| Labels are one of the things in life that we all need. | | | | trying to figure out a convoluted ordering system, and |
| Without labels, we can't find anything, and there are all | | | | there's much less of a chance that the vendor will |
| sorts of projects, products and other things that need | | | | mess up my decals or custom labels. |
| labels. Labels are there to make life simpler by helping | | | | Third, I don't want to wait forever to get a quote. If |
| us to be as organized as possible. But that only works | | | | someone tells me they'll "get back to me in a few |
| if making and getting labels is quick and easy, and that | | | | days" with a quote, that's a no-go right then and there. |
| especially goes for custom labels. When you need | | | | It shouldn't take a label shop days to figure out what to |
| them, you need them, and usually you need them fast. | | | | charge a customer, so if someone can't tell you right |
| Based on my several decades of needing and using | | | | there on the phone or via an online system, go |
| labels, I know exactly where I want to get my labels | | | | somewhere else. |
| from, and what places I'll avoid like the plague. Like | | | | Fourth, deal with someone who has things in stock! If I |
| almost everyone else I had to learn the hard way and | | | | hear one more time, "we can order that for you," I am |
| there were some embarrassing mistakes. | | | | going to scream. Ordering something they should have |
| Embarrassing for me, as I needed those labels-done | | | | in stock can add days or weeks to the process, and I |
| correctly--in my job or for projects on deadline, and | | | | don't have that time. So I always deal with label |
| embarrassing for the label companies that dropped the | | | | companies that have things in stock. No exceptions. I |
| ball and certainly never got my business again. So let | | | | mean, we're talking laser labels and bumper stickers |
| me tell you what I learned: | | | | here, not parts for the space shuttle! |
| First, finding a place that not only promises quick | | | | Fifth, finally, I expect some competence on part of the |
| turnaround but also delivers is key. Be it tags, bar | | | | label company. I don't want to be the one telling them |
| codes, food labels or some other product packaging | | | | how to do their job, what machines to use, or how to |
| labels, you hardly ever have the luxury of a lot of | | | | handle the colors or fonts or file formats. That's their |
| advance notice, and you can never afford to miss a | | | | job. I tell them what I need, and then it is entirely up to |
| deadline. So label vendor MUST deliver on time. If they | | | | them to get the job done, and done properly. |
| have excuses, dump them and find someone else. | | | | I know, the above should all be common sense. But |
| Second, ordering labels should not be rocket science, | | | | you'd be surprised at all the problems you can run into |
| yet a lot of vendors make the process so complicated | | | | with your custom labels if you don't observe my rules. |
| as to virtually guarantee errors. That is wrong. I always | | | | Take it from one who's been dealing with labels all his |
| deal with label vendors who keep things simple and | | | | life. |
| straightforward. This way, I don't have to waste time | | | | |