[Rembrandt]

Hi there

I'm designing some business cards for a client and have two questions.

(1) Does anyone know of a good, cheap, reliable online printing service? Obviously as a designer I only want printing and don't need any design or fixing. Am I right in thinking it'll be cheaper to use an online service and not a local one?
(2) Excluding the printing costs, what is a competitive amount to charge for the design?

Best wishes

R

[henbast]

1. I used Moo.com for mine. Not the absolute cheapest but the quality was top boz. I'd recommend them.

2. Not my area so I couldn't say. String, I guess...

[roothost]

1. I ended up using a local printer as moo.com couldn't/wouldn't print my background on the cards. Was nothing special, just a noise effect done in PS. The printer I used certainly wasn't the cheapest but had no problems printing exactly as I had designed and had them returned to be withn 36 hours!

2. Depends on the complexity of the design, how long it takes and what you would normally charge for that amount of time.

[teodora]

I have used stressfreeprint.co uk and I am happy with their services so far.

[Beavy]

Isn't vistaprint meant to be pretty good? I know you get something like first 500 free.

[WBC]

Beavy, on 05 December 2011 - 07:51 PM, said:

Isn't vistaprint meant to be pretty good? I know you get something like first 500 free.

No! Vista print isn't very good, quality sucks, Moo is far better.

Cost depends on a lot of factors; time, complexity and client. If a client is a small business owner and they already have a brand then the time and complexity should be low meaning the business cards would be cheapish, if they took an hour to design i'd be looking at £50-65. If the client had no brand/ logo then there would be a lot more work involved including research time if the job was to be done properly, meaning a bigger charge.

This post has been edited by WBC: 05 December 2011 - 07:59 PM

[oakleaves]

Beavy, on 05 December 2011 - 07:51 PM, said:

Isn't vistaprint meant to be pretty good? I know you get something like first 500 free.

if 'pretty good'='cheap' then I suppose so.

you get what you pay for as with most things

Heard good things about moo.com - will be trying them out myself soon

This post has been edited by oakleaves: 05 December 2011 - 08:03 PM

[Beavy]

oakleaves, on 05 December 2011 - 08:02 PM, said:

if 'pretty good'='cheap' then I suppose so.

Mum used them to get 500 business cards but not used them since so not sure what there service is like. The cards seem pretty good quality

[roothost]

Beavy, on 05 December 2011 - 08:11 PM, said:

Mum used them to get 500 business cards but not used them since so not sure what there service is like. The cards seem pretty good quality

They offer free cards, with vistaprint logo on the reverse, which isn't very professional and the quality is god-damn awful. That's why they are so cheap!

Moo are great, just couldn't print my cards.

As above, if you spend little, get cheap quality cards, what does that say to your clients about your business?

[Beavy]

roothost, on 05 December 2011 - 08:43 PM, said:

They offer free cards, with vistaprint logo on the reverse, which isn't very professional and the quality is god-damn awful. That's why they are so cheap!

Moo are great, just couldn't print my cards.

As above, if you spend little, get cheap quality cards, what does that say to your clients about your business?

Like you say there free. My mum is just starting out so doesn't want to spend £50 + as she doesn't have that kind of money. Just trying to get the name out.

[Rembrandt]

Beavy, on 05 December 2011 - 08:48 PM, said:

Like you say there free. My mum is just starting out so doesn't want to spend £50 + as she doesn't have that kind of money. Just trying to get the name out.

Thanks for your replies.

Came across this one - www.gotprint.co.uk - seems cheap and offer a variety of finishes. I have requested a sample pack to have a look at the finish myself, but so far looks promising. Will check out Moo.

R

[Beavy]

Nice one. Just spoke with my mum now and vista print only have there logo on the back if there the free ones.

[WBC]

Talking parents my dad had some from vista he though they were ok so I made a design and printed them with moo, he'll never use vista again. Moo's were about 4 times the thickness and had a nice finish.

[roothost]

Beavy, on 05 December 2011 - 10:27 PM, said:

Nice one. Just spoke with my mum now and vista print only have there logo on the back if there the free ones.

Didn't I just say that?

Quote

They offer free cards, with vistaprint logo on the reverse, which isn't very professional and the quality is god-damn awful. That's why they are so cheap!

This post has been edited by roothost: 05 December 2011 - 10:51 PM

[roothost]

WBC, on 05 December 2011 - 10:38 PM, said:

Talking parents my dad had some from vista he though they were ok so I made a design and printed them with moo, he'll never use vista again. Moo's were about 4 times the thickness and had a nice finish.

Yeah, doesn't surprise me.

[rallport]

Beavy, on 05 December 2011 - 07:51 PM, said:

Isn't vistaprint meant to be pretty good? I know you get something like first 500 free.

Vista print are god awful. There's a reason they have stupidly low prices and try to give everything away.

[brightonmike]

I got a leaflet with a catalogue the other day from Vista Print offering a customised calendar for 99p. You know it's **** when it's only a quid, lol.

[roothost]

brightonmike, on 06 December 2011 - 09:42 AM, said:

I got a leaflet with a catalogue the other day from Vista Print offering a customised calendar for 99p. You know it's **** when it's only a quid, lol.

Probably worth more in the recycling

[oakleaves]

brightonmike, on 06 December 2011 - 09:42 AM, said:

I got a leaflet with a catalogue the other day from Vista Print offering a customised calendar for 99p.

It's a loss leader (as well as probably being very poor quality)

[Ozzyboxer]

I have used many many online printers but i have to say, printbaby beats everything, they work like 24hrs cuz everytime i email them, i get a reply in no time.. one of the most frendly printers ever, service, quaality and even packaging is excellent - www.printbaby.co.uk.

[Ozzyboxer]

try printbaby.co.uk.. you can bargain with them.. dead cheap and top quality