REQUESTING A QUOTE
A quote is an estimated cost for a given job. It is the price for which a company will be able to complete the project based on the specifications given. If you are getting things printed professionally, it is NECESSARY to get quotes / estimates from possible printers in order to make sure that you are getting the absolute best deal. Things that will effect the quote include the quantity of items, the size, number of colors, special cutting, the thickness and quality of the paper and the amount of time you are willing to give the printer to produce the item(s).
\\\\ GETTING QUOTES
- This part of the project is very straightforward. Get price quotes from 2 different companies on business cards. One company must be online and the other must be local (either around this area, or near your hometown).
- For each company, you must obtain prices (quotes) for the following:
- Number of colors: Get a quote for a 5-color print (CMYK with varnish/UV coating). Also, get a quote for a 2-color print. Some companies (especially online) will not allow you to print anything less than 5-colors, so you will only need to quote the 5-color options.
- Specifications: Each card will be 3.5” x 2”. Get a quote for 1-sided printing and a quote for 2-sided printing.
- Paper: Ask the printer for their suggested paper stock. Some companies (specifically online companies) will not give you an option, so just write down the paper stock they print on automatically.
- Quantity: Get quotes for 50 (if possible), 100 and 250. Use maths to determine how much it costs per card.
- Discounts: Finally, ask about any discounts that might be available. Sometimes picking up your order rather than having it shipped will cut the price. Other companies (especially online companies) have coupons or specials available.
- You will have a potentially have a total of 12 prices with all of the variations above (such as 50, 1-sided 5-color cards; 50, 2-sided 5-color cards; etc.).
- After getting your quotes, create a list of your findings in Word, Excel or some other word processing document. Specify the name of the company, where it is located, and what the prices are for each card variation. The document must be easy to read and understand to receive credit.
- Finally, on Blackboard, find the blog entitled ‘Business Card Quotes’ and post your list of quotes. Then, leave a comment on your post with your cheapest printing option (name, location, card specifics and price) and your most expensive printing option (name, location, card specifics and price) from the companies you surveyed.
- NOTE: You are not allowed to copy another student’s companies. If another student has already posted a quote from a company, you will need to find another alternative. It is okay if the alternative is more expensive than the original. We are not necessarily looking for the best price at this point, only different options.
\\\\ BONUS
- Many companies will offer samples of their cards. Ask if these are available and try to bring them to class.
GRADING — 20 pts (PASS / FAIL)
To get credit for this assignment, you will need to submit the following:
- Export your list of quotes as a PDF and submit via Blackboard BLOG. (10 points)
- On the class blog, post your cheapest option and most expensive option (5 points)
///////// AUTOMATIC FAILURE
- Required quotes for card variations are missing within your submission
- Submission is received or uploaded after the 5:00pm deadline
- Posted a company to the blog that someone had previously posted