My husband purchased a Chicago Bears Jersey at the School auction. Good Cause and he likes these sorts of items. So being a good wife I went to price getting it framed. Yes I can figure it out how to DIY this framing job, but work is getting busy and the TIME to MONEY scale is sliding towards the Money side ... so I have significantly less time and will pay for some services, with in reason!
How can we make this more affordable?
VISITING MICHAEL'S Crafts FOR FRAMING, CHICAGO
The line was long. I waited. Excited to buy this frame for my husbands new gleaming jersey. I got a very well informed sales rep. VERY WELL INFORMED. She was very good at how to up sell in her job ... and I just was disappointing at every corner for her.
I had to frame a couple of items in my corporate days as gifts for special VIP coming to meet executives or certificates for employees, etc. I had been around the block with frames. I did a little homework on framing Jerseys before I went into the shop, to see if things have changed in options, and features. Not really, mostly what I was familiar with. So I drew out my plan (like I do for every project, a few doodles) and headed to the store, children in tow.
My kids behave really well, they get a little silly, but nothing they can't handle in line while I order a frame. They tagged along.
I had to frame a couple of items in my corporate days as gifts for special VIP coming to meet executives or certificates for employees, etc. I had been around the block with frames. I did a little homework on framing Jerseys before I went into the shop, to see if things have changed in options, and features. Not really, mostly what I was familiar with. So I drew out my plan (like I do for every project, a few doodles) and headed to the store, children in tow.
My kids behave really well, they get a little silly, but nothing they can't handle in line while I order a frame. They tagged along.
Two Mats versus 3 Mats in Framing
You know when you look at a frame of a photo and the mats inside the frame. We prefer 2 mats, because they have the slight white edge to it. That white edge comes from the cutting process on the frame on the mat. However Michael's crafts assumes people don't know that. So they automatically lay in a white mats in between your top color and your bottom color. Obviously this is one way to drive the price up unless you specifically asked that they not put that middle mats in. The clerk exhaled, obviously enough for me to hear it, and removed the middle mat.
Acrylic vs. Glass
Think about where you're going to be hanging your piece in the house. Because Michael sells this very high-end UV glass protection that keeps 99% of the sunlight out. I don't know about you but I'm not going to hang my valuables in direct sunlight. Because fading is clearly one of the biggest problems. Again I'm the type of person who thinks these things through before going into a custom framing shop. So I instantly asked for acrylic. Were hanging sports memorabilia. "Our jersey, will be hanging in a sun free room. So UV light is not an issue." So instantly when I asked for an acrylic glass, the woman gave me a look like ? Wait, it she harassing ME?
Folded or flat
I had laid the Jersey folded up, for measuring on the counter. She proceeded to UNFOLD IT and measure. I then said "actually ... let's plan to have the bottom part of the Jersey folded up just so enough of the number was exposed with about 2 inches at the bottom. There, like this." This saves me on the size of the frame and the mat (cutting down on some length). Most stores charge per inch of what you're using on frame and mat. Again not a happy clerk re-measuring.
I wanted to certificate of authenticity included. She wanted it done a certain way where "I would be cutting into the mat." She actually was so considerate to sketch out two options for me, both of which were cutting into one of the maths - which would've been some sort of laser cutting that, of course, was more expensive. "Which choice do you prefer." Excellent up sell. I paused, admiring her sketches. "It's so nice." So opened my purse and took out my sketch of how I was considering the jersey framed. An impromptu moment, that not one appreciated as much as me. When I showed her I wanted to Jersey as if it's in one frame and the certificate below in another. She was very frustrated with my fruitfulness and choice #3.
I wanted to certificate of authenticity included. She wanted it done a certain way where "I would be cutting into the mat." She actually was so considerate to sketch out two options for me, both of which were cutting into one of the maths - which would've been some sort of laser cutting that, of course, was more expensive. "Which choice do you prefer." Excellent up sell. I paused, admiring her sketches. "It's so nice." So opened my purse and took out my sketch of how I was considering the jersey framed. An impromptu moment, that not one appreciated as much as me. When I showed her I wanted to Jersey as if it's in one frame and the certificate below in another. She was very frustrated with my fruitfulness and choice #3.
The Frame.
We are getting to the frame, at last. The clerk steps in back and brings out this great frame option that's of course All Solid Wood, which is of course more expensive. I saw her place two previous orders and they did not get this road show of frames and mats. So I ask her "how can we make this more affordable." Again, she goes into her schpiel about the size of my piece and what the wait is to have it produced and if we go with a lower weight frame we simply can't use glass, in a tone of voice as if it was a tragedy.
"I'd like acrylic."
Remember the acrylic versus glass part, me too. "Oh, I said I would prefer acrylic please." Again, she goes to the back and brings out a simple acrylic frame, which has a lot of detail on it. I said "this is simple as we can go?" She says well "you are going to want something a little more decorative." I said "thank you but I prefer it to be simple." I took this opportunity before I got one more "gon in the back" suggestion to point out very specifically the style I'm looking for, then I said show me just 2 frames, in these colors, that is that simple.
THE Final Price.
I have priced frames at my former job. I had done some pretty cool etching on glass, carving names into wood and adding trim details, etc., etc., etc., so I pre-planned and expected $250 or so for the framed jersey, all finished + tax.
Clearly this woman knew her job very well. She knew how to upsell me at every turn.
She sat at her computer, and tallied a few more things. Who knew frame selections when simplified over and over took 25 minutes to order. I am certain Micheal's doesn't want you to feel like you wasted your time investing in these selections... thus the lengthy process.
The final price came out to a whopping $743 for the frame. I simply stood there in silence. Then she applied there fabulous discount of 60% off. $393. I asked again "how can we make this more affordable."
She was hesitant to offer me the even cheaper frame that I knew was available. I did my research before going in. She hesitated to offer me to making my frames even smaller, which was still an option. So while Michael's, is a very good at the up sell, as the customer PLEASE do not be afraid to ask how can we make this more affordable?
The clerk said: "Affordable for who?"
I looked at my older son, who was leaning on me near the counter, observing the interesting banter. I took my purse and said common kids, time to go get lunch!
The clerk shouted, yes, in a loud voice:
"DAMN IT! Affordable for me! Because you Ms. Clerk aren't paying my bill!"
She sat at her computer, and tallied a few more things. Who knew frame selections when simplified over and over took 25 minutes to order. I am certain Micheal's doesn't want you to feel like you wasted your time investing in these selections... thus the lengthy process.
The final price came out to a whopping $743 for the frame. I simply stood there in silence. Then she applied there fabulous discount of 60% off. $393. I asked again "how can we make this more affordable."
She was hesitant to offer me the even cheaper frame that I knew was available. I did my research before going in. She hesitated to offer me to making my frames even smaller, which was still an option. So while Michael's, is a very good at the up sell, as the customer PLEASE do not be afraid to ask how can we make this more affordable?
The clerk said: "Affordable for who?"
I looked at my older son, who was leaning on me near the counter, observing the interesting banter. I took my purse and said common kids, time to go get lunch!
The clerk shouted, yes, in a loud voice:
"Where do you think you will get what you want? Affordable for who?"
The route we ended up taking
Michael's wants $160 for a custom shadowbox jersey frame, +40% off with their coupons. I'll find one on Amazon or on the web for slightly cheaper. Also a customer was there getting just a mats cut to size. I didn't know they have this option. So I will buy the $7.99 mats - 2 (or 3) and have it cut to size once I have my box frame and do my own measurements.
As for the certificate of authenticity.
I think I'm going to simply double up on the mats towards the bottom and frame that section myself. It'll stand out nicely against the larger mat and the Jersey. And then, as for a double mat, I'll mat around the Jersey too, and then I'll also put in an inch or so of that mat on the actual frame and glass to give it a little bit more depth, she was doing this already for me and didn't tell me until the very end after I had asked how do we make this more affordable.
The clerks must work on commission, because this woman just kept saying no to me on options that were evidently available at any other normal custom framing shop.
Make mistakes, breathe, reflect and Laugh Out Loud when people try to over charge you.
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