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If you can pay less for the same product, that’s a good thing, right? Absolutely! That is, as long as you are actually getting the same product you think you are getting. When it comes to online printing companies, consumers too often get duped, thinking that they are getting the same thing for less when, in fact, they are getting a lower value substitute.
If you want to order a brochure, a postcard, or a banner, you can order from one of a seemingly infinite number of online printing suppliers and get it for less than you would pay a local printing company. But that lower price comes at a cost. What value are you actually trading off for that cheap online price?
1. Is that mud on my paper?
Just like local printers, many online print suppliers have quality printing equipment and trained employees, but there is a reason their prices are so low. One of those reasons is “ganging.” This is where your job is run on the press alongside those of a bunch of other companies.
This might be okay when everyone’s job is within a similar color range, but if there is a wide range of colors and tones, the press isn’t going to be optimized for any specific job. It will be set up as an average of all of them. If you’re lucky, your postcard or brochure might come out looking okay, but it’s not going to be the best it could be. You could end up wondering why your yellows weren’t as bright as you expected or why that blue didn’t really pop. If you’re not so lucky, your colors might just look muddy.
When we run your job, yours is the only job on the press. This allows us to optimize the ink and press settings so you get the best possible results.
2. You deal with real human beings.
The other thing you give up when working with an online print supplier is human contact. When you call, you might get a real person on the other end of the line, but you might not. Or you might get a real person, but if you have questions beyond, “When will I get my order?” you’ll likely be waiting for a callback . . . for a while.
Of course, you can always email your questions “for faster response,” which is often in 1-2 business days. But if the CSR needs clarification or a response from you in order to give you an answer. . . you guessed it. Once you respond, you’ll be waiting another 1-2 business days. Hope you weren’t in a hurry.
When you call us, you talk to a real person, not a machine. When you email, we respond ASAP. If you need help with a file, we won’t refer you to an FAQ. You’ll deal with a trained customer service person quickly.
3. We’ll come to you.
Online print suppliers want your jobs to succeed . . . in theory. If your business lags, or even disappears, will anyone even notice? If you stop placing orders, there are hundreds or thousands of other customers to take your place.
At Burlington Press, when we say we want you to succeed, we actually do. Our business is built on lasting customer relationships. We know our customers. We care about them. You are our friends and neighbors. If you want help figuring out exactly what you need and how to put a marketing plan together, we’ll sit down with you at your office and really learn your business or non-profit organization and help you figure out exactly what you need.
We’re not about selling you stuff you don’t need, either. That’s not how relationships work. We want to you work with us for the long haul. To do that, we are going to treat you right. That includes encouraging you to invest only in the tools that actually benefit your marketing plan.
There is a reason cartoonists have a great time with the theme of small business versus faceless corporations. To large corporations, you’re just a dollar sign. To us, you’re you.
Want to learn more about the value of shopping in local businesses, such as “greening” the environment, supporting local shopping diversity, and reinvesting to critical resources back in your local community? Check out this link from Independent We Stand. Some of the benefits might surprise you!