How long should a mailhouse take?

[$tevie]

I basically use the same mailhouse for all our mailings. Typically the piece is a postcard but maybe 7 or 8 times a year it might be a 6x9 magazine-style 16 to 24 pp. We mail non-profit rate.

My mailhouse tries to get each piece to the Post Office about 3 days after they receive the pieces from my printer. Although when I am desperate they have turned things around in 2 days. And when the deadline is "whenever" they may take 5 days.

I felt like I was getting good service, but someone in my office is acting as if they think that maybe these turnaround times ain't so great.

Who's right? Am I foolish to be satisfied with an average turnraround of 3 days? I thought that was pretty good.

[Buckeye_Sean]

Our mailhouse is also 2-3 day turnaround. I don't think "someone" understands that most printing and mailing businesses are NOT just sitting around waiting for the next job to come in. They have a schedule that is maybe 1-2 days out or more. Certain times of year, like holidays will obviously be busier. If you're in a super rush they can probably expedite your order for a "nominal" fee like most businesses.

Tell "someone", if they need it done sooner without any added cost - they need to get it done and to the printer sooner.

[$tevie]

Buckeye_Sean Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tell "someone", if they need it done sooner
> without any added cost - they need to get it done
> and to the printer sooner.

OH yes -- out came a wry chuckle when I read your words. But I have pretty much given up hope that anyone around here is ever going to figure that one out...why on earth would we allow enough time for a project, and miss out on these fun post-mortems where we try to pin it on one of our vendors?

[Buckeye_Sean]

Hehe, as a printer I know all too well the "You're the printer, it's your problem we're late getting it to you." scenario. Same thing for binderies and mailhouses....

*Sigh*

It's just the business, I guess - and probably why I drink.

[$tevie]

It does seem to be industry-wide. The deadlines are so tight that every thing becomes a disaster waiting to happen -- but when it does, they are all so surprised.

[Buckeye_Sean]

$tevie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It does seem to be industry-wide. The deadlines
> are so tight that every thing becomes a disaster
> waiting to happen -- but when it does, they are
> all so surprised.


You're preaching to the choir...you know that? (-Kidding-)


Seriously though, our printshop has some very nice, very fast fully automated equipment. Still...things break, things act up, a certain paper or ink causes a problem, Joe is out sick and is the only one who knows how to set up the Duplo machine for a 60 page newsletter with insert and cover, blah, blah blah....

So yeah, you compound all that on top of the fact that you're pushing a job through quicker than normal because "someone" took their sweet time getting it to us BUT HAS TO HAVE IT TOMORROW!!!! = Recipe for major FUBAR situation.

So we've gotten really good at covering our azzes in the event of a crisis. B)

[Gutenberg]

I think three days is fabulous. BARC took three weeks to get our annual report out a couple of years ago, and it arrived past deadline. Caused all sorts of furor. Tell Admissions to stick to schedule and the stuff will get out on time.

[AlphaDog]

The in-house print shop where I used to work had a sign posted that said:

"Poor planning on your part does not constitute crisis on my part."

[$tevie]

The problem with that slogan is when the poor planners work for the same place you do, and vastly out-rank you.

[kurtzie]

3 days isn't unreasonable, by the time the list is sorted and the postage is taken care (checks etc.) and then get the piece inkjetted, bagged and taken to the Post Office

How about using a printer that has in house mailing.
That should save a Day or so in getting it to the mail house.
Most printers around here (Minneapolis) now offer mailing - including my co.


Steve