Shop for the highest value-Not lowest cost!
The old saying “You get what you pay for,” really is true, especially when it comes to printing. It is impossible for a company in any industry to have the best service, highest quality AND cheapest price all at the same time. Look for the best value, which includes Quality, Service, and Price!

Not all printers are the same.
Every printer really is different. Each printer has different equipment and different employees who specialize in certain types of work. Printing is a form of art AND craftsmanship. Despite technological advances, printers still use many of the same techniques as they did 20 years ago, and the quality of the work depends more on the press operator than the press itself.

Loyalty
Having a few different printers competing for your work is not always a good thing. True it may save you a few dollars, but you may lose quality and service. Once you find a good printer, it is important to stay loyal to them and they will do the same for you. A printer is more likely to bend over backwards, from time to time, for their loyal customers and will do all they can to help a loyal customer meet a deadline.

Communication
You can save time, money and headaches by communicating with your printer from the very beginning. Let your printer know in advance what you need printed and they may be able to give you some help to make the process go smoother. Make sure to give your printer ample time to complete the job. Mistakes happen when you are in a rush. Make sure you give your printer any specific instructions when quoting the job. A good printer requires customers to proof all materials before going to press. This will ensure that the job gets done right, the first time!

Make sure the printer guarantees their work.
Any reputable printer automatically guarantees their work, which means if the printer made a mistake they will reprint the job at no charge. Unfortunately there are some unethical printers out there. An unethical printer may not take any responsibility for their mistakes, or they may say that they will fix the problem and then tack on extra charges for it. The best ways to avoid these problems is to proof the job before it gets to the press, to make sure that it is exactly what you want. Also pick a printer who unconditionally guarantees their work, if the mistake was the printers fault they should reprint it.

Ask for references
A good printer will always provide references. Get at least three names of people they have done work for, and ask how long they have been working together. Try to get references that have similar printing needs as yourself. These references will tell you a lot about the printer.