worth considering if you want to advertise what tools you have in the van for the dregs to nick when you are not looking, depends on the type of work and tools used though I suppose?

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Our kitchen fitters were contractors and weren't allowed to have sign wirting on their van.

Our company van used to be a signwritten lime green Astramax....which would refuse to start faily often as the engine would lock up...it had over 200K on it and had so much end float in the crack it would lock up if you pressed the clutch while starting it . When that happened, the only way to get it going again was to push start it (starter motor was to weak to turn the engine fast enough).

Nothing worse than having to ask for a push start in van plastered with "24hr breakdown service".

On the plus side we never locked it and often left the keys in, becuase if some scally managed to start it they were welcome to it.

Now have a plain silver 206 van with some stupid alloys. Embarrasing to be seen in, but at least nobody can link it to the business

Leslie

I can think of many more problems than this one to worry about!

Les

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

When I ran my own business I had some magnetic ones made up so when I did my own stuff I had them on and when I did contract work I'd leave them off, also leave them off when I was traveling with motorbikes and stuff in the back, best of both worlds.

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

I'd pay extra for a good job, which would be suggested by the quality of their tools.

Turbodanc

iTrader: (1)

Also if the van is on a lease contract which allot of them are these days then people tend not to sticker them up when they get them to avoid any paintwork damage when putting them on and removing them at the end of the contract. Any ghosting or stanley blade marks will result in charges. So thats another reason why allot of these new vans you see these days have no stickers on.

Although if i were having work done, i too agree with the whole he has a very nice van, proud to advertise his name and his work so you would assume hes doing ok in his business and that he does a half right job. I know this isnt always the case though!

alanbell

iTrader: (6)

please tell

Aaron1978

iTrader: (12)

Around £200 a month for a new van. Warranty and no mot for three years. Pride in their appearance indicates they have pride in their job IMO(not always granted)

billythekid

I think signed is better, it shows they will take ownership and they dont mind their name being on their work.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Here's a twist...

How about a signwritten van using someone else's branding (without copyright permission)

There's a builders by me with a image of Homer Simpson as part of their van livery.

Personally I wouldn't touch them, as to me it reeks of a builder who doesn't care about doing things properly..no doubt the signwriter knew he was breeching copyright and would have informed him.

Although my family's one business (housing developer) did have vans liveried in Aston Villa colours (no I'm not a Villa fan )

zip106

I haven't had a sign written van for over 10 years - don't need to advertise myself.
I prefer the anonymity and my customers know they're getting a quality tradesman anyway.

They don't even mind me turning up in a 4x4 pick up.
The subbies who work for me also don't have sign written vans - I wouldn't want them to anyway.

Anyone coming to work at my house - as Hodgy has already said.

Leslie

You would not have the time to read them all.

Les

Boro

iTrader: (1)

As a customer, I think it shows the people you booked to visit are the people who came.

None of this, you rang builder a) who then rang builder b) who then rang builder c) who then rang a gypsy who than rang his cousin.

Porkpie

A well written clear signwrittren van is a fantastic advert but your missus will know where you are playing away from home.

HTH.

Porkpie

A decent valeter/detailer will remove decals and any shadowing for about £150

alanbell

iTrader: (6)

agree :