Trade Printery
  Home About Us Products & Services FAQ Contact Us Our People Reorder a Job
FAQ

If you don't find an answer to your question here, send us an email or call us at 206-728-1600, and we'll be happy to provide the information you need.


General

Is Trade Printery a Union shop?
How do I get a price quote?
What’s the minimum order?
What’s the maximum order?
What’s the maximum sheet size?
Do you do four-color work?
Can I get a quick turnaround?

Payment

Can I pay by credit card?
How do I set up an account with Trade Printery?
 

Production

How do I get my job to Trade Printery? Can I email it?
When will you start printing my job?
How do I proof my print job?
How long does it take to get a proof?
Can I make a change after I get my proof?
How long will it take to get my finished job?
Will I always receive exactly the quantity I order?
May I press-check my job?

Delivery and shipping

How do I receive my order?
Can I ship my order faster?

 

General

Is Trade Printery a Union shop?

Yes, we are. We carry the Allied Printing Trades Label #2 and are authorized to put our bug (label) on all printing and photocopying we do in our shop. The Allied Printing Trades label guarantees that everyone in the shop is a Union member. Other labels may not have that guarantee.

How do I get a price quote?

Just call us at 206-728-1600, fax us at 206-728-2109, or email us at printing@tradeprintery.com and give us the job specifications which will include quantity, finished size, paper stock, and ink colors. Kevin or Minnie will work up a custom bid for your order or, if it's something simple, you should be able to get a price from us right away.

What’s the minimum order?

For press runs, our standard minimum for one- and two-color jobs is 500, which isn’t always as many as it sounds. It all depends on how many images are run on a sheet. For instance, we generally run business cards four on a sheet. That means you could get the minimum by ordering just 125 cards each for four different people.

For four-color jobs on the press, our minimum is 1000. If you have questions, it is best to call us at at 206-728-1600.

There’s no minimum order for photocopy or digital color jobs.

 

What’s the maximum order?

We believe there are no limits to how we can help our customers. So call us at 206-728-1600 and we'll help you with all your printing needs.

The maximum order for photocopy jobs depends on the customer’s time frame. For instance, after around 2500 8.5 x 11 inch pieces, it's more economical to run a black and white job on the press, unless the customer is in a hurry. Rush jobs are often better to photocopy. (There is no drying time with photocopies and they are easier to schedule).

What’s the maximum sheet size?

The largest sheet we run is 14 x 18 inches. The maximum image area on that sheet is 12.5 x 17.25 inches.

Do you do four-color work?

We do four-color jobs, although we specialize in two-color. Our minimum four-color press run is 1000.

Can I get a quick turnaround?

You bet! We understand that many times, a job is needed ASAP. Be it a political campaign or just something that was overlooked, we always try to accommodate our customers’ deadlines. Copy jobs can often be done on the same day as ordered. Just tell us when you need it and we will have your job ready on the day agreed upon.


To top

Payment

Can I pay by credit card?

We don’t accept credit cards at this time. We will gladly take your personal check or cash. You can also set up an account and we can bill you. Unless you have an account with us, all orders are C.O.D.

 

How do I set up an account with Trade Printery?

Contact us for an application. Once it’s approved, we will invoice your future orders. All payments are due 30 days from the date of invoice. You will be invoiced when the last item on your order is shipped.


To top

Production

How do I get my job to Trade Printery?
Can I email it?

We can accept your job camera ready or on disk. You can drop it by or send it to the shop (2512 First Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121). You can also email it to us as a PDF file and in the native file format (e.g. Illustrator, InDesign, or PageMaker)— but please call us to discuss the job before you send it. If you email the file, always include a PDF version so we can be sure nothing happened in the transmission process.

We can also set up your job for you, assist you in choosing a design, and help you with ink and paper choices. For more information, call and talk to Minnie (206-728-1600).

When will you start printing my job?

Each job is allotted a specific production time. During this time, we start to create, edit, and check your job. We send you a proof, and once you give us the OK, we start production. If it's a repeat job, or has been provided to us camera or copy ready, we don’t send a proof—we start production right away.

How do I proof my print job?

We make proofing simple and flexible so you can preview your design before we print it. We usually fax you a completed copy of your document. We can also email you a PDF file or send the proofs by U.S. mail. Or you can come to the shop and proof your job in-house. Bluelines are available on request.

How long does it take to get a proof?

It depends on the type of artwork needed for your job. If we create the artwork, we require a little more lead time. The usual turnaround time to get a proof when we create your design is 3-4 days. If you provide artwork, we can set up your job and get you a proof in about 2 days or sooner.

 

Can I make a change after I get my proof?

We understand that sometimes after reviewing a proof, you might want a change. It’s part of the process. We will gladly make the necessary revisions and send you a new proof. We repeat the revision-review process until you are satisfied and sign off on the job.

How long will it take to get my finished job?

Once we have approval, our typical turnaround time for most jobs is 3-5 business days. Larger jobs, such as contract books, take longer. Additional artwork and delays in production or sign-off can increase the time it takes to finish your order.

If you have a deadline to meet, please let us know and we will do whatever we can to expedite your job. Customer service is our highest priority. In keeping with that philosophy, we rarely charge extra for rush orders.

Will I always receive exactly the quantity I order?

We try to produce the exact quantity you ordered. Often, due to running overage in the production process (to account for spoilage), we will send more than you ordered to make sure that you receive the correct amount. You will always receive at least the quantity you ordered. We do not charge for any extra copies.

May I press-check my job?

We are happy to arrange for a press check. We try to do it at no cost to you by fitting it into our press schedule. If we can’t conveniently schedule your press check, we can hold our presses at any time for a charge of $100 per hour.


To top

Delivery and shipping

How do I receive my order?

We can deliver your order in downtown Seattle free of charge. We also deliver in the greater Seattle area, or we can ship your order anywhere in the U.S. You can also pick up your order in person. We usually try to arrange for delivery when you place your order.

 

Can I ship my order faster?

Of course! You may choose ground, 2nd-day, or next-day shipping. Restrictions may apply depending on where and how the order is shipped (for example, UPS doesn’t deliver on Saturday but the U.S. Postal Service does). For more information, call the shop and talk to Mindy, our shipping expert (206-728-1600).


To top