Choosing a printing service might sound straightforward enough. You go online, compare a few services, find the best quotes, and arrange for projects to be scheduled for printing. But that’s not all there is when hiring professional vendors. You must pay attention to factors like the scope of the projects, expectations, and a quick turnaround for the paid services. Here are some helpful tips to remember and common mistakes to avoid when choosing printing services.

Tips to remember while choosing printing services

Check for a decent range of services
When you hire professional printers for bulk projects or specialist printing, ensure the company has the right tools, resources, and workforce to handle the task. Labor and materials go hand in hand with bulk printing; therefore, ensure the company can provide the output by the stipulated deadline. The executives working for these printing services should know the industry and customer requirements well. Printing booklets, business cards, newsletters, magnets, stickers, and flyers are among the top requirements for businesses. You should be able to place multiple orders for distinct types of print jobs and expect the company to deliver on the due date.

Compare cost versus quality of work
Bulk projects are serviced with custom quotes, so the cost of hiring professional printing services will vary depending on the quantity of work. Printing is just one of the costs, as these services also charge for shipping and delivery of orders to multiple locations. These hidden costs are usually not discussed upfront and are often ignored conveniently until the invoice is ready before dispatch. However, you should avoid making this mistake and ask for a final estimate with all charges included before placing the order. Discussing quotes upfront is the only way to avoid getting scammed on deals of the day promoted by printing services. Furthermore, the cost of the print should ensure the quality of the work.

Check the company’s reputation
With dozens of printing services located in a close enough radius at your location, you’re better off choosing companies with customer testimonials and honest reviews. Any company paying attention to customer support is a beautiful place to begin with because it shows they care about the consumers enough to address grievances. Check for honest customer reviews on popular social media platforms while comparing affordable services. You must also check out the company’s website to see if they publish testimonials from satisfied customers. It is a good sign, as the company is confident about reviews and doesn’t shy from publishing positive feedback.

Common mistakes to avoid with printing services
Bulk printing projects cost a lot of money, especially when these are special order prints. So, you must avoid making certain common mistakes like the ones listed below with professional printers.

Not explaining the scope of the project
Your prints could be a part of a more extensive campaign that profoundly impacts the company’s brand and reputation. So accordingly, you must know how to communicate specific requirements with the services. Special quality paper, special ink, the large size of the print, or even materials used for the print project will make all the difference in the final results. You should be able to explain the scope of the bulk print to ensure there is no waste of time, money, and effort.

Providing incorrect source material
Printing services require you to send them the final drafts in a specific format to be resized and enhanced to improve the quality of these printouts. You cannot send the printers an image that loses pixelation upon enlarging the size, as it will affect the final render quality. It is up to you to proofread the source materials, ensure it’s in the proper file format and size and share with the correct resolution for the printers to carry out their task seamlessly.

Not setting a timeline
Deadlines are everything when it comes to bulk projects. So, you should be very specific about the delivery dates with printing services, as any delays can result in unexpected costs for the campaign. Also, always remember to check the final order and ensure everything is proper before transferring the remainder of the funds. Know that it’s always beneficial to choose a printing service that ensures fast and timely delivery of bulk orders.

Not having a point of contact
You’ll also need a dedicated point of contact established from the company’s end and at the printing services. It’s simply not possible to keep track of this inventory with multiple floating orders unless there is open and timely communication established among the printers.