Topic: T-Shirt design system

[Steve]

A few weeks ago i was asked for a quote to build a tee shirt designer for a website. I quoted them $800, and planned to do it in flash. They contacted me today and asked if i could do a low budget setup for them until they can afford a full system.

I'm posting for feedback, because im not sure how "low budget" i can go on something like this. You have all seen them, tee shirt companies use them to let people have their own sayings, images, etc and see how it would look. I think $800 was a damn good price, i saw online quotes and most didnt go under $1000. I was thinking a VERY basic html type but they want flash.

Anyone know of an open source i can use as a starting point? I'm trying to make it as easy on myself as possible to keep their cost down as much as i can.

[ober]

Fuck em... I'm sick of client that want shit "on the cheap".

[Steve]

I would agree but they kind of approached it the right way. Instead of the typical "thats too much do it for less" bs it was more like "Thats a great price for the work, but is there anyway we can do something that will meet our needs at keep our cost down?" which i respect.

[Mike]

I don't know what type of features you are planning on but what about making a very basic version and then later adding on some of the advance features?

[hans]

Or tell them just to suck it up and do it the right way.

Because you know exactly what's going to happen, they'll want you to do it a "cheap" way but then start adding in stuff later, making life more difficult.

I'm sure you'll be able to explain to them the benefits of doing it the original way and why cheaping out isn't a good idea in the long run.

[Steve]

I tried man, believe me i tried. I did explain to them that upgrades along the way are going to raise the price based on both the nature of the change and the amount of work it requires.

Mike:

Basically they are looking at having a generic picture of a tee. They then want the user to be able to preview the shirt based on color, slogan/text, and image (uploadable from user computer). The reason i was hoping for open source was to avoid having to build the dynamic changing system on my own....

When i say budget, they are looking to bring in this "basic" tool in the neighborhood of $300. I would consider not taking it on, but the company could use that $300 for alot of things.

[Rob]

"Thats a great price for the work, but is there anyway we can do something that will meet our needs at keep our cost down?"

is just

"thats too much do it for less"

worded differently.

[KnuckleBuckett]

Fuck em... I'm sick of client that want shit "on the cheap".

1

[hans]

So what your decision really is, is do you take the job just for the money even though your margins are going to be less or do you pass on the job.

I'd say if you don't absolutely need the money, pass on the job, or just tell them you're sorry that you can't go lower and produce the product they are expecting. Otherwise you'll be setting the precedent with them for future work that they can set the price, not you.

I say let them try to find someone else to do it for less.

[Steve]

Maybe you guys are right. I could use the money for needs of the business but perhaps its best made by a volume of easier jobs as opposed to doing a labor intensive one at discount.

[Rob]

Discounts are always off margin, never off costs.

[Steve]

You're right.

I told them that i cannot deliver the results they require for less then the quoted price.

[hans]

And they'll probably look for some other sucker and end up coming back to you and need it done by yesterday.

[Steve]

Rush delivery extra lol. And yea your right. According to their request they found us on CL so im betting i see a "please god help me" ad shortly.