Lost over 800 shirts - PLEASE HELP

By ayugup on May. 27, 2017
Forums: 
Embroidery and Digitizing

Hello Everybody
I want to know how you deal with this, But let me back up to the whole Story.
4 years ago, I started doing a Certain school, Let name it Lee High school
That time I took papers to get signed by principal saying that he wouldn't change the logo at last minute, and he said my word is my bond. and he wouldn't signed the paper. Everything went fine But
2 years ago That principal retired, and The school got a new Principal( Principal 2)
Everything went fine until this year.
Ok the Logo is 25K stitches, and we charge with shirt $14.99 with logo(Dickies shirt), and if you bring your own shirt, its $7.99
So it takes a lot of time to do 1 shirt. So this year, I went in January to get the paper signed( Principal 2), and he wasn't there. The secretary said he not here, and the principal is not there many Days( Public School, this what usually happens)
We went there Before Spring Break Again, and the Secretary said, Check after Spring Break.
After Spring Break, The secretary said, We are not changing the logo.
Just found out yesterday, They changed the logo, and you have to pre-order first, and you will get it by End on July.
I called the school, through My phone, they never picked it up. My customer called the school, they picked it up in 1 second.
So The owner of our Business ( Not me), went there, and the principal speaked rudely to her. and Said What authority does the Secretary has, I'm the main Decision maker her.

Please Help Me, What I can do

Location: 
United States
Submitted by ayugup on Fri, 05/17/2019 - 18:55

Now Business has become very difficult. Every Company out there doesn't care about customer support, but rather make as much money in a single transaction or through government. Like In my hometown, Women Hospital Has opened 2 charter school and a Graphics Company under their name and I don't understand why. Charter school is named Basis but every time they say it's backed by Women Hospital.
If any of you wants to make big money, go get a government contract. There is a Boarding school in Louisiana where tax payer have to pay everything and The school picks up the child on Sunday night and stay in school til Friday after noon.
I'm Serious.
That School have school uniform, but many of the Parents don't actually care to buy it.
I asked them why, and the school teacher said, they are getting everything for free, so they ask everything else ( such as School uniform ) for free.
Also Parents are happy to send their children at this school ( Even though it's an F School). ( A really low F school such as grade system is 0 - 150, and F is 0 to 60, They are 23)
The reason parents want to send them is because they don't have to deal with their kids, and parent don't have to pay anything out of their pocket.
Maybe Class Fee only.

Submitted by WEARHOUSE on Sat, 05/11/2019 - 00:42

Let me get this and I know this is an old post but just checking if this order put you out of business? If it hurt your business in anyway way all you would have to do is small claims court, I know no one would ever want to go there but hey at the end of the day they don't have a chance how long were you doing the shirts before this happen to you? Do you have all your invoices together by number and dates? Ok did they send an email, fax or send a voice mail to phone or even text you? If they didn't than how would you suppose to know that the stars flew down to earth last night? Really. They give you sizes I'm sure but not letting you know the artwork has changed, I say ********. Ok if they gave sizes you should have work order with sizes and if any other changes to order than past orders. Well if they didn't tell you or like I said email fax etc then I would have said look I really appreciate your business and would like to continue doing business but this isn't going to cut it. If yall think that im going to eat this many shirts and have to shut my doors for you as hard as I have worked and your not going to make this right, then Im sorry its business and see ya in court and call the school board once you do this they will make it right or sue they don't have a leg but to tell you the truth a verbal contract in Louisiana is good in court. Just like in this case everything is good for years but they changed teachers who ever there problem there staff should have made this clear and you should have got an order this big signed or I would have never done the first one. The students only wear for that year but you can loose your business over this Good Luck I been in business over 28 years now yes it happens but you can work it out but don't get screwed over they don't care about you for damn sure.

stefanick's picture
Submitted by stefanick on Mon, 05/13/2019 - 14:51

It seems that that happens more and more. It used to be we would deal with a pta president. Now more and more principals, teachers, coaches order and sell them,they see money to be made and apparently its not a conflict. I promise if was straight up just doing this a a represenative of the school he would take them but as you said he wants to do his own shirt and has a personal investment. I would contact someone higher up I am sure the school system does not promote doing business that way.thats not consistant to district policys

Robert Young's picture
Submitted by Robert Young on Sat, 05/27/2017 - 17:52

so , to be clear, you ran 800 shirts off what the secretary, whom you had known for at least 3 years, told you? without a PO? Not placing any blame as you are from an era where a handshake was all that was needed. Unfortunately that seems to not be the case more and more. Sorry about that.

Will they take the finished shirts at a discount?

Will they take these shirts THIS year and the new design next year?

Is this the only job you do for the school or do you have more leverage in other orders your company does for them?

Maybe this is just a misunderstanding that can be resolved with a meeting?

Modern Embroidery Designer
volant-tech.com
volantfineart.com

Submitted by ayugup on Sat, 05/27/2017 - 19:08

For other school, we sell the Sweatshirt with printed logo for $17 ( We outsource the printing), But this school want to sell its sweatshirt for $25

Robert Young's picture
Submitted by Robert Young on Sun, 05/28/2017 - 16:28

Play hardball... offer the completed shirts at cost... so you are not out. or a little above cost. whatever. DO NOT DO NOT do business again with this man... let him see what options he has. Patience. He knew.. he screwed you. Let him deal with another source. sorry.

Modern Embroidery Designer
volant-tech.com
volantfineart.com

Submitted by ayugup on Sun, 05/28/2017 - 20:35

You don't need to apologize because it not your fault.

Well I will try to offer, but he already said he doesn't want people to wear older logo shirts, because if he allows the older shirts, there are 2 more stores probably have those in stock and they might sell all their shirt, which will lead people not buying new shirts.

I don't plan to do business with this man, but this man has connections, which he can screw my business. He works in one of the top rated school( He just inherited new school), his father is a principal for another school, His best friend is already my customer( also happens to be a principal), and he might screw with him.

As an Asian, My customer base is very limited. Because At first i try Private school, and they don't want to deal with me(Even though my prices are way cheaper). Public school people think i should always give them a deal, because they see my color and think we should negotiate.

Plus Black people will listen to other Black people than me. Unless a Person knows me, A human Being usually will deal with their color.

The reason he can do this because he is in power. I have to pay taxes, while he makes like $80,000 salary from public money. And our government always want to increase taxes. ( Louisiana).

Submitted by ayugup on Mon, 05/29/2017 - 08:35

Nope, I'm pretty sure they know about the logo change now.
And the thing is if i try to sell to those stores, They will find out why i'm selling, because I have good quality shirts, while they sell cheap Quality.

Robert Young's picture
Submitted by Robert Young on Mon, 05/29/2017 - 14:00

So what now? What has your boss said? New rule? NO PRODUCT production until signed PO maybe? Don't run so many at one time in case things change? Some of your remarks are a bit un-nerving but the question at hand is what to do with these shirts. Sounds like you have given up. BUT have you learned anything that others can as well? New procedures? Have things in writing not on a handshake? Sorry, times are different and for most EVERYTHING is about the money... Relationships seem not to matter as much with each year that goes by.. with each New person in the game.

Modern Embroidery Designer
volant-tech.com
volantfineart.com

Submitted by ayugup on Mon, 05/29/2017 - 15:28

Well the problem is with 25k Stitches and with limited machines, Customers are mad if i don't have the shirts. Usually everybody comes at the last minute.
Look if he had left me, i didn't care about that. The reason I'm mad is because his secretary told me that they keeping the logo and I lost estimate 750 more shirts (50 from last year) equal 800.
The reason I'm mad is because he didn't tell me that he is changing the logo, and I have to find it out from a customer.
If i hadn't found by next month, I would have lost more shirts.
The only thing i would like is for god to look at this, and punish for what he did.
I know he will eventually suffer in future( because greedy people like him never quit) but I would like him to feel the pain I'm feeling right now every single day.

I can't sleep straight. I lost hope, I lost trust in people. I just hope what he did to me, happens to him.

Submitted by ayugup on Mon, 05/29/2017 - 15:40

Although I will make sure everybody signs paper now.
The reason I'm truly mad is that not because I lost this customer. I've gained and lost customer throughout the years in Business
The reason I'm mad is if he would have told me Please don't sell our shirts in the beginning of the year, I wouldn't have made any.

Robert Young's picture
Submitted by Robert Young on Tue, 05/30/2017 - 13:17

Sue the Secretary. Not out of the question.. wake them up. but you also do have to take responsibility and not be so generalizing with race... it does you no good.

I really don't mean to sue her... but hopefully you have learned a lesson. sorry, tough love.

I still don't see the problem of allowing you and the other two shops to sell your inventories THEN start on the new design... assuming the school gets a percentage of each sale, so that would be a WIN WIN , no?

Modern Embroidery Designer
volant-tech.com
volantfineart.com

Submitted by ayugup on Tue, 05/30/2017 - 17:30

Well Suing them doesn't matter, because then i will lose all schools business.
I'm just mad because i lost all those shirts. I'm not trying to generalize them with race, but that what usually happens where i live. People have been racially abused me, but Some people really like me, so that the good thing.
I don't know about other stores, but we were already giving school percentage of our sales, when we started their logo.
The school wants to make money for themselves, and leave no middle man like me.

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