How do you ship prints to clients?

[thegarageblog]

As Christmas approaches, I have begun to receive requests for prints. How do you typically send prints? I am thinking Canada Post hard envelopes for smaller sizes and then tubes for larger sizes.

What do you do?

[OsmosisStudios]

Sandwich the prints between two sheets of a rigid card, something slightly thicker than index cards, then put it in a hard mailer and hope for the best.

Anything bigger than a 6x8/9 goes into a tube for me.

[SSE]

I tend to use cardboard backed envelopes and tubes for the poster sizes. With the smaller prints I also neatly wrap them in tissue paper just for added protection from scratches, and it looks nice for my customers. Then put in a personally signed 'compliments' slip with my contact details, web site address and logo.

[Jim Poor]

Tubes? YUCK! I won't order from a lab that ships in tubes, and I certainly don't expect my clients to receive photos that aren't shipped FLAT!

[Niresangwa]

I go through a site that handles all of this ordering-printing-shipping crap for me, and just sends me a check for the profit I decided I want.

If you're determined to do it yourself though, yeah, make it as rigid as possible.

Are you actually printing yourself, or are you ordering elsewhere then re-shipping tot he client? Why not just drop ship?

[thegarageblog]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

I go through a site that handles all of this ordering-printing-shipping crap for me, and just sends me a check for the profit I decided I want.

If you're determined to do it yourself though, yeah, make it as rigid as possible.

Are you actually printing yourself, or are you ordering elsewhere then re-shipping tot he client? Why not just drop ship?

I have a Smugmug account, which does the ordering-printing-shipping crap, but have found that my Canadian customers won't order from it because of the increased shipping and duty to come from the States.

For individual print orders up to 13 x 19, I'll print myself. For larger runs like Christmas cards, I usually order from the local Costco. It is affordable, convenient and they do a good job.

[thegarageblog]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Tubes? YUCK! I won't order from a lab that ships in tubes, and I certainly don't expect my clients to receive photos that aren't shipped FLAT!

Jim, I tend to agree with you, but how do I ship larger size prints flat without breaking the bank and ensuring the prints aren't damaged?

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by thegarageblog

Jim, I tend to agree with you, but how do I ship larger size prints flat without breaking the bank and ensuring the prints aren't damaged?

That's a tough one, but if someone orders a 20x30 metal print from me for example, the $70 shipping crate + Postage isn't going to phase them. For prints that large, if they are prices appropriately to begin with, should not cause issues when "actual shipping" is charged.