There are literally already printers doing this for the industry our business is in. People go to those able to sell individual signs so they can buy 3-4 pieces instead of a full sheet of graphics now to cut their inventory costs. The 4 pieces fit on a half a sheet. Two others may order 2 pieces each which fits on quarter sheets, now equalling a full sheet. The artists nest the graphics ordered, make the cut file, then pay a fee $5.00-10.00 for split ship, plus the shipping charge for each box that needs to be shipped (3). So the regular sheet print price, plus split ship cost, plus three shipping charges. The printer doesn't lose money on this at all. I don't know what the issue is. We're not talk 1000 orders. We're talking max 8 and the shipping charge is multiplied based on how many orders are shipped out. This is already being done, I'm just trying to figure which printers are already using this model so we can use their services for our graphics.
Shipping directly from the printer saves our customers time who need these items for last minute events. Shipping to us first slows the time it takes to get to the end user, plus doubles their shipping costs. In these economic times we don't want to do that to our customers who aren't able to afford full sheets of the graphics they need anymore.
I don't have a little brain, I know my industry and know some of my competitors have already been working with printers that do this. I'm trying to stay competitive as well and find a printer who will split ship as well.
