Postcards!

[Scarlett]

Tell me what you think. I wanted to make some funny postcards for presents at Xmas. I designed the images and asked the local printers if they did postcards. They said they did, so I sent the images over. When I received the postcards they were A5 rather than A6- way too big, and didn't look like postcards. They charged me £66 instead of £44. When I queried this they told me it was because my image was A5. However, I had no clue what size the image was, it was just a jpeg I attached! I thought they would re-size it onto A6- postcard size. Now I have a lot of very big, very expensive not-really postcards.
Who is in the right here?!

[woofgang]

Did you specify the finished size you wanted?...not just “postcard” but actual size? Have you got a copy of your original order? what does it say?

[Scarlett]

I just asked if they printed postcards. I thought they would have a machine that printed my image onto cards that were already postcard size, and maybe had the line and stamp outline on the back etc. They just said yes, they print postcards.

[jno]

I suppose technically postcards can be any size and you should have specified what you wanted. But A5 isn't going to fit through many letterboxes, and I don't know why printers would think otherwise.

[woofgang]

actually, A5 does go through letterboxes..its the biggest size that is guaranteed to go through a standard size letterbox. What does your original order actually say?

[EcclesCake]

Do you have a peculiarly small letterbox JNO? A5 fits perfectly well through my letterbox.

Going back to the OP I think it would have been wise to specify what you envisage to be 'postcard' size or for the printer to clarify what you were seeking. It strikes me that both parties have been somewhat remiss in specifying the requirement.

[jno]

doesn't fit our letterbox, but I think it dates from about 1920, so that probably explains it. Most of our mail comes folded in half.

But if that's the case, then you have got useable postcards so you're probably stuck with them, depending on the small print in your order. You'll just have to put more news on them, or write bigger. I expect the recipients will enjoy them just as much.

[Scarlett]

Hi there,

Do you print postcards? ie colour photo on one side and space /graphics to write on the reverse?
If so please can you tell me what they cost? I have 6 designs I wanted to print.

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We can print postcards, let us know the quantity you require and we can give you a quote.
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Thank you for your enquiry.

300 postcards total cost £40.

Due to our current workload we can complete your order 6th October.

Would you like us to proceed?

[Scarlett]

No size was mentioned. I assumed postcard meant postcard size.

[woofgang]

oh dear......you actually did define what you wanted in the first sentence....and you didn’t mention a size......

[Barmaid]

They should have requoted. You are both in the wrong - both of you have failed to specify the size. I'd at least try and get £22 back - they should have re-quoted rather than just continuing.

[snags]

''I assumed''

There's the problem.

[vulcan42]

Unfortunately different printers work with different definitions of "postcard".
One that iv'e worked with refer to A6 postcard as standard size, A5 postcard as sUpersize and DL postcard as 1/3 size of A4. I think your printer should have made certain of the size you wanted, postcard size is a bit vague.

[Old_Geezer]

A5 is half the size of A4 not double it. I'm surprised to hear one can not get A5 through the letterbox. The diagonal needs to be just 5.83".

As for the OP, I suspect this is a legal question. I'd have thought the printer rather thick not to query what size was required, as postcard size, whilst variable, are going to normally be the same size one sees (or used to see) at the seaside shops. But you'd need a legal expert to confirm you didn't have to specify and they were obliged to ensure they had the right information. I'd suspect you'd be on a sticky wicket.

[Tuvok]

Without getting too technical, depending on the resolution of your file is why they printed at A5 size due to their imposition software.

They may have quoted you for normal postcard size, but because of the above is why the cost rose.

Every year I do a postcard for a department at work, but specify that it is an A5 postcard when getting the print quote.

Just be glad that you're not doing anything that has prepaid postage printed on it - there are set measurements by Royal Mail, and you have to submit the artwork to them for verification!

[jno]

if they actually offer alternatives for size they should have mentioned it. Otherwise it's hard to see how they can raise their price from what they quoted - after all, they didn't specify size either, but they did specify the cost.

[piggynose]

http://postcardsize.com.au/

A6 is postcard size Media URL: http://postcardsize.com.au/
Description:

[jno]

yes, but the .com.au is significant there.

[Gromit]

You are in the wrong.

The printer will print whatever size of artwork you supply. You supplied the wrong size, so it is your fault.

Also, postcard size is a different proportion from A sizes. It sounds like you didn't have a clue what you were doing, and are trying to blame others for the mess.
Why not take a little time to find out the sizes of a postcard, and supply it at the right size.
Obviously, you didn't steal photos and images from other photographers and artists, so there isn't really any excuse for sending the wrong shape image.

[jno]

unless there's somethng in the contract that says "and we can change the charge we quoted you without warning you", I don't see how they can do so. Scarlett's probably stuck with the postcards, I'm not sure she has to pay the extra £22.

[Scarlett]

Well I wrote to them to say that I assumed postcards meant normal sized ones, and that I had no idea the size of the images I had sent. They haven't replied.