Online Printers - need input

[webmaster]

Online Printers - What sites do you use? Ease of use? Delivery time? Cost? We are working on a little something here at DSP and would like some of your input.

[Tara]

Does Costco count? I order on-line and then pick up at the store. I love how easy it is to upload photos and have them sent to any Costco in the US I want. They are FAST too (I can upload something at midnight and pick it up the next afternoon) which I always appreciate and not so expensive. I do wish I knew more about the archival quality of their prints...

[bendipez]

Costco is great for 12x12 LOs....love the speed, can have a LO printed in an hour(great for those of us who want our pages now!!!). I have also used scrapbooksplease.com. A 12x12 pge is $1.49 for standard matte print. The quality is good but it takes almost two weeks to get your order. When you factor in shipping and time Costco seems to be the best value and print quality.

[Tara]

But you know what I hate about Costco? They always cut off a little bit of my page...so if I have journaling or an element that goes right up to the edge, it often gets cut off (and they aren't consistent about the side/size that gets cut either). I get around this by leaving a small white border...but it is a pain to have to trim that later!

So...if you guys are going to do this, my suggestion would be to find a way to be CONSISTENT and not chop things off! :)

[BethyNixon]

I use http://www.sbtoshare.com and have loved them.

They charge a flat shipping fee regardless of how many layouts you print. So, I gather up a dozen or so and have them printed all at once.

I usually print either 10x8 or 8x8 with the white border on glossy cardstock and I'm very pleased with the prints and nothing gets cut-off. I like the white border as it fits in my 8.5" square books beautifully and gives it just a bit of edge that looks nice.

Their prices are very competitive as well. And their customer service?? It ROCKS!! I've been extremely impressed with it!

[Emma]

one service, now defunct, offered slightly oversized paper and let us trim it ourselves, which was AWESOME! full bleed and never anything cut off.

sbtoshare.com has either a tiny white edge, or their full bleed occasionally loses some of the edge. Pro printers require a "bleed area" which is just blank background area, something that can be either cut off or show w/o hurting the final print, but scrappers don't do that, so allowing us to trim our own would solve that issue. Any full bleed service needs to REQUIRE a bleed area. There's also something called a "slug" area where instructions or color info is printed that is supposed to be cut off (like fabric selvage), and that might also be nice.

Anyway, I've tried several, and my favorite ones are those using a PHOTO process on satin or luster paper, and where the bleed issue is resolved by either of the above methods (self-trim, or required bleed area).

Another helpful thing on pro photo sites like whcc.com is their printer profile. You use that on images you plan on sending to them, and use your home profile if you print on your own machine.

I like how whcc.com and sbtoshare.com give free samples so you can choose the paper or process you like, but whcc.com takes it farther and lets you print up to 5 different files, and works with you to get the profile just right before they charge you. I've been disappointed with the contrast or brightness being off at most of the places I've tried, just because my monitor doesn't match their print profile.

Costco and whcc.com are very reasonably priced. sbtoshare.com is the cheapest I've seen that's still in business.

Sam's Club is similar to Costco in results and service, just slightly more costly. Target also has photo printing service combine with Shutterfly.com

I've also tried my local Walgreen's, Osco Drug, and my grocery store (HEB, in central Texas only), and while prices vary, they're all photo printers with similar service and quality.

When ordering online I like having a flat shipping for up to a certain number of layouts. Costco charges PER PRINT on shipping, a total rip off! sbtoshare.com charges a flat fee, I think.

[Elisabeth]

I use the same as Beth -sbtoshare.com, and totally agree about their customer service!

[Sammimagoo]

Well...down here in the good ole Aus we don't have the luxury of anywhere that does 12x12 prints (that i can find) I went to Harvey Norman and they do cheap 4x6 photos but for a 12x12 I got them down to $10.00 a page!!! I am still searching..I tried sbtoshare.com and they were very helpful and offered their service but the postage was just too much...not many US based places like to post to Australia, so if you have any ideas for your members down under I am listening & if any Aussies know something I don;t...PLEASE SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE!!!

[Rosemary]

Hi Sammi - do you have a Ted's Camera near you? They have been very helpful and often have coupons or sales etc that make their printing quite reasonable. When I was figuring out what layout I could fit on what size of paper they printed a few test copies for me so I could figure it out.

[Sammimagoo]

Thanks Rosemary, yes I do have a Ted's close by...I'll check it out.