Comments on: Ordering a Half Sandwhich But Paying For a Whole http://www.tradeshowstartup.com/2007/10/03/ordering-a-half-sandwhich-but-paying-for-a-whole/ Lessons From the Launch of Tradeshows & Internet Media Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:50:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Pinnacle Trade Show Displays http://www.tradeshowstartup.com/2007/10/03/ordering-a-half-sandwhich-but-paying-for-a-whole/#comment-18981 Pinnacle Trade Show Displays Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:10:19 +0000 http://www.tradeshowstartup.com/2007/10/03/ordering-a-half-sandwhich-but-paying-for-a-whole/#comment-18981 Tim, I feel for you on the lanyards, and will make a mental note not to use pc/nametag (I think they sent me some samples in the past). Some companies get the saying "It is better to underpromise and overdeliver" backwards. What happened with American Express? As to the overage charge, box (manufacturing) companies do it too. Depending on the order size, they reserve the right to sell you 10% to 20% more or less. Funny thing is it ALWAYS ends up being more not less. Like Cliff, I also sometimes specify on purchase orders "Not to exceed", though then the vendor often say that if you want the exact amount it is 10% more. The good news is that there are printers out there that don't do this (produce overage and then charge you for it). We use just such a printer for our brochures and catalogues. It pays to shop around. Steve Pinnacle Trade Show Displays http://www.pinnacledisplays.com Tim, I feel for you on the lanyards, and will make a mental note not to use pc/nametag (I think they sent me some samples in the past). Some companies get the saying “It is better to underpromise and overdeliver” backwards. What happened with American Express?
As to the overage charge, box (manufacturing) companies do it too. Depending on the order size, they reserve the right to sell you 10% to 20% more or less. Funny thing is it ALWAYS ends up being more not less. Like Cliff, I also sometimes specify on purchase orders “Not to exceed”, though then the vendor often say that if you want the exact amount it is 10% more.
The good news is that there are printers out there that don’t do this (produce overage and then charge you for it). We use just such a printer for our brochures and catalogues. It pays to shop around.
Steve
Pinnacle Trade Show Displays
http://www.pinnacledisplays.com

]]> By: Conventions and Word of Mouth Marketing | Conventions – Trade Shows – Convention Centers http://www.tradeshowstartup.com/2007/10/03/ordering-a-half-sandwhich-but-paying-for-a-whole/#comment-18146 Conventions and Word of Mouth Marketing | Conventions – Trade Shows – Convention Centers Mon, 08 Oct 2007 18:09:41 +0000 http://www.tradeshowstartup.com/2007/10/03/ordering-a-half-sandwhich-but-paying-for-a-whole/#comment-18146 [...] reader of Tim Bourquin over at Tradeshow Startup, and I read today with heightened interest.  Tim talks today about printers and the trade show industry.  Tim had ordered some badge lanyards to be worn at a convention, and when the [...] [...] reader of Tim Bourquin over at Tradeshow Startup, and I read today with heightened interest.  Tim talks today about printers and the trade show industry.  Tim had ordered some badge lanyards to be worn at a convention, and when the [...]

]]> By: Charles Stricklin http://www.tradeshowstartup.com/2007/10/03/ordering-a-half-sandwhich-but-paying-for-a-whole/#comment-17964 Charles Stricklin Sat, 06 Oct 2007 07:47:47 +0000 http://www.tradeshowstartup.com/2007/10/03/ordering-a-half-sandwhich-but-paying-for-a-whole/#comment-17964 I thought the lanyards came out okay, but then again, who the heck spends more than 1 second looking at a lanyard?! As far as overruns are concerned, how many times have you ordered a smaller pizza than was prepared due to a misunderstanding? Have you ever had to pay for the additional pizza? I thought not. Consider <a href="http://charlesstricklin.com/2007/09/28/podcast-and-new-media-expo-day-1/" rel="nofollow">my business card fiasco</a>... and to think, here it is, nearly a week after the expo was over (not to mention 26 days ago when the order was placed) and I still have yet to receive my business cards! Yep, printing companies are not high up on my "warm and fuzzy feeling" list right now. I thought the lanyards came out okay, but then again, who the heck spends more than 1 second looking at a lanyard?!

As far as overruns are concerned, how many times have you ordered a smaller pizza than was prepared due to a misunderstanding? Have you ever had to pay for the additional pizza? I thought not.

Consider my business card fiasco… and to think, here it is, nearly a week after the expo was over (not to mention 26 days ago when the order was placed) and I still have yet to receive my business cards!

Yep, printing companies are not high up on my “warm and fuzzy feeling” list right now.

]]> By: Tim Bourquin http://www.tradeshowstartup.com/2007/10/03/ordering-a-half-sandwhich-but-paying-for-a-whole/#comment-17803 Tim Bourquin Thu, 04 Oct 2007 01:12:41 +0000 http://www.tradeshowstartup.com/2007/10/03/ordering-a-half-sandwhich-but-paying-for-a-whole/#comment-17803 I've seen where printing companies say the job might be 3% over or under, but not until the last few months did I see them charging for the overage. Has anyone ever gotten a refund for being under? Somehow I doubt it. AND, if they know accurately how many were overruns, why can't they just be accurate about the original job in the first place and just print that many? I’ve seen where printing companies say the job might be 3% over or under, but not until the last few months did I see them charging for the overage. Has anyone ever gotten a refund for being under? Somehow I doubt it.

AND, if they know accurately how many were overruns, why can’t they just be accurate about the original job in the first place and just print that many?

]]> By: Cliff Allen http://www.tradeshowstartup.com/2007/10/03/ordering-a-half-sandwhich-but-paying-for-a-whole/#comment-17802 Cliff Allen Thu, 04 Oct 2007 01:08:08 +0000 http://www.tradeshowstartup.com/2007/10/03/ordering-a-half-sandwhich-but-paying-for-a-whole/#comment-17802 Charging for overages is part of the printing industry's standards, which means courts recognize it unless it is "disclaimed." When I had an advertising and PR firm my production people always added a specification to purchase orders that we wouldn't pay for overages. Printers still ran overages to make sure there were enough good copies to meet the minimum ordered, but our clients never had to pay for them. Charging for overages is part of the printing industry’s standards, which means courts recognize it unless it is “disclaimed.”

When I had an advertising and PR firm my production people always added a specification to purchase orders that we wouldn’t pay for overages.

Printers still ran overages to make sure there were enough good copies to meet the minimum ordered, but our clients never had to pay for them.

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