Sample prints from labs?

I use express digital's photo reflect for the sales of my photos. I was recently using Economy Prints for all my things, until I saw the quality - not horrible, but I thought my local costco had sharper prints.

I'm also stuck using the labtricity network in photoreflect. I found a few places with prices around what I would like them to be, but I don't want to risk again.

would i be out of my mind to call and ask for a sample photo or two for quality purposes?

not sure if you own your own studio or not but labs around here were more than willing to give me free prints for over 2 weeks to try them out. i told them i was opening up a photo studio in a couple of weeks and i was looking for a lab to do my prints for my customers. lab i stuck w/ had great customer service and were willing to give me free prints until i opened my studio. great time for playing around w/ prints and playing around w/ their software. by the time i opened my studio, i had worked out all the kinks and was ready for business.

That last lab I started an account with sent me an inch thick sample package including a ringed stack of different paper & canvas samples.

Start with a standard image file. I use these just to be sure everything is on track: Test files at the bottom of...
http://www.gballard.ne​t/psd/srgbforwww.html

Other people have had varying results from them, but they've been my "pro lab" for 3 years & I've never had a problem with them.

order yourself 5 prints for $1.00 if you are really concerned........