proofing

[RabidOne]

that's pretty much what I do as well.

Here's the next part of the question. ha! When someone sends YOU a design and tells you to print it/cut it "just like I sent you". Do you send them a proof of what they sent you?

Always!

 

[gnubler]

My "favorite" is when they reply "Perfect!" Then 30 minutes later reply with "could we change this to that..."
I like to get a formal approval for production. When they reply to proofs with a one word answer (other than "approved") I'll say something like.... "Let me know when these are approved to put into production"

I sit on all approvals for at least 24 hours, for this reason. I had one who emailed 3 days after her "looks great" approval wanting to add some things to a menu. Ended up patching in some strips of text...not my problem!

The other thing on turnaround times is on every quote I phrase it like this: "Turnaround time 7-10 days after proof approval". Because yes, there's always the OCD crowd who goes through 8 rounds of proofs and then wants their sign the next day.

 

[okeesignguy]

If ya'll are so inclined, can you post what your verbiage is when sending out proofs?

This 'signature" is always attached to my emails when sending out proofs...

 

[Stacey K]

"Looks good" or "sounds good" is the new form of approval, you just have to roll with it. If I insisted on having a proof form signed and dated like in the old days it would more than likely annoy people. Written email approval is good enough and 99% of my proofs are approved this way.

My proof template has a line where I type in a brief description of the job: size, qty, single or double sided, etc. Below that are images/mockups of the job. I send all proofs as 150dpi JPGs so there's no vector art to be snagged.

I'm fine with "looks good" but what I meant was I sent 3 options and they just send back "looks good" - I'm glad they all look good but you need to chose an option ..... 1, 2 or 3? Can't print them all LOL

 

[jochwat]

I'm fine with "looks good" but what I meant was I sent 3 options and they just send back "looks good" - I'm glad they all look good but you need to chose an option ..... 1, 2 or 3? Can't print them all LOL

Few things bug me more than the "Looks good" or "Approved" on a multiple-option proof. So what you're telling me is, you didn't even bother to spend more than 2 seconds looking at what I sent, if you looked at it at all. I appreciate that you trust me so much and have complete confidence in my design and typing skills that you don't even need to proofread anything, but by God, it's true, I do make the occasional screw-up once every few years. And this might be one of those! So, please, I'll resend this once again and explain that, ahem, uh, Good Customer, you see, there were two options from which to select. OPTION 1, and, OPTION 2. They're labeled and everything. So, as the previous email asked of you (and this is indeed YOUR JOB and I'd think you'd WANT IT TO BE ACCURATE), take a look at these TWO OPTIONS. Choose the one which delights you more than the other. And then, within your selection, please check all spelling, grammar, logos, images, colors, and JESUS you're an ADULT, and you have a JOB, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE TELLING ALL OF THIS TO YOU.............. TWIIIICCCEEE!!!!!

I guess what I'm saying is, Stacey, I agree with you. Maybe I should have just hit the "Agree" icon because now I'm all riled up and it's not even 8am.

 

[myront]

If a customer "approves" then calls back after it's printed to make changes they're still charged for the prints. Sometimes the print can start as early as 5min upon approval. The sales team gets approval, pulls up the card in trello and moves it to the approved list. The designer assigned to that card then moves it to the print board. Print Tech see it and starts printing.

 

[gnubler]

I'm fine with "looks good" but what I meant was I sent 3 options and they just send back "looks good" - I'm glad they all look good but you need to chose an option ..... 1, 2 or 3? Can't print them all LOL

Sure you can, and charge accordingly for their lack of cognitive acumen.

I just quoted a bunch of items for someone...stickers of varying quantities, some different options for yard signs, etc. I get an email back and all it says is "Sounds good go ahead". Frickin' idiot, I'm not even responding back to that one.

 

[CanuckSigns]

If a customer "approves" then calls back after it's printed to make changes they're still charged for the prints. Sometimes the print can start as early as 5min upon approval. The sales team gets approval, pulls up the card in trello and moves it to the approved list. The designer assigned to that card then moves it to the print board. Print Tech see it and starts printing.

All the time lol. I recently had a client order a print they needed in 2 days, small job. I got approval just before I was set to run a large job on the same material, so I printed it within 15 minutes of getting her approval. Emailed her to let her know it's all done, she says "Oh, that was faster than I thought, i was just going to email you with a few more "tweaks" I thought of. SMH

 

[Geneva Olson]

All the time lol. I recently had a client order a print they needed in 2 days, small job. I got approval just before I was set to run a large job on the same material, so I printed it within 15 minutes of getting her approval. Emailed her to let her know it's all done, she says "Oh, that was faster than I thought, i was just going to email you with a few more "tweaks" I thought of. SMH

it's nice to know that happens all the time. One of my regulars just ordered a banner for his daughter going to college. He got the proof and said, "oh yea, that looks great, go ahead". So, I printed it. No sooner did I print it that he said, "she wants her name on it". The kicker is, I ALMOST asked him if he wanted her name on the banner. I offered a sticker and he said no, it's fine.

 

[gnubler]

At least your customers type in English. Sometimes all I get back is a texted "thumbs up".