Why the f*** should I help the competition?

[DCurry]

I received 2 phone calls today:

The first was from a customer questioning me about how I would handle a multi-ink PMS color in Quark. I told her to go ahead and set her job up using multi-inks colors and I would have no problem. Then she confessed that she was at another print shop and they were having problems with her file and wanted her to fix it. I told her that it was the printer's problem to figure out and not hers, so she asked me to speak to them! I hemmed and hawed a bit and gave her the excuse that unless they are using the same RIP, I couldn't tell them how to fix their issue. I did advise her to tell them to just sub C and M for the 2 PMS colors, but I was amazed at the gall of someone to ask me to instruct our competition on how to do their job!

The second call was from one of our salespeople, who had a customer who was printing a job elsewhere and wanted to know how to get rid of a 1% background dot in photoshop.

Is is just me? Am I overreacting? I don't mind sharing my knowledge in places like this forum because I learn stuff here, too, and everyone here is making an individual effort to educate themselves, but I'll be damned if I'm going to give away the self-learned knowledge that makes me one of the best prepress operators in my town to second-rate hacks who aren't smart enough to figure it out on their own!

[Cory]

Maybe it's just a difference in beliefs, but i've always been willing to help out other local shops, for the most part....

you never know when you might be in a pinch and need a hand from them (i've had to borrow a couple jugs of developer from time to time)

it also shows the customer who knows their stuff, maybe next time they need that job printed, they will take it to the place that knows what they are doing.

it's not like it happens all the time...if I was constantly helping out a shop, then I would have to stop..But for the occasional problem, why not! you don't benefit from being an ass.

[PrepressRabbit]

Some times helping out the other guy can certainly generate good Karma that can come back to you when you least expect it. Unless you are living in a city of 10 million the industry can be rather small and (to quote a friend) incestuous, so you never know when helping someone out might help you to land that new account/client/job.
Of course if they phone you 3 times a week then you need to get call display!

[DCurry]

I understand these points of view, and I certainly don't mind sharing materials now and then to help someone out of a jam, but these are (to me, anyway) basic issues that any worthwhile prepress op should know.

Anyway, I've vented, so now I feel better!

[Pointyhat]

Twice in one day would piss me off especailly from a customer. Screw that, pay me. If the shop wants help they can call or email me themselves, no problem. Going thru a customer is sneaky.

[Bart]

Tell them to sign up here and while it may be you who helps them out you won't have a clue who they are so won't feel as used.

:roll:

[LadIndy]

I agree, I don't mind sharing knowledge ONCE IN A WHILE with other print shops and designers because you never know when you'll want to do business with these print shops and designers and it personally feels good when I solve a prepress problem. When you share your hard earned knowledge ONCE IN A WHILE, no charge, it shows how much you do know. BUT, I have a personal line of how much knowledge I will share and with whom I will share it. Once I feel that line is being crossed, that's when I stop sharing and start charging for my skills and knowledge since I paid for it myself anyway. I decide on a case by case basis on how much knowledge to share and when to stop. Of course, if you keep getting the same problems over and over from the same people, by all means, you have every right to JUST SAY NO! Tell them to go read the pdf manuals like all the rest of us or come her to the prepressforums site to learn like we all are.

[Lammy]

I always likes the response, "I'm sorry but that's a trade secret and I can't tell you."

I will usually give a customer advice if they are having trouble somewhere else, but my first solution is always ALWAYS, "you should have brought it here" :twisted:

[Scott]

We had a customer who did five monthly magazines for. A nice account that we've had for about 3 years. Every month the job would come in on like 6 discs and would be a total mess. I worked for months with the designer showing her this and that so she eventually could write me just a pdf. Well finally that day had come. All my hard work payed off when I received those first problem free pdfs. The job ran smooth and quickly. The following month, they went with a different printer! Ahhhhhhh! I know it's just a job, but I kinda took it personally!
:evil:

Scott

[LadIndy]

Scott,

I feel your pain! That really sh******ts! :evil:

That's why I only go so far with advice because this happens quite frequently. It's a sticky situation unfortunately and I've been there, done that. Oh well, move on to the next customer.