An alternative to SendOutCards? - Page 2 - Virtual Assistant Forums

#16 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008

Michelle, sounds like a wonderful solution! Great thinking

Tanya, I'd be very interested to learn what your conclusions are - a comparison of the options you mentioned would be superb.

I've never actually seen even a sample of Send Out Cards, but am growing more and more curious about what they have to offer.

#17 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008

Sorry guys... this is taking me a little more time than I thought because we ran into some bad weather up here, and then the video card on my main desktop PC monitor crapped out on me. So, I'm working through www.gotomypc.com which allows me to see my PC's desktop and applications through the eyes of another PC's monitor... but in tiny print. And it runs just a titch slower than if I were working directly from my PC. Hopefully I'll have tech support out here tomorrow afternoon to get me all fixed up... but until then, please bare with me. I promise to have those comparisons uploaded here soon.

In the meantime, for Tess and whoever else wanted to test out the SOC system, you could go to http://www.sendoutcards.com/trimagesink to send out a free card. You won't of course have the ability to send it in your own handwriting at that point, but it gives you the opportunity to learn a little about some of the features, and send out a card to someone (or yourself) as a test. Let me know if you have any questions or problems with it. And, then... hopefully, by the end of the day, I'll have those comparisons completed for all of you.

#18 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008

Thanks Tanya

No deadlines here! LOL....it's great that you're taking the time to investigate and compare but don't spend your workday on it!

#19 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008

Thank you all for your suggestions. It seems I needed a sounding board to 'think outside the box' and you all fit the bill as I knew you would. Thanks again. I am ordering the cards tomorrow or Saturday and then expect to re-mail them next week. My client is thrilled with the solution. I of course told her that I had help which she said 'Good for you and keep up the good work'. So here's to all my VAF friends and colleagues

Great suggestion on checking out the site. I also work directly for someone who is a distributor. As mentioned above, if anyone would like a gift account they can check it out here as well - click on the picture of Steve on the left hand corner of the site. It is a great service to have. I will be using it for my Christmas cards/letters this year to take a bit of the stress I always associate with sending them out. I love updating family and friends and letting them see my girls, but oh the time it takes. SOC will take the stress away... but I digress - SOC is a great option, I just wish they didn't require the processing fee on gift cards.

A good evening to all!

#20 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008

Thank you all for your suggestions. It seems I needed a sounding board to 'think outside the box' and you all fit the bill as I knew you would. Thanks again. I am ordering the cards tomorrow or Saturday and then expect to re-mail them next week. My client is thrilled with the solution. I of course told her that I had help which she said 'Good for you and keep up the good work'. So here's to all my VAF friends and colleagues

Great suggestion on checking out the site. I also work directly for someone who is a distributor. As mentioned above, if anyone would like a gift account they can check it out here as well - click on the picture of Steve on the left hand corner of the site. It is a great service to have. I will be using it for my Christmas cards/letters this year to take a bit of the stress I always associate with sending them out. I love updating family and friends and letting them see my girls, but oh the time it takes. SOC will take the stress away... but I digress - SOC is a great option, I just wish they didn't require the processing fee on gift cards.

A good evening to all!

#21 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008

Hey everyone,
Here's the comparisons as promised. Thanks again for your patience. If there are other services out there that we could add to the list that someone is familiar with, let me know and we can always update this information.

Postcard Printing Customer-Comparisons & Options
July 2008

This was based on a 200 count mailing; 2-sided color print and postage included. The customer would provide their own mailing lists in the proper .xls or .cvs format. Additional fees would apply for mail list searches (if available). This is standard, first class postage – no bulk rates.

Express Copy*
Estimated $102 ($0.51/card) with laminated finish
* minimum of 100 pieces required per order
*First time customers can receive a discount
*no set up fee
*also offers mass-print greeting card options

VistaPrint*
Estimated $131 ($0.65/card) with glossy finish
* no apparent minimum print required, but you get robbed on rates if you go below 100 it seems (almost $4/card w/3 card order ttl)
*VistPrint often features discounted products on a weekly & monthly basis that would reduce this cost
*no set up fee
*also offers mass-print greeting card options

Verticle Response*
Estimated $176 ($0.88/card) with glossy finish
*no minimum print requirement, however sending one card at a time you would be looking at $0.97 per card
*no set up fee
*non-profit discounts available

SendOutCards*
Estimated $144 ($0.72/card) with high-gloss finish
*no minimum print requirement -
*minimum one-time set up of $99 (additional $49 for custom handwriting/signature)
*able to send gifts & gift cards for an additional fee
*additional packages and options available that can reduce the cost of card creation and postage; commissionable packages available –
Postcards as low as $0.54/card with customized font & signature
*also offers custom-print greeting card options

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Each vendor has its special niche, and some packages and features may benefit more than others... so you just have to weigh out all of the pros and cons and do what's ultimately best for your business, not today... but 6 months, 12 months, even 18 months from now.

If anyone has any questions, concerns or suggestions regarding the attached information feel free to email me offline.