the Cost of Custom Printing Services

The base cost for 1,000 4 x 6 postcards, 4-color process on the front, black and white on the back is 160. An additional $20 was charged to upgrade to a heavier stock of paper than the printer normally uses. The shipping and handling for "normal" processing was $11, which had the postcards shipped 4 days after the proof was approved.

Very good service. The paper upgrade was well worth the extra $20, especially since that's only 2 cents per card. The printing on both back and front was professional; no smudging or off-register prints. The company responded in a timely manner throughout the process. We couldn't be happier.

Get samples from a number of different printers before you buy. There really is no other way to judge the quality of the stock they use, and to decide which stock is best for you. Also, it gives you a chance to see the quality of their prints. Of course, everyone will be sending you their nicest work, but you will still see differences in the quality, or find that a particular printer specializes in the type of artwork or style that you want. Don't just rely on brochures and online descriptions-get sample product in hand.