Greetings to all members
I have just registered on this forum as I believe it to be the preferred choice of forum for the printing community here in the UK?
I have recently learnt a big lesson (AGAIN!!). That big lesson is 'YOU GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR!!
I would like to take this opportunity to warn all fellow Print Brokers and Prospective Print Buyers to think twice before doing business with a Printing Company known on the web as 'PrintingGood'.
I placed an order only just last week for a client of mine who wanted die cut flyers. I scoured the internet desperately looking for someone who can improve other prices I'd been quoted for Die Cut Flyers. I thought I'd found that in PrintingGood. I was wrong:icon_thumbdown:
The website is all singing and dancing, full of flashing images. A nice little online chat box opens up in the bottom right hand corner and you are promptly greeted by the one (and ONLY agent) Colin Butler. This guy kept referring to me as 'Dear' until I sarcastically mocked it via the online chat box to which he then promptly changed it to 'Sir'. I chatted to Colin last week through this chat box and queried him on a few things which he dodged very cleverly with words. I asked why the phone line wasn't working and was told they'd had technical difficulties? I'd asked if they were a VAT registered company and I was told they were, only to be sent a quote that had no VAT on there? I'd asked how long delivery would be and was told 10-15 working days to which I queried whether the print was coming from overseas but was assured it was UK print, but they do do have a mix of UK and Overseas suppliers? When I said that was too long a time frame, I was then assured that if I placed an order that day (Tuesday 9th August) I would definitely receive by next Thursday (18th August 2011). Today is the 18th, and I'm going to be very embarrassed to let my client know that I will not have his order ready to deliver to him. I'm going to have to offer a goodwill gesture to keep him sweet!
How do I know it's not going to come today? Because there was no tracking number given for the order? I was told it was sent as 'Standard' delivery through a courier company and they don't have tracking numbers for standard? I asked for the Managing Director's phone number only to be told he was on holiday until next weekend? How convenient! Obviously, there's no other Assistant Manager or Supervisor left in charge is there? I tried phoning and this time it rung but no one answered? Through the online chat box, 'Colin' keeps assuring me the order will be with me 'soon'? This guy literally begged me to trust their company and that I wouldn't be disappointed. I'm VERY disappointed!! I'm probably more disappointed with myself really for letting myself be talked into doing business with a company that has no understanding of the word 'PROFESSIONALISM'.
I can go on and on and there were probably a few other things said that I could mention but the fact is, it's me who decided to work with a 'Cowboy' company just to cut corners and save myself a few quid! Lesson to be learnt here is go to someone reputable, that has a good trading record, that has a gallery/portfolio of their work, and can give you details of the above mention things that I didn't get. I'm not saying that you can't trust all Print Brokers. I'm a Print Broker myself who manages Design and Print for many clients. If you're professional, your communication skills are second to none, the quality of print and finish is to a high standard, and the pricing is competitive, business will happen naturally.
Rant over!
I have just registered on this forum as I believe it to be the preferred choice of forum for the printing community here in the UK?
I have recently learnt a big lesson (AGAIN!!). That big lesson is 'YOU GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR!!
I would like to take this opportunity to warn all fellow Print Brokers and Prospective Print Buyers to think twice before doing business with a Printing Company known on the web as 'PrintingGood'.
I placed an order only just last week for a client of mine who wanted die cut flyers. I scoured the internet desperately looking for someone who can improve other prices I'd been quoted for Die Cut Flyers. I thought I'd found that in PrintingGood. I was wrong:icon_thumbdown:
The website is all singing and dancing, full of flashing images. A nice little online chat box opens up in the bottom right hand corner and you are promptly greeted by the one (and ONLY agent) Colin Butler. This guy kept referring to me as 'Dear' until I sarcastically mocked it via the online chat box to which he then promptly changed it to 'Sir'. I chatted to Colin last week through this chat box and queried him on a few things which he dodged very cleverly with words. I asked why the phone line wasn't working and was told they'd had technical difficulties? I'd asked if they were a VAT registered company and I was told they were, only to be sent a quote that had no VAT on there? I'd asked how long delivery would be and was told 10-15 working days to which I queried whether the print was coming from overseas but was assured it was UK print, but they do do have a mix of UK and Overseas suppliers? When I said that was too long a time frame, I was then assured that if I placed an order that day (Tuesday 9th August) I would definitely receive by next Thursday (18th August 2011). Today is the 18th, and I'm going to be very embarrassed to let my client know that I will not have his order ready to deliver to him. I'm going to have to offer a goodwill gesture to keep him sweet!
How do I know it's not going to come today? Because there was no tracking number given for the order? I was told it was sent as 'Standard' delivery through a courier company and they don't have tracking numbers for standard? I asked for the Managing Director's phone number only to be told he was on holiday until next weekend? How convenient! Obviously, there's no other Assistant Manager or Supervisor left in charge is there? I tried phoning and this time it rung but no one answered? Through the online chat box, 'Colin' keeps assuring me the order will be with me 'soon'? This guy literally begged me to trust their company and that I wouldn't be disappointed. I'm VERY disappointed!! I'm probably more disappointed with myself really for letting myself be talked into doing business with a company that has no understanding of the word 'PROFESSIONALISM'.
I can go on and on and there were probably a few other things said that I could mention but the fact is, it's me who decided to work with a 'Cowboy' company just to cut corners and save myself a few quid! Lesson to be learnt here is go to someone reputable, that has a good trading record, that has a gallery/portfolio of their work, and can give you details of the above mention things that I didn't get. I'm not saying that you can't trust all Print Brokers. I'm a Print Broker myself who manages Design and Print for many clients. If you're professional, your communication skills are second to none, the quality of print and finish is to a high standard, and the pricing is competitive, business will happen naturally.
Rant over!
Last edited: