Magazine Guy said: Click to expand...
You are approaching this in the way that I prefer my customers approach problems like this: get a quote to match and then see if someone can "reverse engineer" a price for you.You see, there is a lot of uncertainty in pricing, not to mention the uncertainties in the production area.Some people will come in with an "idea" and that's it. These people usually are (prudently) given a high price because the printer has no experience with them and truly doesn't want to get burned by a dissatisfied customer refusing to pay, for instance.Going outside the loop to China sets up the equation differently: the vendor will know that it might be a one-shot, but if the money hits the bank, the order is good to work on. The vendor's risk of a refusal has now been taken out of the equation, and that is worth a lot.Notice the difference in transaction style: payment up front versus the usual U.S. approach of "let's work out terms".Cash is king.If you "walk in" to any web printer in NYC and haggle this out, you should be able to get this price or possibly even better...I mean it. The shop I work for could not produce this job effectively at this price (with our present equipt configuration), but a shop specializing in wide web publication work could. (I have a very good idea of the costs to a web shop.) You just have to come in with the right proposal.The big thing in any intelligently run shop is to keep the presses running with work that is profitable... and the cost of shipping a ton or two of magazines from China is certainly what a low margin profit could be for the job, even compensating for lower wages. (And don't forget import duties and customs fees.)Face to face is still the best way to buy printing. You just have to(rather than take the price or deal that is offered) and that will also mean that you must understand the vendors' point of view. This is very uncomfortable for most Americans... we are reared NOT to haggle.This, incidentally, is what I believe is a big source of failure of North American commerce: the American (and Canadian) prejudice against haggling cripples the supply system against inundation by foreign suppliers who understand the important of price fluidity. (A list price is worth nothing unless the goods can be sold in sufficient volume at that price.)
There is no doubt that there is an important price difference between printing in China compared with printing in the US. Savings can be significant.
However, it is also true that the savings are almost as good when you compare European print prices. There is a tendency for Americans to assume that Europe is on a par with the US an may well be more expensive. After all, we’ve all heard how much a coffee costs in Paris!
An apples to apples quote with a European supplier may pleasantly surprise.
There is little doubt that there are some excellent printers in China – but, just as there are in other countries, there are some terrible ones too. Telling the difference can be very tricky – and you will need to work with a trusted partner to ensure that you are getting the best print quality available.
When you print outside of the US you will need to build extra time into your production schedule. Not for the production itself, this will often be comparable. But for the transport. Prices are kept low across the board – and this includes the delivery options. If you need to shave few days off the schedule you may find yourself facing substantial additional transport costs.
Despite the many Chinese who speak excellent English, there are technical terms which can lead to confusion. It is often a concern that what was ordered is not – in the end – what is delivered.
Whilst this is often true with European printers, our brokerage is English and Spanish speaking, and we have a great stable of printers with whom we have worked for many years. Our contacts all speak English or Spanish – and this eliminates the risk of confusion. Simple errors such as gloss or silk coatings on paper stocks can cause major problems with clients.
Importing goods into the US can be complicated. Goods coming from Europe have significantly fewer issues than those coming from China. In the main this is due to the paperwork which is presented. We are highly experienced and work with reliable import agents – reducing the risk of materials being held unduly.
The European Union imposes strict regulations on the treatment of paper and inks. You can rest assured that the paper stocks and inks used in Europe meet the highest of international standards. The same cannot be said about the paper stocks, and, especially so, the inks used in China. This creates an environmental consideration which must be built into your evaluation of price proposals.
Whilst there is little doubt that there have been significant improvements over recent years, China does not protect her workers to the same degree as Europe.
Europe has a deep tradition of printing. It is a skilled profession that stretches across generations and there is a strength of commitment to quality and finishing that ensures that each print project is treated with an impressive level of care. Family run printers that have a four or five generation history are commonplace across Europe. And these printers take a pride in their work which is hard to find in countries without this tradition.
Whilst many people are looking to China for the competitive pricing, the smart print buyers are looking to Europe.
They are finding pricing which satisfies their need to reduce costs without compromising on quality. At the same time they are working in an environment which is culturally and linguistically aligned.
If you are considering China for your print requirements, ask us for a quote. You might be surprised at how well we compare.