Business card printing: local vs online

[inward/outward]

Do you find that local printers are almost double the cost for business cards than online vendors?

I find that I like local because I can see the hard proof before printing and they usually provide business referrals after you develop a relationship with them, so the extra cost is probably worth the "advertising" they provide you to their clients and contacts.

I have chosen to pay the extra cost for a local printer because he is a friend, has referred his clients to me for photography services, and I have seen his work. In this case, you really do get what you pay for and you get quite a bit in tangible and intangible benefits.

Thoughts?

[JWright]

I decided I didn't want to buy business cards 500 or 1000 at a crack, so I started designing and printing mine at home. I place the finished design into a 10-up Adobe InDesign document and print them on regular ink-jet photo paper. I then cut them apart with one of those rotary trimmers and... Bingo! I have business cards. Very simple and I print only as many as I need. I created several different designs, so I can vary it as the whim strikes me.

[saturnin]

i dont like the DIY apporach to cards..becuse no matter how good the printer/paper is/are they still look home made.. i'd rather spend 60bux to get 1000 cards made, and if i dont go thorugh em and want a diff desing its another 60bux that i dont mind spending.
I think by the time u invest in some good equipment and inks and paper is still going to cost way more to do one offs....plus i just have a thing about printing stuff on consumer printers..lol.. no matter how good they say it is..i dont trust it.... but thats just my wierd thinking :D

[EnronRocks]

I VistaPrint them, mainly because the local stores around here do not allow you to design your own. They have preset templates or you have to pay for design services. Plus they have select colors you have to choose from, and if you don't do that you have to give them the exact code of the color? WTF! It is a lot easier to upload them and pay the extra for shipping. Not to mention now that I bought my first 3,000 cards from Vista Print I get offers ALL THE TIME! 80% off, 250 - 500 Free Business Cards and sometimes Free 2 day Shipping. Which I do not need since they are shipped a state away from me.

[Uhland]

I went with vistaprints...
1) the offer 250 pro cards Free ($5 shipping)
2) I doubt I will go through 250 cards anytime soon.
3) want to be able to change my design around.

[EnronRocks]

25% off your Business Card Purchasewww.vistaprint.com/bizcard

500 Free Business Cards + Free Holder - http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/ns/studio3.aspx?pf%5Fid=064&combo%5Fid=4298&gallery%5Fid=64&fullname=Garrett+Reardon&email=greardon%40gmail%2Ecom&GP=3%2F4%2F2008+11%3A22%3A31+PM

80% off 500 Premium Cards + Free Holder - http://e.vistaprint.com/a/hBHx-nFAZdBOAB0h9ZnAd2rkUyn/vph5?d_snumb=9110574349&SHOPPER_ID=W55MM1LQ3J5DHDMVD1VI760Q170VQN0T&FNAME=Garrett&LNAME=Reardon&EMAIL=greardon@gmail.com

[Uhland]

i see your email in that link greardon

[saturnin]

i use overnightprints.. have been for a long time.. they do great work and never had issues...

[EnronRocks]

i see your email in that link greardon

Oh well, spam me. Just edit the link in a text editor and replace the email with your VistaPrint account email.

[inward/outward]

I VistaPrint them, mainly because the local stores around here do not allow you to design your own

I find that interesting. It is probably because most of the submissions they would get are not high enough ppi, etc... and most people do not understand design well enough to get the dimensions right. I am thankful my friend is able to help me with my proof since I was able to get it 99% of the way there with one try.

Regarding the overnight printing and vista prints, do they offer to send you a hard proof before they print your quantity? I would imagine for your business, you would want them perfect and not to get a box in the mail of not-so-perfect cards.

[JWright]

i dont like the DIY apporach to cards..becuse no matter how good the printer/paper is/are they still look home made.. i'd rather spend 60bux to get 1000 cards made, and if i dont go thorugh em and want a diff desing its another 60bux that i dont mind spending.
I think by the time u invest in some good equipment and inks and paper is still going to cost way more to do one offs....plus i just have a thing about printing stuff on consumer printers..lol.. no matter how good they say it is..i dont trust it.... but thats just my wierd thinking :D

I don't use my cards to try to solicit business, I use them to direct people to my gallery website. And even though they are "home made" I get lots of compliments on them.

[EnronRocks]

I find that interesting. It is probably because most of the submissions they would get are not high enough ppi, etc... and most people do not understand design well enough to get the dimensions right. I am thankful my friend is able to help me with my proof since I was able to get it 99% of the way there with one try.

Regarding the overnight printing and vista prints, do they offer to send you a hard proof before they print your quantity? I would imagine for your business, you would want them perfect and not to get a box in the mail of not-so-perfect cards.

It is not that, 300 dbi is perfect. They just want to rack up design charges, it is that simple. They have been doing it for year, and have a nich in the business here. Until I started handing out my Business cards, I have refereed MANY of people to VistaPrint and helped design their cards.

[scorpio_e]

I have heard a lot of bad things about vista print..

[inward/outward]

I have heard a lot of bad things about vista print..

Details, please (facts only, no opinions if possible). Business is business.

[inward/outward]

Just got my hard proof yesterday from my friend's printing business and the cards are perfect! The great thing is they printed on two slightly different card stocks, and make adjustments without any additional cost to me to rerun after adjustments additional proofs. For 250 cards at around $80, it is well worth it and I know exactly how they will turn out and I don't have to sacrifice anything. Going forward, I can order more and not have to be concerned about layout, etc... when making minor changes (i.e. address, etc....).

IO

[bergenjente]

If you're ever wanting to try something a little different, to make things stand out, try www.moo.com (http://www.moo.com)

I created some unique business cards with them, and people love them. You can use all your own photographs, and it's a lot of fun.

Check it out some time!

[EnronRocks]

Just got my hard proof yesterday from my friend's printing business and the cards are perfect! The great thing is they printed on two slightly different card stocks, and make adjustments without any additional cost to me to rerun after adjustments additional proofs. For 250 cards at around $80, it is well worth it and I know exactly how they will turn out and I don't have to sacrifice anything. Going forward, I can order more and not have to be concerned about layout, etc... when making minor changes (i.e. address, etc....).

IO

If you don't like the print from VistaPrint they will refund your money when you call them, barely any questions asked. $80.00 for 250 cards is outrageous, even if they make adjustments. VistaPrint pays attention to detail just like the next person, they just have more business. With more business naturally someone is going to complain about something. You could have gotten around 1500 or so cards for $80 from VistaPrint.

[inward/outward]

If you don't like the print from VistaPrint they will refund your money when you call them, barely any questions asked. $80.00 for 250 cards is outrageous, even if they make adjustments. VistaPrint pays attention to detail just like the next person, they just have more business. With more business naturally someone is going to complain about something. You could have gotten around 1500 or so cards for $80 from VistaPrint.

Yeah, well all this is fine, except I would like to see the quality compared with my local printer.

Additionally, which I mentioned in an earlier post in this thread, my local printer is a friend and has referred me to his clients to provide me business. I think the $80 is well worth it since marketing and running ads is expensive. I will not likely go through 250 cards in 6 months because my business is on the side and not full time.

IO