Most print orders go smoothly. The ones that do not usually fail on something that could have been asked in the first five minutes. Here are ten checks worth making before you hand over your artwork, in roughly the order they tend to matter.
1. Ask what they print in-house and what is outsourced
Neither answer is wrong. Many good shops send specialty work elsewhere, and that can be a sensible choice for unusual materials. What matters is that they tell you plainly. Knowing who is actually producing your job helps you understand who to call if something needs fixing and how long it may take.
2. Ask how proofs work
A proof is your chance to catch a typo or a colour problem before the whole run is printed. Ask whether you will see a digital proof, what happens if you spot an error, and whether a physical sample is possible for larger or repeat jobs.
3. Ask whether files are checked
Resolution, bleed, missing fonts and colour mode cause many reprints. A shop that checks files before printing saves you from expensive surprises, and it should tell you what it found and what it changed. Our guide to print-ready files covers what to check yourself too.
4. Test how they communicate
Send an email or call with a real question and see what happens. Do you get a clear, personal answer? Do they ask useful questions back, such as quantity, size, paper and deadline? Early communication is a strong preview of how problems will be handled later.
5. Get turnaround stated clearly
A vague promise to be quick is not a schedule. Ask when the job will be ready, what that depends on, and what happens if your files need changes. Then compare that against your real deadline, and build in a little room for proofs and corrections. Our post on how long printing takes lists the things that affect timing.
6. Understand shipping and pickup
Ask whether they ship, to where, how much of the cost is included and how the parcel is packed. Ask whether local pickup is possible and where. If you are in Oakville, Mississauga or Burlington, find out if delivery is available for urgent jobs.
7. Ask about a quality guarantee
What happens if the colours are off or the cut is crooked? A shop that stands behind its work will explain how it fixes mistakes. Get that policy in plain words, ideally in writing, before you order.
8. Look at the range of products
If you need business cards today, you may need banners, stickers or large-format sheets next month. A shop that handles many products can keep your look consistent and save you from juggling several suppliers, each with different file rules. Check that the specialty items you may need are actually offered.
9. Look into local pickup and delivery
Local access matters when you need something fast or want to inspect the work in person. Ask where the shop is, whether you can drop in, and whether they can arrange delivery in your area.
10. Insist on a written quote
A written quote should list the quantity, size, paper, finish, number of sides, any setup or file work, shipping and tax treatment. If something is missing, ask. A clear quote protects both sides and makes it easy to compare shops fairly.
These are fair questions for us too
Everything above is what we welcome from customers at PrintEh. We are a local, family-owned print shop in Oakville with a satisfaction guarantee: we want you to be absolutely happy, and we will make it right until it is 100% right. We print business cards, flyers, blueprints and much more, and we give quotes by email or phone. If you are weighing options, send your details through our quote form and ask us anything on this list.