Business card printing...

[kipper workshops]

Hi everyone...

...now in an ideal world where time was infinate, money was aplenty and patience was stored in large boxes behind the bed, I would make my own business cards. They'd be so unusual, vibrant, made of lovely crafty parts. They would sell my business all by themselves. It'd be marvellous.

...now in the real world i need a quick fix. I have done a simple business card design. it looks nice enough, it's functional and should be cheap to produce.

So my question is, where do you get your cards printed? I need a good value printer but equally I want the cards to look pro so I can be happy handing them out.

Got any suggestions?

Thanks eveyone.

Steve

[candles by lisa]

Hi Steve,

I got my cards printed from cards made easy. You just need to upload your image and they do the rest. They aren't very expensive.

I have heard that Vista I think it is do free cards but I don't know if you can supply the artwork or if it is set images that they use.

The cards made easy are good quality and laminated on both sides so they don't tear - and believe you me I have tried to tear them to prove them wrong.

Hope this helps.

All the best.

Lisa:)

[swirlyarts]

Vista print do indeed do a feature where you can upload your image/design. It does cost but only once - once it is on their system then you can use it as many times as you want. I'm not sure if they include that with their freebies or not - worth a look though.

[zebra]

Vista print are fab - I do all my business cards-postcards etc on there...Worth waiting for the promotions but once your with them they have promo's on every wk anyway.
Just an idea.......why not make your business card with your crafty bits etc and copy it and use as a template for your card? Just upload onto there site and just add your text.

That way - its part of what you would like to do without the hassle.

:)


Hi everyone...

...now in an ideal world where time was infinate, money was aplenty and patience was stored in large boxes behind the bed, I would make my own business cards. They'd be so unusual, vibrant, made of lovely crafty parts. They would sell my business all by themselves. It'd be marvellous.

...now in the real world i need a quick fix. I have done a simple business card design. it looks nice enough, it's functional and should be cheap to produce.

So my question is, where do you get your cards printed? I need a good value printer but equally I want the cards to look pro so I can be happy handing them out.

Got any suggestions?

Thanks eveyone.

Steve

[colourart]

I use Vista also, they are great and seem to be good quality also. They do bombard your email though once you use them, but they do have good offers. I had some free?! leaflets from them which are nice too. They do put free on their offers sometimes, but you pay over the odds for postage. I guess this is where they make their money. I don't really have a criticism of them though.

[Soapwitch]

I also use vistaprint and their stuff is great. I like to upload my own images but the ones that they have aren't too bad. Everything always turns up so fast and they are sooo cheap!!

[zebra]

I also use vistaprint and their stuff is great. I like to upload my own images but the ones that they have aren't too bad. Everything always turns up so fast and they are sooo cheap!!


I agree.....never had any trouble with them. And even if there postage is a little high for the free offers, its still far, far cheaper than going to the printers.

Quality is good too.
I just wish they did bigger labels - need some for my big canvas boxes - a way round it though for me at the moment.
Expand image and print my own as I don't use as many as I do the address labels.
Still could do with someone else making me them - I have enough to do.

.............better get back to my glass! ;)

[kipper workshops]

Thanks for your ideas everyone.

Yep I had seen Vista but not looked into them properly. It does seem excellent value. The only question I have is the 'thiness' of the cards? They are 215gsm. Cards made easy are a little more expensive but thier card stock is 360gsm.

Do the Vista cards feel quite thin or are they ok?

Steve

[Soapwitch]

I always buy the vistaprint premium business cards and I was a bit uncertain about them before I first ordered, but they are made of good quality card, not flimsy or cheap looking, so they do the job for me for the time being!

[swirlyarts]

I'm not sure what the thickness of the cards is but they have always been helpful when I have had a query so just write to them - it may even be on the website somewhere.

[Mary]

For what it's worth, I do my business cards on MS Publisher, using one of their templates, but with my own custom colour overlay on it. I then print them on an old Epson printer using card stock left over from when I made cards. You have to be sure that your printer will take that thickness of card (sorry, not sure how many g that is, but it is the normal card you buy for basic cardmaking). Not to brag or anything, but I have been asked many times where I get them done and is it expensive, so they must look alright.
Hope that helps

[candles by lisa]

Thanks for your ideas everyone.

Yep I had seen Vista but not looked into them properly. It does seem excellent value. The only question I have is the 'thiness' of the cards? They are 215gsm. Cards made easy are a little more expensive but thier card stock is 360gsm.

Do the Vista cards feel quite thin or are they ok?

Steve

That was the reason I was swayed to go with cards made easy purely on the thickness of the card. I thought to myself you are giving an image of the company and I wanted it to be the best but with the least amount of money. Like I say these cards are virtually indestructable. Even went through the wash and came out fine!

Hope this helps.

:D

[kipper workshops]

Brilliant help. Thanks everyone.

I think I will go with Cards made easy. I really do want the cards to be nice and thick. I will get a smaller number made up, if I am happy with them then I will get more done.

Thanks again everyone, I will let you know hoiw I get on...

Steve

[kipper workshops]

Hi everyone.

Just got my business cards from cards made easy this morning.

They are absolutely excellent. Thick, solid, well printed, nicely coated. They look very professional, just what I was hoping for.

I can highly recommend them. Thanks Lisa for recommending them (and yes they are virtually indestructable!!).

I bought 1000 to see how it goes. They cost just under £80, so about £0.08p per card. Certainly not the cheapest but I think it is so important to have a classy business card. Next time I will buy more and the cost comes down a lot.

Steve :)

[candles by lisa]

Hi everyone.

(and yes they are virtually indestructable!!).



Told you, and want to know how I know - the washing machine, forgot I had a supply in my trouser pockets, went through the whole wash and came out without a mark on them (dried them off and put them back with the rest).

I tried to get my son to tear one in half but after 1/2 and hour puffing and panting and only bending the card he gave up (and he is a strong boy for 14).

Glad you liked them Steve.

All the best.
Lisa

:D

[sunbatheintheshade]

i just received mine, i bought 200 for less than £15 on goodprint.com....you can upload your own design or get them to design them for you - and delivered right to your door, i was very impressed!

good luck! x

:sm:

[kerryw]

I would seriously avoid VistaPrint- no such thing as a free lunch! I was ****med out of £20 for over 6 months by using their products, they took £9.95 from my dredit card under VPrewards and some other name I forget. Luckily, I got most of my money back through Mastercard's fraud department. I would recommend Photobox's new service. Slightly more expensive but without the risk!

[MrSwirl]

i just received mine, i bought 200 for less than £15 on goodprint.com....you can upload your own design or get them to design them for you - and delivered right to your door, i was very impressed!

good luck! x

:sm:

We've just had some done by them too, as the card layout designer had more flexibility than the Vistaprint one where we usually go.

[splatcat]

I would seriously avoid VistaPrint- no such thing as a free lunch! I was ****med out of £20 for over 6 months by using their products, they took £9.95 from my dredit card under VPrewards and some other name I forget. Luckily, I got most of my money back through Mastercard's fraud department. I would recommend Photobox's new service. Slightly more expensive but without the risk!


Totally Agree, someone needs to seriously put a stop to this con, ista Print and Interflora seen to be just two of the companies who are doing it and there is a lot of debate about people just accepting a "Gift Vouchure" and then having money taken out of their accounts...... the passing of Credit Card details from one company to another should be a hugh no-no. IF you've bough from Vista Print I would check you CC statements carefully even if you can't remember clicking for a Vouchure at the end of the transaction. For more info see the forum on Money Saving Expert

[Fluffy Squirrel]

I've been using Vistaprint for around eighteen months now and the quality of their products is excellent... I use them for business cards, leaflets, postcards, address labels - pretty much all of our printing and have never had any problems with them.

A friend used them and clicked on the offer at the end without reading the T&C's and noticed money being deducted from her account - as soon as she contacted them and explained her situation, all of her money was refunded.

Like anything else, you just need to be careful what you click on with the internet. If something seems "too good to be true" then read into it properly before clicking on anything would be my advice ;)

[sharon]

I've used Vista in the past & have been pleased with the results, my hubby also had his cards from them. Postage is a bit high but my first order of business cards from them had a postmark of Israel so maybe that's why - they came from abroad!!

I must admit though, 3 yrs ago I had some cards printed up by our local printers - cost about £30 for 250, but the design & quality were superb, cream thick card with burgundy lettering - they looked very classy & I got very appreciative remarks from customers, which I never got about the Vista ones.

I would go to Vista again but I think you have to take into account what impression you want your business to give - the more professional you want to look, the better quality card you want to hand over.

Cheers

Sharon

[Pete1982]

Not sure if anyone's still looking, but I too have found Goodprint to use very good quality card, but their printing quality is a bit lacking.

MOD EDIT - SORRY, PLEASE READ RULES RE 25 POST RULE.
Pete

[mrs*h]

hi i used vistaprint they let you upload the image you want to use i only had to pay for postage and i got 250 free cards but im not sure if you have to pay more for uploading your own image Wendy:playball:

[sillyoldbear]

My husband and I use vista print. I have had business cards, t-shirt, pens, postcards and post-it notes from them. They were all free, I only had to pay for the postage. I think the quality is great.

Sharon:mf:

[Ifor-Jones]

I think there were earlier postings about Vista Print which came with a warning

[splatcat]

There certainly were, if you've used Vista Print make sure you check your Credit Card statement. Just put "Vista Print ****" in google and you will find details.

[stallfinder]

Hi,
I've just been caught out by this Vistaprint thing - they took 2 month's payments before we spotted it. I threatened legal action so they've agreed to refund it - will know in 7-10 days if they've actually done it. When you're going through their payment process it's very easy to accidentally sign up for this rewards scheme thing so be careful if you're using Vistaprint. I'm going to look elsewhere for my business cards.
Gail.

[WolfSong2000]

I used goodprint and was really happy with the results...I opted for a plastic coating on the front to protect the cards, for which there was a small extra charge, but it was definetly worth it :)

[splatcat]

Hi,
I've just been caught out by this Vistaprint thing - they took 2 month's payments before we spotted it. I threatened legal action so they've agreed to refund it - will know in 7-10 days if they've actually done it. When you're going through their payment process it's very easy to accidentally sign up for this rewards scheme thing so be careful if you're using Vistaprint. I'm going to look elsewhere for my business cards.
Gail.

Obviously many people have been caught out by this... would be interesting to know if this practice falls foul of the new consumer regulations:
" For the first time in UK law there will be a duty on all businesses not to trade unfairly."

[Ger]

I was about to place another order with them last night with the free 250, but to upload have blank bground and upgrade to 500 was only £20 unfortunatly thei choice of font was limited and they didn't have what I wanted so I think I'll have to go to a local printers to see if they can help out.
I too have been caught out with the **** by them but once I complained they where quick to refund so I didn't see it as a problem :)

[splatcat]

Interesting how different peoples minds work!!! I just wouldn't give them the time of day... I've never been ****med by them but think what they are doing is disgusting and would never let them have a penny of my money.... yet someone who has been ****med by them thinks its OK because, although they were ****med, it was sorted out quickly... amazing what people will put up with and what **** artists people will help fund just because they think they are getting a cheap deal :-(

[folicin]

Definately get Vista,

I was very impressed with the results,

the cards are made of excellent durable material and the print was very clear (to my knowledge you can design them how you want them and I believe I got a set for about £10) cant remember how many exactly but pack was about an inch thick...

[Ger]

I hear what your saying Splatcat but I didn't see it as a **** as I read the info wrong on their site and ticked a box which lead to the amount being deducted from my account & like I say they fixed it straight away, i have placed orders since and not ticked the box and haven't had any probs since :)

[SatokosOrigami]

So glad I read this as I'm pretty sure I clicked on the reward voucher at the end of the vista print thing.

Better give them a call.................