Margie Dana

In honor of the holidays (and no one loves them more than I), there will be no Print Tip until the week of January 1st. Here's to glorious celebrations, health and happiness to all!

Thanks for subscribing to Margie's Print Tips, written to build bridges
between the printing industry and its customers.

Dear Santa,
I've been an awfully good print buyer this year.

Let's imagine that there's a Santa who's the all-beneficent giver of print buyers' wishes. I asked some savvy print customers to write a Christmas list for this litho-loving guy in red - and not to be grouchy about it.

Here's what they wished for:

• A cut-sheet digital-color printer with a maximum print size large enough to print book jackets; say, 22 x 10".

• A proactive, friendly, data-based, communication-rich approach to delivering customer service. An approach that is non-defensive, curious, and willing.

• Recycled paper (with 30% or more PCW) that does not cost more than a comparable virgin-fiber sheet.

• A private jet to fly me to press checks in the month of December so I could avoid the commercial airline industry - gosh, travel is TOUGH at this time of year....the families, inexperienced travelers, extra airport security, aaahhh. (Still love press checks, just don't love getting there.)

• Eliminate the confusion about a printer's in-house and/or out-of-house capabilities. I wish that all who offer print services (brokers included) publish complete in-house equipment lists and clearly indicate the use of out-of-house services, when applicable.

• Perfect samples. I know, I sound like a broken record (scratched CD?), but if I get perfect samples, I won't have to keep asking for them.

• While a print order is in progress, printers should contact a print buyer as soon as they know that the delivery date she/he requested on the purchase order may be in jeopardy. Take the delivery dates we request seriously. It's OK to check in with us and ask, "Is there any flexibility in this delivery date?", but don't just assume the delivery date is flexible without checking in, because doing so may end the relationship (sorry for the grouchiness).

• Here's a really minor pet peeve: When printers communicate with a print buyer about a project, they shouldn't put just their own internal job number on the communication. This is mostly an issue when receiving proofs from printers. A subject heading on a PDF proof email from a printer that says something like "Proof - Job #1XQ-795" is useless when I'm trying to retrieve, organize or index correspondence on projects I've done. Their internal job number has no meaning to the print buyer. I'd like them to include some kind of name or description for the project, as well as their own job number for it.

• Print salespeople who regularly visit their own plants and stay well versed with the capabilities they have under their roof. They pick the brains of the people in their plant so that they stay (or become) tech-savvy. This will make them superior salespeople. The more times they can give me an answer to something without resorting to, "Let me check and get back to you," the better off they are. A compromise: If we're meeting and they don't know something important about their plant's capabilities, they call someone back at the shop and get an answer on the spot. Always much appreciated!

• To have printers utilize all of the "fool proof" technology that ensures color consistency, actually follow their quality control guidelines, and to take a look at samples before they deliver them to our building.

• I would like the owners of printing companies to make a sincere effort to reward their employees that worked very hard and showed dedication for them throughout the year. They are truly appreciated by us print buyers. (and the grinch's heart got ten times bigger!).

• Peace on Earth.

Thanks, one and all. Let me know if you get what you asked for - presuming you've been nice this year.

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