Ever wonder why some vehicle graphics seem to last forever and others seem like it started to crack or peel way too soon? Of course we all will come up with some ideas of why…. In reality there are a couple reasons; Quality of materials, Quality of installation, and ability of the installer are the only factors truly involved.

Let’s take an example straight out of the playbook. Two 40 passenger buses need to be done for two different organizations during the same week. We bid on both and only get one awarded to us, in the meantime we discover that we were about 500 bucks higher than the other bidder on the other bus. We have learned that price variation exists for many reasons, so let’s not dwell on that aspect…yet. We complete our bus and get paid, the other company completes their bus and gets paid. Fast forward 3 years and we receive a call to make a bid to remove the cracking and peeling lettering and replace it. Once again, we do not get this job awarded to us. Now lets fast forward another 3 years, yes 6 years later from the original week. We receive another call, you guessed it, to remove the cracking and peeling letters and install new again.

After not getting this job yet again, we are convinced that we are just not meant to do that bus. However it got me to thinking about the original bus that we had done. I went and checked it over and looks like it is in great shape, nothing cracking, no peeling, nothing out of the ordinary for me to be at all concerned. So the $500 saved up front on that “other” bus, has now turned into quite the pricey situation over the past 6 years for them, and can only guess that in 3 years we might get another call.

Vinyl has different lifespan depending on brand and performance rating, saving money up front usually bites you in the end, the old adage, you get what you pay for! When dealing with a custom made product for your business, make sure only the highest level of materials and techniques are being used to represent you, and always ask about the longevity!