Crime Scene tape anyone?

[popzork]

I think there will be some bodies to dispose of around here next week. We have some CSR's that are killing me! And everyone else....

Somehow it is prepress's fault because we had an envelope with white type reversed out. The CSR came back from 2nd proof saying it personalizes and to delete that type. Well, we pointed out that the type is white and is she sure? Of course she knew what she was talking about. After the third proof someone explained to her that the laser house (that she worked in before here) doesn't have white ink. She blamed prepress because we did what she told us to do even after we questioned her.

Then, another CSR came in here on Tuesday morning asking if we needed work because she has a ton on her desk to write up. Well, my co-worker was joking seeing if they would be written up by the end of the day - I said "ha - end of the day - let's hope for them before the end of the week". Well, we have only gotten 2 of them so far and one was at 3pm asking for a proof by end of the day. Guess what - she sat on the job for 2 1/2 days and all of a sudden it's a rush! And it's completely acceptable behaviour....I DON'T GET IT!!!!

I have got to get out of here!!!!

[ChilBear]

Prevent this crime from happening... install a punch clock and punch the ticket/docket when they hand it to you. That way they see that it is time stamped when you get it and you have proof YOU didn't hold something up. Definately CYA but foolproof.

[tbJAMMIN]

Are we assuming that management would ever take PrePress side over sales, no matter what the facts?? If there were only a way for us to generate revenue without having deal with sales people.......15 years thinking on this and I still haven't come up with anything that didn't involve getting out of the business.

[ShaunMac]

popzork,

I know exactly what you mean. You must work for one of our sister plants.

Try explaining "bleeds" to one of the "Order Specialists"; they think I cut my finger.

It really is appalling at the steadily deteriorating quality and actual retail experience of middle and upper management, especially the larger the corporation.

Our last department head for the imaging dept was an accountant who landed his first management gig. "Sphincter Boy". He knew how to work with numbers in ways that made me dizzy. But he completely did not understand the printing manufacturing process. The Xerox Docuprint 6145 MX rates production at 4000 images / hr. So he wondered why we couldn't do more than 2500 images /hr. I dunno. Maybe it was because most jobs are less than 100 sheets, with 5 minutes of logging, reporting and triple redundant paperwork for ever job. Or maybe it's because the SDI server kept crashing (a relic computer system circa 1989). Or maybe it's because of the all-time worst base stock imaginable, produced by, you guessed it, our very own sister plant in Shelbyville.

I could go on ... and on ... and on ....


tbJAMMIN,

Sure, there's a way to generate revenue without having to deal with sales people. It's called freelancing! Or, a better way to put it would be Independent Graphics Professional.

Of course, however, now you have to be the designer, the sales person, the CSR and the estimator all rolled into one. And that's not to mention about 24 other hats you'd have to wear.

Surely it's a bi***! But at least you got the control .. if a client is unhappy, you can improvise however you need to, at your sole discretion, to make it right by them.

[popzork]

Funny you should mention bleeds - said mentioned CSR #1, once when asked about bleeds and she replied "it bleeds on all 8 sides"!

I'm working freelance in the evenings. I am SOOO close to going full time freelance it scares me! No more psycho CSRs full time, but then it's ALL me! But the only thing that prevents me from killing these people is know I now have an out!

[duck]

I'm working freelance in the evenings. I am SOOO close to going full time freelance it scares me!

Good for you popzork! I'm also getting very close to leaving the prepress industry (hopefully for good). Self-employment will be hard work, but I'd rather work hard and make money on my terms. No more clocking in and getting screwed around for 8-10 hours a day.

The sad thing is I've seen a lot of great prepress people who actually know what they're doing, get burned out and leave the business.
Well, sad for the industry I guess, but very VERY good for those who move on to better things!

Good luck popzork, Jalan, PPB_43, and everyone else who is looking or has started down the road to self-employment!

[prepress_brillance_43]

only way to go... thanks for the luck, good luck to you as well... cheers.

[LadIndy]

What type of work are you guys doing freelance?
I've been thinking about it but I'm not sure what type of work to freelance: design, preflighting?
I'm one of those getting burned out in prepress and while I still have a job (ha,ha any day now unemployment) I've been tinkering with all sorts of ideas of what to do for employment.
I'd appreciate any ideas for the type of work you're freelancing.

[popzork]

I'm doing design, preflighting/proofing and training. I guess you could call me a mac whore - willing to do anything for a buck...but there is a lot of crossover with my clients. The one I was doing training for has started sending me design jobs, and so has the preflighting/proofing client.

There is an awesome book called "The business side of Creativity" that goes into depth about billing, proofing, adding employees, accounting in general, all those things that scare a lot of people out of going freelance. In the book, they strongly recommend against trying to build your client base while holding a full time job. I couldn't do that because of this thing called a mortgage, combined with kids and husband...So, I went against their advice, but I do keep my powerbook with me at all times in case there is something I HAVE to deal with on the spot. It has worked out well, plus, as much as some of these CSRs make me crazy, I have never hidden what I was doing from my day job, and the general managers have actually given me design jobs themselves....I guess they know I won't bitch at the designer that way.

[prepress_brillance_43]

I freelance Design work... Troubleshooting... and Consultation for file/artwork development. Really, anything requiring my time is "billable". :wink: :twisted: Good luck with all your ventures kayla...