Frequently Asked Questions...and Answers

 We understand that most people aren't buying signs everyday.  When purchasing a sign there are often many questions that come to mind.  Our job as the sign professionals is to first understand that questions are to be expected, and second, to do our very best to see that you have been satisfied with an answer.  Listed below are some of the questions that we most commonly hear.  If you have a question not found here please feel free to discuss it with your sales rep.

How long will it take?

Because of the variety of projects that we have going in our shop, every job takes different amounts of time.  While a decal may only take an hour, certain custom signs may take weeks.  At Silvercrest we try to fit most of our jobs into 1 of 3 categories:

1. One Week Jobs:  These are smaller jobs like banners and digital printing etc.  As a rule our schedule goes like this...We have two weekly deadlines, and we have two weekly pickup days.

If your design is approved by Wednesday at 3:00pm then you can plan on picking up your project the following Wednesday.  If you miss the Wednesday deadline the next deadline is Friday at 3:00 then you can plan on picking up your project the following Friday.

2. Three Week Jobs:  These are medium sized jobs that require a little more time and work.  These may be jobs like adding new faces to your electric sign, or maybe a large site sign.  These jobs are given a due date exactly 3 weeks from the time the down payment is received.

3. Six Week Jobs: Thes jobs are jobs that require the most time and work to complete.  Examples of 6 week jobs are things like neon channel letters, or custom dimensional signs.  As with the 3 week signs they are given a due date of exactly 6 weeks from the time that the down payment is received.

Design turnaround: Design normally takes 1 week but depends on the scope of the project.

If for some reason these time frames are not acceptable then we do offer a rush service.  The cost for rushing a job is determined on a job per job basis and depends on the workload in the shop at the time.

Do you offer leasing options?

Yes! In many cases leasing a sign makes more sense than purchasing it outright. Signs can be a big expense and can often take away working capital that a business needs to operate. The advertising value of your sign is the same whether you own the sign or whether you are using the sign.  With this in mind Silvercrest is pleased to offer leasing as an option in purchasing your sign. We have structured our leasing program with many custom options to suit your needs.   

My brother-in-law designed a logo for me...can I use it on my sign?

We can work with any file no matter who made it, we can even take a hand sketched drawing and digitize it.  We do have a small charge for digitizing files that aren't already in the proper format. The file types that we prefer are "vector based".  Common vector based files are:  .ai, .eps, and some others. We can let you know if you have one.  Files like jpeg, bmp, tiff are not vector and are pixel based and will need to be converted.  Not to insult your brother-in-law, but just because he knows Photoshop doesn't mean he knows design or what will work best with your desired market demographics, or even what will stand up to your competition.  Knowing these things is our job. 

Why the down payments?

Due to the custom nature of our business we do charge down payments.  Charging a 50% down payment is normal for any business where the end product is only valuable to one certain customer.  It is a sign industry standard.  This payment commits you and us to doing the job and is used to purchase materials and other expenses for your job.

Signs seem so expensive, Why?

We used to think the same thing until we started building them.  The materials that are used to make signs are not cheap.  Signs are required to withstand ultra high temperature, ultra low temperature, sun, rain, snow, hail, and abuse and yet still look good.  While it is possible to use things like untreated plywood etc. to save on costs, you will pay for the initial savings in the long run when your sign falls apart.  One of the biggest expenses in the cost of a sign is the labor.  Many signs are very time consuming and require the expertise of highly trained craftsmen.  The work of these artisans does not come cheap. There are plenty of sign shops offering low prices, but as grandma always said..."You get what you pay for".  Speaking strictly in terms of advertising; signs are by far the most effective form of advertising for the price.

Do you have to redesign my things every time I order?

Once we have done a design or two for you then we have all the ammo necessary to make similar signs and designs for you.  We save every job we do and they are redundantly backed up.  If you want to re-order it's as simple as giving us a call and we'll take care of the rest.

How long will my digital prints and banners look good?

Of course this all depends on how they are taken care of and their exposure to things like the sun.  All of our 2d signs and banners are printed with either Solvent inks, UV inks, or Thermal Transfer Resins which are all the industry's best when it comes to longevity and are formulated to endure the test of time.  The commonly accepted industry standard is 3-5yrs of fade resistance depending on the circumstances.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept checks, cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Paypal. We also offer attractiveleasing options. Yes we will consider certain trades as well.

Our terms are: Due upon receipt, and we can extend credit terms of net15 to net30 for some customers upon approval of a credit application. 

Why do I need a permit? 

Most cities require sign permits for almost any type of sign.  Cities develop sign ordinaces so they can be consistant.  They have the best interest of the city in mind.  Sign ordinances are important to preserve the appearance that the city wants to have.  Look at some historic pictures and you'll see what happens when there aren't any rules in regards to signs.  While we might think it would be great, most people would not like to see entire buildings plastered with signs of every shape size and quality.  Silvercrest can obtain sign permits for you. Read more about permits and installation in the installation section of our reference library.

What if I like your signs and want to order but I don't live nearby?

We have completed signs for people in other states and even other countries.  Because the world we live in is all interconnected by means of the internet and worldwide shipping, we can just as easily complete a sign for someone in Italy as well as we can for someone in Salt Lake City.  We have developed the right questions to ask and by sharing information by phone, or through the internet we have no problem shipping your sign to wherever you are.  We can also recommend qualified installers in your area.

What does it mean to be "Licensed and Insured"?

As with most professional industries, the sign industry is governed by a state professional licensing department.  Just like a doctor, lawyer, or general contractor, a sign company must obtain a state contractors license.  To obtain this license requires a certain amount of years experience and a series of exams.  It also requires that proper and sufficient insurance is maintained as well as up to date training.  Many sign shops do not ever obtain state licensing.  What does this mean to you?  Just like you would not hire a contractor to build your house unless he was licensed or have a doctor work on you that isn't licensed, you shouldn't hire a sign company that isn't licensed.  It could result in some very bad consequences.  What if they drop something on a car, or even a person while on your property.  Who is responsible? Most cities will not grant a sign permit to un-licensed companies.

How do you come up with your pricing for your signs?

When pricing and estimating signs, we take many different factors into consideration.  Things like shop overhead, material costs, labor costs, current market values, advertising value, and references like national sign pricing guides are all factored into the prices.  Our inheirant belief in honesty and integrity keeps us fair.  What is most important is that we provide you with more use value than we take in cash value.  If the sign we made for you helps to increase your business by 60% and all it cost you was 10% of one months earnings then we have done well for you.  A sign is like an informative business book...if the book costs $1.50 to produce and costs us $30.00 to buy we don't feel bad for paying the $30 if the contents of the book helped us to make several thousand more dollars a month. 

We want to be fair and if you ever feel cheated then we need to know about it.  Mistakes can happen, things can be overlooked...bottom line....if you have a question about pricing please let us know.  Overall customer satisfaction is what we aim for.  Building lifelong relationships with our customers is more important than making a few bucks at your expense.

If we have not covered a question that you have...and there's a good chance we didn't.  Please just ask.  As questions are asked and become common we will update our FAQS page.  Thanks for your interest!