Business cards - buy local?

[Techwing]

I was reading the cool business card ideas at http://www.massage-marketing-tips.com/massage-business-cards.html and I was enjoying it until I got to this part:

You can get your massage business cards printed at a local printer. But you will likely save a lot of money having your cards printed by a national Internet based company.

Wow. Good thing massage can't be done over the internet.

First, the information is just not necessarily true. Shop around. Second, even if you can't find a local printer who can meet or beat the internet price (accounting for shipping), it may still be worth it to patronize another local business owner.

Keep your dollars in your community, network, maybe get a new client out of it and maybe receive more personal customer service.

 

[Pompal 09.]

i totally agree with you.

 

[some half blood]

Also a lot of times, they will be keeping some of your cards for an example... good advertisement for both businesses!!! You might even be able to barder for them!!! I went to my local printer, and I am happier with the quality of the paper and ink than what I have seen on any MT's card that was ordered over the internet.

 

[Bethalee Alice]

Its fun to see my site inspired some more comments on this forum.

Yes, I guess these are sort of negative comments, but good comments, none-the-less.

How quickly I feel myself wanting to defend my self.

But....

Well, that just goes down a road I am not interested in traveling. Not to mention the fact that what everyone has said here about the value of local networking makes total sense. I can easily see that the value of a personal local relationship could be more valuable than the possible savings gained. Particularly if you put energy into that relationship. And I do agree with trying to keep your money in your local community.

All I can say is, I should have known. When you put the word "National" with the word "Company", you are bound to hear someone yell "Local".

I will add some of these thoughts to my page on business cards for my site visitors to consider.

 

[Kebo]

I'm doing both

There is a great printing firm over here that has stores all over the country. I use the one in my local town, but they have a central printing facility so I get the advaneforum.xxxe of national printers but with a local face. The quality and price is really quite fantastic - especially when they have a half-price offer on.

Mat xxx

 

[Dr. Strongrod]

I agree with buying local, love networking, believe that it is the only way to really build business. However, I've yet to find a local printer that can come anywhere close to the price...and I can't yet justify paying so much more...I just met another printer, so we'll see.....

Great thread. mick

 

[Africa Renee]

Business cards - buy local?

I was reading the cool business card ideas at http://www.massage-marketing-tips.com/massage-business-cards.html and I was enjoying it until I got to this part:

You can get your massage business cards printed at a local printer. But you will likely save a lot of money having your cards printed by a national Internet based company.

Wow. Good thing massage can't be done over the internet.

First, the information is just not necessarily true. Shop around. Second, even if you can't find a local printer who can meet or beat the internet price (accounting for shipping), it may still be worth it to patronize another local business owner.

Keep your dollars in your community, network, maybe get a new client out of it and maybe receive more personal customer service.

I agree that is good to keep it local for networking, but i don't think any local printer can beat vistaprint.com's pricing where you get the cards free and pay only shipping which is about 8 bucks for 250 cards i think.

 

[muhammad q]

I gotta agree with that. I have had cards from local shops, and shopped around other local printers and compaired costs vs. quality vs personality of the card itself - and I just haven't found anything that competes with cost/quality/personality of some internet companies. I do all of my other printing locally but just out of the convenience of running down the street (I spend a heck of a lot MORE $$ than I need to printing close to home)

 

[Sailors Girl !]

I'm just a plain old consumer. I shop where I feel the bargain is best, for the quality I require. I went to a local print shop once and liked their work. I now use Vista Print - I order alot more nowadays. They always have a special offer going, and they sent me a present recently. I show my support locally whenever I can, but its not the driving force behind my decisions. I'm just a plain old 'shopper'.
Jill/sagetherapist

 

[DonkeyDiddler]

I dont know of any local printers that actually print their own business cards locally anyway. They are all sending them out somewhere... for all I know the same place that prints my "National" business cards.

Quick printing is all locally, everything else they do they are just middle men. I see nothing wrong with eliminating middle men.

 

[goodluckwithhat]

I gave more thought to the "national" printer.

By using vistaprint.com, I am saving money because I am my own proof reader, type setter, and designer. If I go local, much of the cost associated with them is proof reading, type setting, and designing. Why pay someone else to do it when I can do it myself?? I like to do it, so why shouldnt I be able to. The only thing I am actually sending out is the actual printing, and that is the same thing many local printers will do.

Ladeeda

 

[Itz shaquanda boo]

I don't think I will ever use VistaPrint. I sent them an e-mail asking a question and they never responded!!! I will definitely stick to my local printer.

 

[Anuj]

Bwahahahaha!!! I was able to reorder 1000 business cards for $7.99+ shipping, I even got the free glossy upgrade!!!

Bwahahahaha!!

Ladeeda

 

[gintzer]

ladeeda, i'm not sure where you live but i've never seen a local printer that doesn't do their own printing.

i do think it's awesome that you got your cards for that cheap. do they say vistaprint on the back though? i know sometimes they do and i don't like that. the only business i want to promote on my business card is mine.

 

[Niofania F]

No maam, they do not say vista print on the back. Only the 250 freebie cards say that. I paid for mine.

Ladeeda