Cheapest Printing in the UK

[CritPrint]

Hi everyone, this is my first post here.

To start off saying, I run a local large format printing business in Nottingham and after seeing some replies, I totally agree that our profit margin is being slashed a lot these days! But the same time (speaking in terms of large format printing) the prices were actually extremely overpriced in the past few years, eg. up 20 pounds for an A1 on normal coated paper in London, and in my opinion these print shops were making hell of a lot money especially from students.

Is this ethical? I mean I understand that store rent, labour etc could add up to the cost, but taking the cost of a full bleed A1 printing is merely 3-4 pounds even with original consumables, I think these print shops should start giving bigger discounts to students especially when they have to bear rising tuition fee and living cost.

I'm saying all these because I was a student not long ago, and had to pay hundreds of pounds each year to get my works printed etc which I think it was completely unacceptable, so as many of my friends who complained that they could go on a luxurious holiday with that money!

Anyway, back to the point. I completely disagree that cheap print shop produces poor printing quality, AT ALL! Apart from the print shop I'm running, as well as others that I know around Nottingham, we possess printing knowledge that far exceed the staffs in larger print companies, whilst they were those charging over 15pounds for an A1 print!

I'm not to say I am the best or anything, but was just trying to voice out that most print shop are heavily overpriced especially with their large format printing category.

Apology if my attitude isn't good, but my aim is to provide affordable printing for the local community and especially students when they don't have much money to spare, BUT needed to print things as university requirement. At the same time, wanted to say the competition in large format printing is getting so severe these days that we find it so hard to survive!

However, if any concerns about printing and want to discuss on this matter with me, feel free to contact me via message or email to print@critprint.co.uk

i look forward to any replies as well as criticism to what I said.

Adrian
CritPrint
Home | Crit Print - Large format printing solutions for students in Nottingham

[garlex]

No criticism but I do think that some of the cheaper printers are not the best, I accept what you're saying but it will always depend on the company. There are a number of reasons why one company is much cheaper than another.

One could be that they are brand new and are prepared to make a loss in the short term in order to build a client list. Another could be that a company is so bad that the only way that they can get business is to undercut everyone else.

I know of examples of both of these and naturally there will be other examples.

[RemcoGraffix]

Cheap... That's such a nasty word - our prices are very very competitive.

Remco Graffix Provide An Outstanding Quality Print Along With Their Free Next Day Delivery Service As Standard

Thanks

[garlex]

Cheap... That's such a nasty word - our prices are very very competitive.

Remco Graffix Provide An Outstanding Quality Print Along With Their Free Next Day Delivery Service As Standard

Thanks

I have to say, I just checked out your site and notice that it seems to me that the prices for printing have the delivery price built.

This is the opposite to people like Vistaprint who purport to supply free or at low cost but make their money on the cost of delivery. It used to happen, maybe still does, with adverts in magazines where they attract purchasers with great prices, cheaper than anywhere else but the delivery charge was high and it was where they made their profit, the consumer didn't think of this.

[Davidw]

3. Be honest about what you do. Don't pretend you're running a heidelberg out of your garage - it'll bite you in the ass eventually.

PPPS: Anyone have any other thoughts on reselling? I'd be interested to hear what you think of my suggestions, and what you think I'm doing wrong!

Hello

This made me laugh - as I did have a couple of Heidelbergs in my garage for several years.

I enjoyed reading your post - you obviously know your stuff and you seem to have everything pretty well covered regarding reselling - I think you're doing everything right :)

I would just add some further advice to your list, for people who are "new to the printing industry" (as per the original post) and think reselling is some kind of easy get rich quick plan they can learn on a forum :-

11. Spend some time learning about the printing industry if you're serious about being a reseller. Perhaps some kind of college course if it's available, or work at a printing company for a while - there are so many pitfalls with ordering print and you can easily lose money. You wouldn't set up a business as a car dealer (etc) if you knew nothing about cars...

[printbar]

Hello

This made me laugh - as I did have a couple of Heidelbergs in my garage for several years.

I enjoyed reading your post - you obviously know your stuff and you seem to have everything pretty well covered regarding reselling - I think you're doing everything right :)

I would just add some further advice to your list, for people who are "new to the printing industry" (as per the original post) and think reselling is some kind of easy get rich quick plan they can learn on a forum :-

11. Spend some time learning about the printing industry if you're serious about being a reseller. Perhaps some kind of college course if it's available, or work at a printing company for a while - there are so many pitfalls with ordering print and you can easily lose money. You wouldn't set up a business as a car dealer (etc) if you knew nothing about cars...

Thank you, sir! And an excellent follow up there.

Can't believe you ran presses out of a garage! How big was it?!

[Davidw]

Thank you, sir! And an excellent follow up there.

Can't believe you ran presses out of a garage! How big was it?!

Hello printbar

I had my single garage extended by about 50% - a Heidelberg platen (letterpress) has a footprint of around 4ft square, so plenty of room :)

In fact I also had a small litho machine in there as well - and a guillotine :)

Regards - David

[stevednp3]

As I have posted elsewhere the cheapest option is not always the best esp for your company image, if your handing out poorly printed material it will do your company image more harm than good, with our company the only thing cheap about our leaflets is the price! We use high quality 130g Gloss Art and print to the highest standards possible.

[garlex]

As I have posted elsewhere the cheapest option is not always the best esp for your company image, if your handing out poorly printed material it will do your company image more harm than good, with our company the only thing cheap about our leaflets is the price! We use high quality 130g Gloss Art and print to the highest standards possible.

This is very true, I wholeheartedly agree. However, we actually use 150gsm as standard and I wonder if customers actually take notice of this, rather being drawn to the cheap prices as the most important feature.

Like us you probably would offer the thinner option and actually be more competitive than most of these companies who are in truth purporting to be cheaper but in reality compromising the quality, which as you say should, one would think be the main criteria.