Edit: But I have had some quality/consistency issues with them. I've done a couple re-orders for customers and found that the lightness/darkness / contrast and color always changes somewhat from one order to the next.
One customer's cards were colored so differently from the first batch - he refused to take them and I had to re-order.....and I had to argue with the guy at 4colorprints to get him to reproduce them - and they were still different.
He said that the color is influenced by all the other cards that happened to be "ganged-up" around your order at the time they are produced. Apparently, they print a gob of other people's cards at the same time....so if they have cards that have really different hues - then it could adversely affect the output of your cards.
posted
We,ve been using Silk Cards from Design Line Graphics. Our cost is $49 per thousand, full color front, black on white on the back, and I don't know if they screwed up on my last 2 orders but the charge on my credit card was $49... no additional charge for freight.
We haven't had any reorders yet to check color consistancy, but every order has come in exactly the way we designed it and the service is quick.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5398 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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Blake - that price is about right in my opinion. However, you need to get a design fee attached to the first batch to reflect the time you spend designing the cards....
at least $65 an hour....maybe a flat fee? What does everyone else think about this? How do you do it Dave?
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Untill lately I have not been getting a design fee for anything. And I think my designs have suffered becouse of it. Just throw somthing together.
Lately there have been alot in signcraft about giving away art and it has stoped in my shop. $65.00hr design fee $85.00hr production & install $150.00hr crane truck. Anyway I fee like I'm hijacking a thred.
-------------------- Blake Wright The Sign Shop of Florence Florence S.C. Posts: 78 | From: Effingham, S.C. | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
I've been using GotPrint.com for awhile for my cards and customer cards. The price for 1,000 2-sided, full color, UV coated (both sides) cards will only cost you $25 plus shipping.
I only had one color problem, and they gave me a hard time as well. Basically had the same song and dance that Todd went through. My problem, however, was that the front and back of the card were supposed to have a background of a dark green color. The back came out perfect, but the front came out muddy brown! Completely different colors.
I told them it didn't matter what problems THEY have printing them. If they can't provide an accurate color reproduction, I'll go elsewhere. They said they would reprint them and I received the new cards and both sides were right on.
I've also been talking to ParnterPrinting.com about their services. I'll will try them if GotPrint doesn't want my business.
-------------------- Randy Graphic Details Promotional Merchandise Distributor South Glens Falls, NY Posts: 381 | From: South Glens Falls, NY USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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[ June 29, 2006, 10:30 AM: Message edited by: Randy W. Robarge ]
-------------------- Randy Graphic Details Promotional Merchandise Distributor South Glens Falls, NY Posts: 381 | From: South Glens Falls, NY USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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We are using 4Over Trade for our full color business cards and they do a great job. Usually our cost is around $25. per 1000 plus shipping. We email the files and have really no real problems to complain about. Except one time they sent us someone else's cards that we didn't order and never heard of! Not even from our state. They said just pitch them. It would cost too much to send them back. I think 4Over is out of California. Their website is 40vertrade.com. Check them out. We also get UV one or two sides, depending on the backside printing. Hope this helps.
Sign-cerely, Steve
-------------------- Steve Luck Sign Magic Inc. 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 (618)466-9120 signmagic@sbcglobal.net Posts: 870 | From: 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 | Registered: Dec 2004
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We have been sending TIF files, but they will accept many different files. The website will instruct you on how to set it up. They have a whole list of things. We pay by credit card which is faster.
Sign-cerely, Steve
-------------------- Steve Luck Sign Magic Inc. 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 (618)466-9120 signmagic@sbcglobal.net Posts: 870 | From: 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 | Registered: Dec 2004
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I use gotprint.com and have never had much of a problem.
I did have one customer that wanted 250 cards for 4 different people. I ordered them all at the same time, and got hit with a $45 shipping cost (thats as much as the cards cost). What really grinds my gears is that they said that it would be 4 different boxes (becasuse they didn't put them into a big box), but all 4 boxes came taped together. There is no way that the shipping cost should have been that high.
-------------------- Mark Kottwitz Kottwitz Graphics Ridgely, MD www.SeeMySignWork.com -------------------------- Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert Einstein Posts: 746 | From: Ridgely, MD | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I have used postcardpress.com with awesome results on color reproduction.
I have also used gotprint.com with great results, plus they use the heavy 14pt card stock.
I've used printpelican.com for printing posters. Drop dead gorgeous output. I plan to try them out for business cards soon, I'm ready for another batch. The pricing on their site is a little higher than others but they will do reseller discounts, I just haven't looked into it any further. I'd gladly pay a little more to have perfect results without the hassle of re-ordering because of some excuse.
The last set of business cards I did I charged $120 for design and $200 for the cards. I should have charged more on design considering what I put into it but it was for a good regular customer that never complains or haggles. I don't feel too bad about giving that type of customer a break every now and then.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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We use Gotprint.com also and have very good Luck with them. I agree with Mark's statement about the shipping issues but I just look at a cost of business so the toatl is $39 per 1000 so we charge $125 and if its not a sign customer there is a setup/Design charge. One thing I have noticed with them if you send your files as a Flatten .psd (Photoshop Native)they seem to always come back spot on.
posted
I have been using ColorCards Direct www.ccdresellers.com $29 plus SH Full color cards I upload the design to the webpage get an invoice and the cards come to my door.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7404 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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We use a local printer whom I have been loyal to since we moved to the area. While their prices may not be the cheapest compared to what you can find on the net, I like to keep my business in town as much as possible.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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I have been using BCT (Business Cards Tomorrow) out of Jacksonville,FL for many years. They have many locations in the US. I have had good service in the past but they recently printed 2000 full color brochures both sides and printed the inside upside down. They reprinted them giving me only a 20% discount. This time they were printed the right direction but were not centered. They printed the brochures a 3rd time and centered them side to side but not top to bottom. Next BCT printed full color cards wrong after I signed off on a proof. The third strike was when I sent files in requesting a quote for printing PMS colors on a business card before they went into production. They printed them but I refused to accept them since my customer felt that $199 for a 1000 cards was exorbitant. I am looking for another source for full color cards,raised letter cards, stationery, and envelopes. I have used Carlson Craft but find their prices much higher. Who do you use for regular business cards with raised printing on varying card stocks? I have used a local printer for flat printing but need a source for raised letter business cards. Judy
-------------------- Judy Pate Signs By Judy Albany, Georgia USA 229-435-6824
Live simply...Love generously...Care deeply...Speak kindly...Leave the rest to God. Posts: 2621 | From: Albany,GA,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Just think of how you feel after one of your customers goes to another sign maker. This post reminded me of all those business questions I've been reading on this BB in all these years.
To me its all relevant on what a person expects from whoever they are doing business with and when you check out someone else for work to be done then its the same as putting yourself in your former customers shoes, so to speak
I guess this topic hit me in all the right places as I've been using the same printer for ten years.
Oh well, you can have your post back now
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
posted
Joey, if I screwed up my customer's work, then made excuses as to WHY I screwed it up, then I would HOPE my customer goes to someone else.
Same thing here. I guess I don't really see your point...
-------------------- Randy Graphic Details Promotional Merchandise Distributor South Glens Falls, NY Posts: 381 | From: South Glens Falls, NY USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Judy Pate: BCT recently printed 2000 full color brochures both sides and printed the inside upside down. They reprinted them giving me only a 20% discount.
So they still made a profit on printing something that they screwed up on?
They printed the inside upside down, it would have been their dime to reprint. There ain't a snowballs chance that I would have paid for that.
I checked into them, paid $50 for their "info packet" and have yet to buy anything from them. They did send me a proof of a business card that I sent them, but I wasn't impressed by their quality.
[ June 30, 2006, 11:16 AM: Message edited by: Mark M. Kottwitz ]
-------------------- Mark Kottwitz Kottwitz Graphics Ridgely, MD www.SeeMySignWork.com -------------------------- Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert Einstein Posts: 746 | From: Ridgely, MD | Registered: Oct 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Judy Pate: BCT recently printed 2000 full color brochures both sides and printed the inside upside down. They reprinted them giving me only a 20% discount.
So they still made a profit on printing something that they screwed up on?
They printed the inside upside down, it would have been their dime to reprint. There ain't a snowballs chance that I would have paid for that.
I checked into them, paid $50 for their "info packet" and have yet to buy anything from them. They did send me a proof of a business card that I sent them, but I wasn't impressed by their quality.
Check out printpelican.com Mark. They won't even charge you for their sample packet and it's some NICE stuff in there - posters, biz cards, postcards, presentation folders, and the list goes on.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Let me explain further about the 2000 brochures being printed upside down. This was my first brochure order. My customer created the brochure. I converted it to a PDF that they required with a trial program. The borchures had this programs logo attached to the bottom of each page. BCT did contact me about removing the logo from the bottom of the each page. I feel that they should seen the mistake before printing the brochures but they didn't see it that way. They felt like it was my mistake because of the way the file was sent to them. I agree with you Mark..I didn't want to pay for two sets of brochures even with a 20% discount. I should have refused to pay and stop doing business with them right then. The last two mistakes BCT, they did the reprints at no charge. I will not do business with them anymore. I am checking out all the other companies listed on this post. Thanks, Judy
-------------------- Judy Pate Signs By Judy Albany, Georgia USA 229-435-6824
Live simply...Love generously...Care deeply...Speak kindly...Leave the rest to God. Posts: 2621 | From: Albany,GA,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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