What to ask a print supplier
Two quotes can show the same size and hide very different jobs. These questions bring the differences out before you pay.
Compare the job, then the price.
A line that says "A1 poster, one off" tells you very little. Two printers can write it and mean different papers, different finishing and different assumptions about your artwork. Put the questions below to any supplier, us included. A good printer answers them without fuss, and the replies make your quotes comparable.
| Ask | Why it matters | A useful answer |
|---|---|---|
| Which material is this, exactly? | Weight and finish change how a print looks and how it wears | A named material and weight, not just "paper" or "vinyl" |
| Is it right for where it is going? | An indoor material used outside is a classic failure | Questions back to you about the location |
| What does the price leave out? | VAT, delivery, finishing and artwork fixes can all sit outside the headline figure | A plain list of what is in and what is not |
| Do you check my file? | Checks vary from a full review to none at all | What is checked, and what stays your responsibility |
| Can I see a proof or a sample? | Screens and print show colour differently | A clear yes or no, and any cost |
| How will it reach me? | Big sheets crease and boards chip in transit | Rolled or flat, and by which service |
| What if it arrives wrong or damaged? | It is far easier to agree this beforehand | A clear process, including who to call |
| Can it be reprinted to match? | Sets of panels often need one replacement later | What you need to keep, and how close a match to expect |
Questions that depend on the job
- Going into a venue? Ask the venue what it requires of display materials, including any fire rules, then ask the supplier whether the material meets that. The answer can change the specification, so settle it before ordering.
- Needs fitting? Ask who does it, who provides access equipment and who answers for the wall. With us, fitting arrangements are agreed in your quote.
- Ordering several? Find out how quantity pricing is worked out. On our list, volume prices apply to prints of the same size in one order, and they do not have to be the same picture.
- Fixed date? Ask when the final file must land, and whether delivery falls inside that date. Our guide to planning print deadlines helps you work backwards.
Answers that should make you pause
Be wary of a supplier who cannot name the material, will not say what the price excludes, or takes on an outdoor job without asking how long it has to last. Confident promises about how many years a print will survive deserve a follow-up too. Sun, weather and cleaning all change the outcome, so an honest reply comes with conditions.
Your half of the conversation
The replies are only as good as what you tell the printer. Size, quantity, location, lifespan and date will get you a firm figure, and our notes on getting an accurate quote show how to set them out.
What the quote is really buying.
Your questions.
Should I always go with the supplier who asks the most questions?
Not automatically, but it is a good sign. A printer who asks where a job is going is thinking about whether it will work there, as well as whether it can be printed.
Is it reasonable to ask for a material sample?
Yes. Samples are a normal request on bigger or colour-critical jobs. Ask us what is available for the material you have in mind.
What should I have in writing before I confirm?
The size, quantity, material, finishing, delivery method, price basis and the date you are working to. A short email covering these prevents most misunderstandings.