Cheapest Possible Business Cards?

FusionNet

OP,

For 69 euro plus VAT you will get a professionally desighned card, full colour both sides, heavy card and matt laminate. The Japanese take business cards as an extension of the person giving them. They are a symbol of who you are, what you stand for and the quality you try to achieve. When I get handed cheap and nasty cards from reps I think "well if they wont pay the extra 10 euro for cards what else are the cheapening out on?"

www.printing.ie do these cards or and good design studio.

madmik

Thumbprint wrote: »

There are so many people that make statements on what makes a good business card. but in actual fact its pretty simple. You want your business card to catch the eye of your potential customer and stand out from the rest they may have.

This can be achieved by paying attention to a few details:
Good Professional Design,
Crisp and Clear Print
Printed on a Good Card
and a Clean Finish


One of the most important and noticeable things with Vista Print is the compromise they make with their quality in print and paper in order to keep their prices down.

But, in actual fact, there is not that much difference in their final price and that of companies that offer a higher quality and a more personal service.

Below I have given a price comparison between Vista and Thumbprint.
I have used their site for a quotation as it will take up to 48 hours to get a quote via email.

An example is this:
Order: 250 Business Cards. Printed Full Colour on Both Sides, Gloss Laminate Finish. File Supplied by the customer. Fastest Turnaround Possible

VistaPrint.- 250 Premium Business Cards
Max Print Size: 49 x 87mm
Paper: 265gsm
Artwork Handling: Chargable
Artwork Check: None
Proofing: Pdf - Chargable
Printing Method: Digital Laser Printer
Sides: 1, (extra for reverse print)
Finishing: Laminate not specified on website quotation
Delivery: 3 - 21 working days
Price:€44.97 ex vat
Delivery: €25.39


Thumbprint Designs.- 250 Budget Business Cards
Max Print Size: 55 x 95mm
Paper: 350gsm
Artwork Handling: No Charge
Artwork Check: Free (customer is contacted if there is a problem)
Proofing: Pdf, No Charge
Printing Method: Lithographic with Stochastic dot placement
Sides: 1 or 2 no price difference
Finishing: Choice of Matt or Gloss Laminate (no price difference)
Delivery: 4-7 working days within Ireland
Price: €70.00 ex vat
Delivery: €10


All you have to do is compare what Thumbprint Offers to that of Vista.
Better Quality, Better Print, Better Card all for approx €10 more.

Now ur just taking the pi$$

Vistaprint have 250 premium biz cards for 19.99+5.91 delivery

,Youre 3x times as expensive as vistaprint

OK,maybe u can deliver faster,that counts for nothing if people arent panic buying and let me tell you people are choosing the cheapest option every time in this climate

You say ur cards are better but thats only your own opinion and I dont know anyone who has ever gotten low quality cards from VP

are you prepared to offer 250 cards for less than 25.90?

If your not then stop wasting our time

u should hold a cup out on hapney bridge if ur into begging

not annoy people for business on an internet forum

Thumbprint

Firstly, Im not begging.

And don't need some keyboard commando like yourself to try and con people into thinking I am, My initial input into this thread was to champion the option of using Irish resources, as it is possible to get some competitive pricing. That and only that is the reason I used myself as an example. it would not be right if I gave the prices of other competitors if I was not willing to hold myself out there.

Any price I put up, I can guarantee there are other printers, My competitors, that can beat my prices comfortably. What I am pointing out is that, it is possible to get affordable cards printed.

Now before you step on your tongue even more..... Look at the job description and then read their site prices.

http://www.vistaprint.ie/business-cards.aspx?xnav=TsrItem&xnid=aPremiumBusinessCardsBusinessCards&dng=1021814

The €19.99 if for business cards to be printed on 215gsm PAPER not CARD
for the nearest thing they have to card you pay an extra €12.99. if you have a final file uploaded it cost a further €4.99 to upload it.


If you want to get cards printed at €19.99 for a laser printed card go ahead. I am not stopping you. just have a look at your customers face when you hand it to him.

Again. I am just pointing out that it is possible to get superior QUALITY print at competitive prices and locally.

madmik

Thumbprint wrote: »

Firstly, Im not begging.

And don't need some keyboard commando like yourself to try and con people into thinking I am, My initial input into this thread was to champion the option of using Irish resources, as it is possible to get some competitive pricing. That and only that is the reason I used myself as an example. it would not be right if I gave the prices of other competitors if I was not willing to hold myself out there.

Any price I put up, I can guarantee there are other printers, My competitors, that can beat my prices comfortably. What I am pointing out is that, it is possible to get affordable cards printed.

Now before you step on your tongue even more..... Look at the job description and then read their site prices.

http://www.vistaprint.ie/business-cards.aspx?xnav=TsrItem&xnid=aPremiumBusinessCardsBusinessCards&dng=1021814

The €19.99 if for business cards to be printed on 215gsm PAPER not CARD
for the nearest thing they have to card you pay an extra €12.99. if you have a final file uploaded it cost a further €4.99 to upload it.


If you want to get cards printed at €19.99 for a laser printed card go ahead. I am not stopping you. just have a look at your customers face when you hand it to him.

Again. I am just pointing out that it is possible to get superior QUALITY print at competitive prices and locally.

get off ur high horse,now ur saying 215gsm is paper??

u should tell that to the 5,600,000 google results that call it CARD and rightly so

http://www.google.ie/search?q=215+gsm&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a

you say your cards are affordable when theyre triple the price of competitors

If i was You id forget about business,You obviously dont understand the concept of it

you initially tried to say you could compete on price

then when that was shot to hell you decided to convince us vistaprint was lower quality or inferior

then u blatently lied and told us 215gsm is not card but PAPER??

Come on.......

U dont need Customers....U need ST VINCENT DE PAUL

Thumbprint

The point at which material stops being paper and becomes card is debatable, though generally with coated material 200/220gsm can be regarded as heavy paper or very light card, 250/300gsm as medium weight card, and 350/400gsm as heavy card. Even these are not particularly thick compared to many forms of cardboard, but 400gsm is generally the heaviest card that can go through a conventional litho press.

Also look at what their offering,

A digital printer will be doing well to get anything more than 250gsm through their machine. its possible, but not recommended by most manufacturers.
That is why when they give a quote they say "card stock" once laminated the thickness of the paper is increased to resemble card.

Your results:
Cheap Epson EPSON PREMIUM SEMIGLOSS A3 PAPER EPA2007 | Megabuy ...
A3+ PREMUIM SEMIGLOSS (20 SHEETS 215 GSM) This is not a stocked item, $109.23 ... A3 PREMIUM SEMIGLOSS PAPER (20 SHEETS 215 GSM), $94.6. Go To Shop ...


PHOTO PAPER 39004-57 GLOSSY PHOTO PAPER A4- 215 GSM 50 PK - Photo ...
Re-create your special moments with Verbatim's Glossy Photo Paper. The glossy finish gives a professional print quality to your photographs, ...
bigmaggot.co.uk/PHOTO-PAPER-39004-57-GLOSSY-PHOTO-PAPER-A4- 215-GSM-50-PK-pr-2120.html - 45k - Cached - Similar pages


roduct Information Decorative Paper, Paper Arts, Paper Art ...
Weight: 215 gsm. Per Item: $9.45. Add Item to Cart. Info: Germany - Defined tire track pattern, embossed, machine-made, recycled, acid-free, will score and ...
www.paperarts.com/products/go.cfm?id=re&e=content - 29k - Cached - Similar pages


Innova Smooth Cotton High White Paper (215 gsm) - 26x36" - 25 ...
Shop for an affordable Innova Smooth Cotton High White Paper (215 gsm) - 26x36.
www.smarter.com/printer-paper/innova-smooth-cotton-high-white-paper- 26x36-inch-25.../pd--ch-2--pi-1841476.html - 33k - Cached - Similar page


Verbatim Gloss Photo Paper 215 gsm A4 - 50 Pack :: Gloss :: Paper ...
Instant Dry avoiding the risk of smudging Water resistant 1440dpi plus resolution Blank media shop, next day delivery great prices from all leading brands.
www.burn-media.co.uk/great_value_Verbatim-Gloss-Paper-215-gsm-A4--- 50-Pack---VERBATI091-pr-26021-c-2382-p-1.html - 45k - Cached - Similar pages


HP« Fabric Cotton Matte Banner Paper, 215 gsm, 36" x 33` Roll, White
HP« Fabric Cotton Matte Banner Paper, 215 gsm, 36" x 33` Roll, White. Printers and supplies / Paper and Media / HP / Size / 36" Roll ...
www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,8642.html - 27k - Cached - Similar pages

Glossy Paper - Photo Weight (215gsm) S041349 price comparison
Compare Glossy Paper - Photo Weight (215gsm) S041349 prices before you buy to make sure you get the best deal. Find a list of Glossy Paper - Photo Weight ...

Consumables > Paper/Transparencies > Glossy Paper (photo weight ...
... Glossy Paper (photo weight) 215gsm - Product Browse, Welcome Guest ... Found 7 Products in Glossy Paper (photo weight) 215gsm, Showing 1-7 ...
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Compare prices on Glossy Paper - Photo Weight 215gsm S041349 price, read product reviews on Buy Glossy Paper - Photo Weight 215gsm S041349 price, ...
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Glossy Paper - Photo Weight (215gsm) S041349 reviews and ratings
Browse Glossy Paper - Photo Weight (215gsm) S041349 reviews and ratings at ninemsn Shopping or submit your own rating and review to help other shoppers.
shopping.ninemsn.com.au/reviews/glossy-paper-photo-weight-215gsm- s041349/itemid22985766/?itemtext...215gsm... - 41k - Cached - Similar pages


Now in fairness to you there are one or two that call it card, but for every 1 card description there are 3 paper

Hagar

I have to agree with Thymbprint here. Even if it costs a few Euro more for a thousand cards, buy from an Irish company. That's what you are trying to get your customers to do isn't it? Can you beat every foreigner's price? It's a kick in the arse for you when they turn around and buy off a foreigner. It has to stop somewhere. It can stop with you. Make a difference.

madmik

Thumbprint wrote: »

The point at which material stops being paper and becomes card is debatable, though generally with coated material 200/220gsm can be regarded as heavy paper or very light card, 250/300gsm as medium weight card, and 350/400gsm as heavy card. Even these are not particularly thick compared to many forms of cardboard, but 400gsm is generally the heaviest card that can go through a conventional litho press.

Also look at what their offering,

A digital printer will be doing well to get anything more than 250gsm through their machine. its possible, but not recommended by most manufacturers.
That is why when they give a quote they say "card stock" once laminated the thickness of the paper is increased to resemble card.

Your results:
Cheap Epson EPSON PREMIUM SEMIGLOSS A3 PAPER EPA2007 | Megabuy ...
A3+ PREMUIM SEMIGLOSS (20 SHEETS 215 GSM) This is not a stocked item, $109.23 ... A3 PREMIUM SEMIGLOSS PAPER (20 SHEETS 215 GSM), $94.6. Go To Shop ...


PHOTO PAPER 39004-57 GLOSSY PHOTO PAPER A4- 215 GSM 50 PK - Photo ...
Re-create your special moments with Verbatim's Glossy Photo Paper. The glossy finish gives a professional print quality to your photographs, ...
bigmaggot.co.uk/PHOTO-PAPER-39004-57-GLOSSY-PHOTO-PAPER-A4- 215-GSM-50-PK-pr-2120.html - 45k - Cached - Similar pages


roduct Information Decorative Paper, Paper Arts, Paper Art ...
Weight: 215 gsm. Per Item: $9.45. Add Item to Cart. Info: Germany - Defined tire track pattern, embossed, machine-made, recycled, acid-free, will score and ...
www.paperarts.com/products/go.cfm?id=re&e=content - 29k - Cached - Similar pages


Innova Smooth Cotton High White Paper (215 gsm) - 26x36" - 25 ...
Shop for an affordable Innova Smooth Cotton High White Paper (215 gsm) - 26x36.
www.smarter.com/printer-paper/innova-smooth-cotton-high-white-paper- 26x36-inch-25.../pd--ch-2--pi-1841476.html - 33k - Cached - Similar page


Verbatim Gloss Photo Paper 215 gsm A4 - 50 Pack :: Gloss :: Paper ...
Instant Dry avoiding the risk of smudging Water resistant 1440dpi plus resolution Blank media shop, next day delivery great prices from all leading brands.
www.burn-media.co.uk/great_value_Verbatim-Gloss-Paper-215-gsm-A4--- 50-Pack---VERBATI091-pr-26021-c-2382-p-1.html - 45k - Cached - Similar pages


HP« Fabric Cotton Matte Banner Paper, 215 gsm, 36" x 33` Roll, White
HP« Fabric Cotton Matte Banner Paper, 215 gsm, 36" x 33` Roll, White. Printers and supplies / Paper and Media / HP / Size / 36" Roll ...
www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,8642.html - 27k - Cached - Similar pages

Im not going to get into a pissing contest about whats paper and whats card as most printing companies print on 215gsm "MATERIAL" and thats what most people consider business cards and 5.5 million google results indicate that 215gsm is CARD

THICKER "MATERIAL" is usually an OPTIONAL UPGRADE

WHy not compare like with like?

If they use 215gms -u use 215gsm
if they charge 19.99-u charge 19.99
if they take 21 days to deliver but deliver for 4.99-u take 21 days to deliver for 4.99
your 250 cards against their 250 cards

if you obviously cant compete at least dont bad mouth the competition or compare their worst product against your best product


as u mentioned in an earlier post "Any price I put up, I can guarantee there are other printers, My competitors, that can beat my prices comfortably

just out of interest why can you not beat their prices?

Thumbprint

If they want to put up their prices they can, I am not in a position to speak for them, that is why I only included my prices as a comparison.

As for why not go like for like.

As mentioned earlier.

A business card is one of the first points of contact for companies.
I pride myself on providing some of the best quality print on the market. That is our niche and that is where I plan to keep it. I have even had my customers customers come to me looking for print because of the quality of out product.

My aim was not and is not to say use me I'm here looking for work, because if I need business I will go out and find it, not beg. What I would love to see however is that we look locally for options as there are many out there and if we source out local companies, one or two jobs going to them a week may in some way help save someones job down the line

heggie

whatever about prices, thumb or vista print, anything under 350 gsm for business cards will feel cheap. If you say otherwise, you've never compared the 2.

edit: to say that most people consider 215g standard for business cards is just wrong. If I handed anyone their cards on 215g it would be rejected.

madmik

whether 215g is paper or card isnt really the question but since it keeps coming up:

a google search brings up the following referneces-many from business card making companies around the world

Results 1 - 10 of about 20,700 for 215 gsm paper. (0.33 seconds)

Results 1 - 10 of about 110,000 for 215 gsm card. (0.10 seconds)

I think this goes some way to prove 215g is in fact card

anyway that wasnt really the issue.....

the thread is about the cheapest possible business cards,not the highest quality or most expensive ones

surely the irish companies can get some 215g and beat the foreign companies on every level?

be cheaper for the budget end
and be better on the luxury end

heggie

in google i get

Results 1 - 10 of about 205,000 for 215 gsm horses

Now, i've never seen a 215 gsm horse, does it prove that 215 gsm horses are more popular than 215 gsm business cards? NOPE

madmik

heggie wrote: »

in google i get

Results 1 - 10 of about 205,000 for 215 gsm horses

Now, i've never seen a 215 gsm horse, does it prove that 215 gsm horses are more popular than 215 gsm business cards? NOPE

No,that just proves youre an idiot..........

heggie

no, proved your logic is flawed surely?

people should learn how google actually works before using it as a barometer to prove a point.

madmik

heggie wrote: »

no, proved your logic is flawed surely?

You just placed a more popular word into the search that had nothing to do with paper or card just to generate more results

if u really wanted to impress us you should have replaced the word "horses" with a really popular word like "porn"

1000000000000000000000000000000000000 results!

look ur logic must be wrong now!

heggie

ok, look:

*Results 1 - 10 of about 474,000,000 for paper

*Results 1 - 10 of about 914,000,000 for card

DO YOU SEE HOW YOU MAKE NO SENSE AT ALL ?

delllat

to all the business card makers in this thread,is it so hurtful to see vistaprint doing well?

is it so unreasonable to lower prices and COMPETE? isnt that what business is all about??

to be fair VISTA are doing a good job and they are low on price and probably getting the lions share of the business

that wont change by bitching on the internet

by the way,what country is Vista from?

heggie

first off, i'm not a business card maker I'm a designer, I know a hell of a lot about printing, you're not comparing like with like which is unfair to the printers on this thread. If you want a better comparison, moo.com should be it, and I can tell you exactly why they will be cheaper if anyone cared.

madmik

heggie wrote: »

ok, look:

*Results 1 - 10 of about 474,000,000 for paper

*Results 1 - 10 of about 914,000,000 for card

DO YOU SEE HOW YOU MAKE NO SENSE AT ALL ?

this proves that there is more refernces to the word card than the word paper

now if you add in gsm 215 if proves more references are made to it being a card than a paper

therefore its more widely know or defined as card

grab a dictionary and look up definition.....

heggie

ok, you're STILL not getting it. The horse word proved it, but you're STILL not getting it!

Paper has less results than card. in either instance 215 gsm will have the same results, then add paper or card to find instances of pages with 215 gsm AND paper or card featured on the page.

It would be logical to assume there will be more with 215 gsm and CARD mentioned somewhere on the page, as there are about double the pages with the word CARD over PAPER.

It's quite simple to some people...

BTW, i'm just pointing out your flawed argument, I agree that 215 gsm is card, I would specify a BOARD to use for a business card.
For future reference, you can easily use google to prove results if you learn how to search properly with it. Use quotation marks (they're the little dot thingys beside some words) to specify a phrase to search rather than a collection of keywords.

madmik

heggie wrote: »

ok, you're STILL not getting it. The horse word proved it, but you're STILL not getting it!

Paper has less results than card. in either instance 215 gsm will have the same results, then add paper or card to find instances of pages with 215 gsm AND paper or card featured on the page.

It would be logical to assume there will be more with 215 gsm and CARD mentioned somewhere on the page, as there are about double the pages with the word CARD over PAPER.

It's quite simple to some people...

BTW, i'm just pointing out your flawed argument, I agree that 215 gsm is card, I would specify a BOARD to use for a business card.
For future reference, you can easily use google to prove results if you learn how to search properly with it. Use quotation marks (they're the little dot thingys beside some words) to specify a phrase to search rather than a collection of keywords.

well at least we agree on something!
Im not trying to say that 215g is the carlsberg of business cards but its adequate if your sending one in a box with every order

all i need is a card that tells people what i do and how to contact me

this whole thread reminds me of the american psycho movie where he killed the guy who had a more impressive business card

heggie

and it's fair enough the thread was 'cheapest possible business cards' , but it's unfair when someone is being told they are uncompetitive when comparing a totally different product.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

Heinrich

Digital printing has limitations. Laid papers and cards do not "take" well.

Standard offset printing machines can handle all types of paper and card up to 450 gm2. Chromolux, coated cartridges, laids, woves, offset, art. It is also more expensive.

It all depends on what you want. If you are after kitchy, glossy business cards you can do that with your colour printer and some heavy photo paper. You might get away with that if you have a good design, well laid out.

The digitally printed cards tend to have shiny type and may look colourful but more often than not they end up looking cheap.

To answer the OP; the cheapest way to go is as mentioned above - print on your colour printer on photo paper.

FusionNet

Gees that was getting a bit heated alright and made for uncomfortable reading. Good work on ban "the scientist" I mean debating is one thing but being out n out rude is another.

Anyways I agree with some of the other posters. We are suffering a lot in Ireland we should for the sake of the few extra euro get our products and services in Ireland.

I personally find I could not do my media, cards, brochures etc without my local graphics guy, its great to deal with a person face to face.

Kine

I kind of mentioned this on one thread elsewhere, and I'll (in a round about way, slightly skewing off on a tangent rambling old man in his 90's way...;)) re-mention it here.

I love doing business face-to-face. I will be getting business cards done up in the not-to-distant future. I know nothing about them (apart from what my current employer provides me with...is it 200gsm, 400? who knows). However, when I do decide to go get some, my first thought, as someone else mentioned, would be Reads, as I can call in there, see some examples etc. If I decide to purchase, I have made a contact with someone there, and will use (and er abuse) them if anything goes wrong or the products are not good etc.

My view is that it's all about trading quality with price. Both don't tend to go hand in hand.