Short cut to best printing

[JulieB]

Not seeking to reinvent the wheel, let me just simply ask - who do people use to print their 9x12 cards? I know several were suggested in the original Print Profiteer course, and I even ordered some samples from different places but that was like two years ago. Did anyone pop up in the last year or two who prints and ships that people here tend to gravitate toward? I know Jake is out because he offers 14pt and I want to cut my cost, so I am looking for aqueous coating and 100#. shrink wrap if possible. Any leads would be appreciated.

I am trying to figure out what the cost per postcard is, including shipping.

[Mr Subtle]

Those suggested 2 years ago are as good as they were back then and keep on opening up more and more plants all over the U.S. Gee I wonder why they're growing so f#@king fast? lol (It ain't 'cause they are catering to 100# stock buyers.)

I really don't understand your question. The best printing is still being done by those mentioned.

Everything I do is on 16pt stock and you're looking to save a penny each on a 10k run to use 10pt? A whoppin' $100? LOL (LOL 'cause EDDM postage is going to cost you 200% more and you can't do sh*t about that.)

Help me understand what your problem is?

[Vikuna]

Jake is out because he offers 14pt and I want to cut my cost, so I am looking for aqueous coating and 100#. shrink wrap if possible. Any leads would be appreciated.

I am trying to figure out what the cost per postcard is, including shipping.

Bob offers many alternatives, just wait for his response and I am sure he can come up with a solution that would work for you,

Eva

[Mr Subtle]

I know Jake is out because he offers 14pt and I want to cut my cost, so I am looking for ...
You can always find someone locally to print your 9x12 on newsprint.

[seattlethomas]

You can always find someone locally to print your 9x12 on newsprint.

LOL!!! :rolleyes:

[Jeff]

I am trying to figure out what the cost per postcard is, including shipping.

I use 4over.
10k 100# 9x12 with AQ= $602 plus $145 shipping to my address, bundled in 100's- almost 7.5 cents each
10k 14pt 9x12 with UV= $895 plus $180 shipping to my address, bundled in 100's- almost 11 cents each
10k 16pt 9x12 with UV= $895 plus $186 shipping to my address, bundled in 100's- almost 11 cents each

[JulieB]

Thanks Eva, Jeff.

Subtle - what the heck? Is it something in your water? I had no idea what the savings were with 14pt vs. 100#, I was merely reacting to other threads where people made it sound that going the route I mentioned can be worthwhile. Somebody on here who is doing pretty damn well with these cards commented that customers are probably happy when they can cut out a coupon without breaking their scissors. And he also remarked that he constantly gets stuff from billion dollar corporations that are printed on something close to newsprint. I think you can go entirely overboard with trying to make an impression. If of course the difference is infinitely small, money-wise, there is no point. On the other hand, if that were the case, why offer an alternative in the first place.

[Mr Subtle]

Somebody on here ... commented that customers are probably happy when they can cut out a coupon without breaking their scissors.
MN was joking when he posted that comment.

[Mr Subtle]

... I was merely reacting to other threads where people made it sound that going the route I mentioned can be worthwhile.
I get an oversized postcard from a window replacement company every quarter. It's printed on 10pt stock and AQ coated. I'm never impressed with it. I've been printing on 16pt stock for years and still to this day I ooh and ahh every time I feel that thick slick UV coated stock.

[Mister Natural]

MN was joking when he posted that comment.

Sort of yes.
My crack about the scissors scenario was intended to bring awareness to "whatever" amazing artwork or quality we produce there will always be somebody.... somewhere who, just doesn't get it and, doesn't appreciate it. So they find something to whine about.

But... then....
my brain tried to make sense of why do "multi billion dollar" companies like:
Proctor&Gamble, DirecTV, McDonalds, Pappa Johns, Pizza Hut, and many more....

why ... are they OK with saturating the USA with their messages on the lowest quality paper available ?

Keep in mind they have several decades of a head start on all of us here so...
I'm wondering if it might be because after years of trials and testing that, they have found the quality of the paper is not all that big of a deal when communicating with the public ?

Of course that heavy 16pt card stock with UV gloss impresses the small bizz owners who ARE TRYING to impress their local prospects. And Mr Subtle prefers it because he is in the business and that heavier glossy material shouts out "this is a quality job from a quality company". All understandable.

Maybe those billion dollar companies are so comfortable with themselves that, they don't see the importance in marketing to the public on the finest quality materials that money can buy? What IS important surely has to be... the design, copy, and offer.
Doesn't matter if it's on newsprint, 16pt card stock or, radio air waves.

I still say if you're starting out, it's perfectly OK to use 100lb Cover with gloss coating to put out some postcards, get yourself established without over extending yourself financially.

here's a visual example to compare:

9"x 12" Flyer on 100LB Gloss Cover with AQ
10,000 = $558.00
(this product will be physically lighter so there is the Extra Bonus of saving even more money on the shipping)


compare the above numbers to this heavier card stock:

9" X 12" 16PT EDDM Sell Sheets UV on 4-color side(s)
10,000 = $864.00

After a couple of months publications you will be recognized within your city and you will be able to spend the extra $300 and upgrade to that heavier material, IF that's what you want to do.

I say that just to give you the opportunity to consider this observation:

REDPLUM
REACH MAGAZINE
REWARDS MAGAZINE
DOLLAR SAVER MAGAZINE
VALPAK

....all of the above in business for decades and making millions of dollars.
ALL of them using newsprint or very close to it and.... still.... making MILLIONS of dollars.
Obviously, business owners are OK with it.

Another angle to consider is those publications above: have business owners "trained" into believing that their light weight paper grade IS a perfectly acceptable quality for direct mail. And of course using heavier materials will cut into your profit.
That's it !
That has to be it !
What a Revelation !!!

They use the cheap stuff to ensure greater profits for themselves. DUH !

Anyway,
Order some sample packs from the big printers. Then do a comparison "touch test"
between the 100LB Cover gloss coat and the 14pt UV gloss. The difference is oh so very slight. Almost next to nothing. Then ask yourself... is that "almost nothing" feeling worth an extra 400 dollars taken away from your kids and family?

just some random thoughts to make you go ... "hmmmmmmm?"

[seattlethomas]

here's a visual example to compare:

9"x 12" Flyer on 100LB Gloss Cover with AQ
10,000 = $558.00
(this product will be physically lighter so there is the Extra Bonus of saving even more money on the shipping)


compare the above numbers to this heavier card stock:

9" X 12" 16PT EDDM Sell Sheets UV on 4-color side(s)
10,000 = $864.00



MN, are these prices from 4Over? They are different from those by Jeff's in post #6.

[Mister Natural]

MN, are these prices from 4Over? They are different from those by Jeff's in post #6.

yes 4 Over.
Jeff's prices are odd. I'm looking at the 4Over site right now. AHHHHH,, he's including $44.00 for "bundling".. I forgot about that.

Anyway
the 9x12 100lb Cover can be found under Flyers and Brochures with No Scoring and No Folding

and the 9x12 16pt is under Sell Sheets

[seattlethomas]

I see. Makes sense. I need to open my own 4Over account soon...:rolleyes:

[Jeff]

the 9x12 100lb Cover can be found under Flyers and Brochures with No Scoring and No Folding

and the 9x12 16pt is under Sell Sheets

That's interesting, I found both of these listed in the EDDM category.

[JulieB]

Thanks, MN, for validating what my tiny little brain already concluded:

"Order some sample packs from the big printers. Then do a comparison "touch test"
between the 100LB Cover gloss coat and the 14pt UV gloss. The difference is oh so very slight. Almost next to nothing. Then ask yourself... is that "almost nothing" feeling worth an extra 400 dollars taken away from your kids and family?"

[Vikuna]

Thanks, MN, for validating what my tiny little brain already concluded:

"Order some sample packs from the big printers. Then do a comparison "touch test"
between the 100LB Cover gloss coat and the 14pt UV gloss. The difference is oh so very slight. Almost next to nothing. Then ask yourself... is that "almost nothing" feeling worth an extra 400 dollars taken away from your kids and family?"

You can also use this forum's search function to locate threads about ordering samples, can't do it for you right now but the threads are there,

Eva

[Mr Subtle]

Sort of yes.
Anyway,
Order some sample packs from the big printers. Then do a comparison "touch test"
between the 100LB Cover gloss coat and the 14pt UV gloss. The difference is oh so very slight. Almost next to nothing. Then ask yourself... is that "almost nothing" feeling worth an extra 400 dollars taken away from your kids and family?

16pt and 14pt stock costs the same to print.

The "touch test" difference in thickness between 100lb cover and 16pt stock is 68.4%. If you can't feel the difference in thickness something is very wrong. It's substantially different.

Yes... save your measly $306 and tell your prospect... "Your AD will be printed on the THICKEST stock allowed by the USPS!" OOPs you can't say that ... you can only say ... "Your AD will be printed on the same stock as every other postcard that comes in the mail." WHOPPEE F#@Kin' DOO! LOL

Don't ever underestimate how important thickness (and slickness) of cardstock means to your prospect and end user. It will do a lot of the selling for you because you will immediately STAND OUT.

[Mr Subtle]

But... then....
my brain tried to make sense of why do "multi billion dollar" companies like:
Proctor&Gamble, DirecTV, McDonalds, Pappa Johns, Pizza Hut, and many more....

why ... are they OK with saturating the USA with their messages on the lowest quality paper available ?
Why? Because they print in such huge quantities that their postcards are printed on a web press and those presses use rolls of stock (and not sheets). That's why you won't see 16pt postcards from them because you can't get that thick of a stock on a roll. LOL

[Mister Natural]

I was not referring to 16pt but the "original 9x12 WSO" standard of 14pt compared to that 100lb cover. Yes the 16pt is much heavier and, I don't understand why 4Over charges the same for 14pt and 16pt.

MS... I've never seen anybody get so excited over card board. Yep the 16pt is nice.

[Mr Subtle]

MS... I've never seen anybody get so excited over card board.
You need to get out the house and see some potential clients and show them some samples. Their eyes always light up and love the feel of it.

[Mr Subtle]

I was not referring to 16pt but the "original 9x12 WSO" standard of 14pt compared to that 100lb cover. Yes the 16pt is much heavier and, I don't understand why 4Over charges the same for 14pt and 16pt.
The difference is 47%... which is still substantial. Doesn't matter what the WSO said because the 14/16pt cost is the same... and that's your point... saving $306 by using a way thinner stock.