Online printers: the future?

[Maeve Savage]

I've recently looked to online firms for my printing requirements. Their prices are a lot lower than traditional companies. Admittedly you lose the 1-to-1 relationship that you tend to foster with a dedicated account manager, but in this day and age I think it's probably the way things will go eventually.

Appreciate other people's thoughts?

 

[Simon Rayson]

If you get a good service and price from online go with them, it's just like using a printer from another city/town.

You can often use live chat and communicate via email for distant/online printing.

 

[AlexC]

I agree with you that you lose the 1-to-1 relationship when you choose an online printer. If you want to support a local printing service, then you should use them even though they might be a bit more expensive. Skip a cup of coffee or two and you have compensated the loss. I think there will still be a place for brick and mortar print shops. They are perfect for people who don't know exactly what they want or how to do the design. The print shops often offer great design services. Of course you can do your own design with some online printers, but then it's you that do the design and not a professional. That has to be taken into account. For example a restaurant owner is good at cooking great meals. If the restaurant owner does the design himself it's not sure that he will use the right background, fonts etc. But if the restaurant owner leaves the design work to a professional graphic designer, then he will get something that makes his restaurant stand out.

 

[Katedesign]

There is a place for both.
If you have requirements for special papers/board (even Conqueror), or Pantone colours, or unusual sizes (I have a client with odd sized business cards), or a specialist finish, or a host of other things that mark out a piece of print as being different - then you should have a range of local printers (probably have to cast your net a bit wider than 10 years ago) who will be able to help you with that. Generally you will find that one printer doesn't do all - I have one for Pantone printing, another for packaging, another for NCR books. Online printers are great for the type of print that everyone wants. It's how they make their money; by putting 8 different A5 leaflets together for one run... it's why the prices can be so low. Ask them to quote on something not on their product list and you will be getting the same kind of price as a 'traditional' printer.

It is probably the independent graphic designers who can help keep the 'traditional' printers in business by suggesting to their (wealthier) clients that they have a 2 or 3 colour pantone logo, or use a different type of paper, etc. If you don't use it you will lose it!