Bob,
You say:
>"Professional restoration is still (relatively) a fledgling industry here,
>and few offer the full service (including the research bit) - All the bit's
>to do it are there, but few who join it all up. There are a few specialists
>who can do the complete package but prices are high"
It seems to me whenever there's a "demand" for decals the justification is the "need" to do it cheaper. When the "friends" (who usually do screw the job up. I often say friends should NEVER let friends paint their bikes.) or painters who have not made the investment in being able to supply their own decals get it right, their costs will be "high" too.
Professional bicycle restoration is not a "fledgling industry" because it holds no promise of fair remuneration. It is and will be populated by a few pros and many who dabble without making a real commitment in education, equipment and inventory to do the job right.
CyclArt can supply any and all decals and frame services since 1976. There are similar professional services on your side of the pond. As "high" as our services are we persist in this business due to our passion for bicycles. It is clear I could have made many times my present income if I was painting cars or motorcycles. I'm saddened when others bemoan the availability of alternatives. It makes me want to scrap the bicycle business and make the easy money. If dealers like you don't support the professionals, soon you won't have any to go to.
I understand the difficulties for a dealer in handling refinish work. It can mean endless questions. This is why since 1989 CyclArt has give dealers a commission for referrals, we prefer that you NOT try to manage the details of the order, simply have the customer contact us directly. You are paid a percentage of any job you ship to us. The direct communication serves dealer, rider and painter best. Less hassle for you and no responsibility for details. We have the experienced staff, website, printed materials, research files and 8 phone lines to handle the job properly.
Regards,
JFC ~ CyclArtist Vista, CA
-----Original Message----- From: Bob Reid [mailto:bob.reid1@virgin.net] Sent: Sunday, February 04, 2001 3:57 AM To: Jim Cunningham Subject: Re: [CR]RE: Decals
Hi Jim,
I've taken this off-list in case Dale reckons I'm getting into discussion mode !
I must first apologise if I misunderstood you. Perhaps the point I was trying to make was that small-time restorers like myself who do it as a sideline to the LBS are often faced with customers who specify particular painters they would like their frame painting done by. Unlike your own company, a lot of these painters / refinishers don't have access as easily to as wide a range of the correct decals and in addition a few customers have asked to see the specific decals that are to be used in the work (usually for for fear that they're going to end up with a "letraset" job). Professional restoration is still (relatively) a fledgling industry here, and few offer the full service (including the research bit) - All the bit's to do it are there, but few who join it all up. There are a few specialists who can do the complete package but prices are high. I am therfore dependant in a lot of cases on the small companies - like H.Lloyds for the more common decals, and for producing the one-off's, and in turn he (Nick Tithecott) is dependant on getting decent originals. We've suffered over the years, as I'm sure you have, from the effects of rouge "restorers" who leve a bitter taste in the customers mouths. (I just this week had to explain to a customer that he could have real problems as a result of his "friend" respraying his frame - nothing wrong with that in itself I suppose, just the fact that he drilled and tapped-out two water bottle mounts direct into the down tube before he did it !
Best Regards
Bob.