What would you expect to pay for business cards ? [Archive]

MikeMusic

19-04-2013, 14:39

We never used to do them but as we get people coming in it seems silly to turn them away.

Full colour print on one side from file supplied, normal size cards, 250gsm
By people's reactions seems we way under expected

hifi_dave

19-04-2013, 16:27

Google will have your answer.

Recently I've seen adverts on the TV for 'business cards' at unbelieveable low prices including a free wallet to put them in.

MikeMusic

20-04-2013, 11:01

Google will have your answer.

Recently I've seen adverts on the TV for 'business cards' at unbelieveable low prices including a free wallet to put them in.

What I'm after is a ball park figure for what anyone would expect to pay going into a printer

The people coming in here don't seem to be looking on Google or they found us by Googling "printers Shepperton"
We have people mostly dropping in even though we are not chasing the business card market.
We are told Vistaprint produce rubbish cards. Perhaps others do at the low end.
We're after multiple page work. Business cards would be a pain if we were flat out busy (oh please !)

Beobloke

25-04-2013, 13:38

I bought my first lot of business cards from Vistaprint - they cost me about £12 for 250 and came with a swanky silver holder. Unfortunately the cards themselves were absolute cr*p - poor printing and edge trimming, the card was pathetically thin and the picture I chose to go on them (from their own library!) was so blurred as to be virtually indistinguishable.

For my next set, I decided to support a local business and went to Studio 6 just down the road from me in Wickham, Hampshire: http://www.studio-6.co.uk/

For about £65, IIRC, they did me 250 double sided cards that are beautifully trimmed and printed and on card that is so thick you could probably jemmy open a sash window with it! Even better, I supplied my own picture for the reverse this time and they were concerned about how it would look as it wasn't a true high-res image, but promised to "do their best". As it turned out, the picture is absolutely pin-sharp and a world away from the Vistaprint item.

So, in answer to your 'how much would someone expect to pay' question - somewhere between £12 and £65 for 250!

MartinT

25-04-2013, 15:18

Our most recent quote was:
250 x 10 names, Qty:2500, unit price £0.10, total price £259.20 plus VAT. They are double-sided (logo/brand on back), 2-colour printing.

MikeMusic

25-04-2013, 16:43

I bought my first lot of business cards from Vistaprint - they cost me about £12 for 250 and came with a swanky silver holder. Unfortunately the cards themselves were absolute cr*p - poor printing and edge trimming, the card was pathetically thin and the picture I chose to go on them (from their own library!) was so blurred as to be virtually indistinguishable.

For my next set, I decided to support a local business and went to Studio 6 just down the road from me in Wickham, Hampshire: http://www.studio-6.co.uk/

For about £65, IIRC, they did me 250 double sided cards that are beautifully trimmed and printed and on card that is so thick you could probably jemmy open a sash window with it! Even better, I supplied my own picture for the reverse this time and they were concerned about how it would look as it wasn't a true high-res image, but promised to "do their best". As it turned out, the picture is absolutely pin-sharp and a world away from the Vistaprint item.

So, in answer to your 'how much would someone expect to pay' question - somewhere between £12 and £65 for 250!

Thanks.
We have heard much the same of Vistaprint.
My guess is you will pay less to your guys if reprinted.
It used to be such a chore for us but now we have the software and the colour printer it's a lot easier.
We did 400 a lot less than that, but from files supplied.
The guys chin dropped when told the price - in a good way.
:)
We can't do super thick. 250gsm seems about right though

MikeMusic

25-04-2013, 16:51

Our most recent quote was:
250 x 10 names, Qty:2500, unit price £0.10, total price £259.20 plus VAT. They are double-sided (logo/brand on back), 2-colour printing.

Thanks
That's very interesting
Colour both sides ?
What sort of thickness ?
I'm guessing if you had them do one it would be around £50-60...

Business cards used to be a job most printers hated. Now it's a lot easier with the clever software Xerox do for us. I assume that functionality can be bought for not a lot elsewhere too.
The big digital presses now do super thick too so not reliant on litho where the longer runs are necessary for sensible prices

MartinT

25-04-2013, 18:52

Colour both sides ?
What sort of thickness ?

Two-colour navy and gold. Standard thickness (about 250gsm at a guess).

MikeMusic

26-04-2013, 06:23

Two-colour navy and gold. Standard thickness (about 250gsm at a guess).

Thanks
I think our prices are too low

Macca

26-04-2013, 07:57

Anyone ever see the film 'American Psycho'? ...

MikeMusic

26-04-2013, 08:01

Anyone ever see the film 'American Psycho'? ...
Yes. One of the worst films I've ever seen. Don't think I watched all of it
Did he hand out business cards ?

MartinT

26-04-2013, 08:15

Anyone ever see the film 'American Psycho'? ...

:scratch:

sq225917

26-04-2013, 09:01

Did he hand out business cards??? WTH, seriously, were you asleep? ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cISYzA36-ZY

MikeMusic

26-04-2013, 09:15

Did he hand out business cards??? WTH, seriously, were you asleep? ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cISYzA36-ZY
Assume I was gone by then
Not a film for me at all
One of the reasons I have not previously been keen to print business cards is the massive focus on this tiny piece of material that was a PITA to produce

Macca

26-04-2013, 11:58

Did he hand out business cards??? WTH, seriously, were you asleep? ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cISYzA36-ZY

I'm glad at least somebody got the reference :)

MikeMusic

26-04-2013, 12:14

I'm glad at least somebody got the reference :)

A reason *not* to print business cards then, getting involved in such high drama
:)

Macca

26-04-2013, 12:17

A reason *not* to print business cards then, getting involved in such high drama
:)

Yeah these business people are nut cases. Avoid!

MikeMusic

26-04-2013, 12:23

Yeah these business people are nut cases. Avoid!

Early brushes with business cards gave me the horrors. I still have nightmares
:)
I remember more than once we cut the damned things and they were skew.
- except they weren't skew, it was the design

Not seen until the final cut show what a poor design lie therein.

I also remember thinking
"This is a good job"
Punter disagrees
and
"This is horrid"
Punter disagrees
:rolleyes: