Bayphoto vs. Ezprints...sizing/pricing/shipping...

Candid Arts

So, I was doing some testing to checking pricing differences between the two printing locations, and noticed that bayphoto doesn't offer the 12x18 size in anything (print or canvas). Why would this be? I love this size, right in the middle between 8x12 and 16x24...

Also, I did a test order, 5 - 16x24 prints from both locations. Bayphoto was actually cheaper for the photos, by about $15, but shipping was a dollar more from CA to OR versus from GA to OR. I'm curious as to how that is possible?

I really like some of the printing options from BayPhoto, in regards to their pano sizes and such, as well as the cheaper prices on many of the regular prints. But the canvas prints were like all about $20 more expensive (cost). And since right now, most of my clientell will be on the west coast, I figured shipping would be A LOT cheaper coming from California versus Georgia and going to Oregon...but apparently that's not true?

Is there any way to mix and match products? For Example:

Normal prints and pano's from BayPhoto

Canvas prints from EZPrints

My only and biggest question with BayPhoto I guess is the shipping cost, I really don't understand why it's cheaper going to Oregon from Georgia than it is from California. Also with BayPhoto the lack of 12x18 print size.

I think I covered all my concerns and questions...

Any ideas? Thanks!

Velvet-Art

Candid Arts wrote:

My only and biggest question with BayPhoto I guess is the shipping cost, I really don't understand why it's cheaper going to Oregon from Georgia than it is from California. Also with BayPhoto the lack of 12x18 print size.

I think I covered all my concerns and questions...

Any ideas? Thanks!

I cant speak as to the geography of the US, but when you recieve your orders you will plainly see why the shipping from Bay is more expensive. Bay ships all their prints packed <b>flat</b> as opposed to EZ who will ship larger prints <b>rolled</b> (and therefore cheaper to ship).

I hope this answers that point,


Tim

Candid Arts

Velvet-Art wrote:

I cant speak as to the geography of the US, but when you recieve your orders you will plainly see why the shipping from Bay is more expensive. Bay ships all their prints packed flat as opposed to EZ who will ship larger prints rolled (and therefore cheaper to ship).

I hope this answers that point,


Tim

That pretty much answers the shipping question. Thanks!

Anyone else on the other questions?

Andy

A whole gallery of packaging shots http://cmac.smugmug.com/gallery/6788174_4FCKx#447577129_BYtQb linked from here

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/pro-print-labs-test-results/

You can't mix and match in the same gallery, sorry.

12x18s were inadvertently left out, they're being added to Bay Catalog with the next release (I hope very soon!).

Ann McRae

Andy wrote:

You can't mix and match in the same gallery, sorry.
.

But I can envision some simple work arounds:

1. Place the prints that require different labs in different galleries, and use links in the gallery description so that your customer can easily go from one to the other. (or have two total duplicate galleries)

2. For your own purposes you could place an order, check out, then go back and switch print labs to place the other order.


ann

Candid Arts

Ann McRae wrote:

But I can envision some simple work arounds:

2. For your own purposes you could place an order, check out, then go back and switch print labs to place the other order.


ann

Running with this idea... Could I simply put a delay on the printing, and when I recieve an email that I had an order placed, if it's for a Canvas (which is way cheaper from ez vs bay, when I'll normally be set up to print from bay), then I can go in and switch it for that order, and switch it back? That should work right? Because I noticed earlier that it saves your prices when you switch from one printing company to the other. It'd kind of be a hassle on my end, but it'd take $20 (my cost) average off of each canvas sale.

My only wonder then would be, if I have it set normally to bay (which doesn't offer the 12x18 size), how would I display that size option and make that an option to order to be able to switch the print location when an order is placed for that specific size? *(did that make any sense?)

I think I'm definitely going to go with BAY for my prints. But I REALLY like the canvas prices from EZ and they offer a 12x18 size... Any ideas on why they wouldn't be able to print a 12x18 size?

takeflightphoto

Candid Arts wrote:

My only wonder then would be, if I have it set normally to bay (which doesn't offer the 12x18 size), how would I display that size option and make that an option to order to be able to switch the print location when an order is placed for that specific size? *(did that make any sense?)

I think I'm definitely going to go with BAY for my prints. But I REALLY like the canvas prices from EZ and they offer a 12x18 size... Any ideas on why they wouldn't be able to print a 12x18 size?

Andy answered you ^^^ up there ^^^.

12 x 18 will be offered by Bay on the next update. It was an inadvertant omission.

I'm guessing that the Giclee process by Bay is a higher quality than EZ's canvas, but that's only a guess.

Andy

Candid Arts wrote:

noticed that bayphoto doesn't offer the 12x18 size

added!

Candid Arts

takeflightphoto wrote:

Andy answered you ^^^ up there ^^^.

12 x 18 will be offered by Bay on the next update. It was an inadvertant omission.

I'm guessing that the Giclee process by Bay is a higher quality than EZ's canvas, but that's only a guess.

Totally didn't even see that...

So you're guess is that the process in which the print is actually printed on the canvas is a higher quality? Hence the near $20 difference?

I guess I'd need to see the difference first hand to warrant a $20 increase in my cost. (of course assuming this is the case).

Andy wrote:

added!

Thank you! Bay photo it is!

duds

What about matte prints? Am I correct that Bay Photo doesn't offer matte prints?

Am I missing something?

Andy

duds wrote:

What about matte prints? Am I correct that Bay Photo doesn't offer matte prints?

Am I missing something?

You are not missing something. No Matte from Bay.

duds

Andy wrote:

You are not missing something. No Matte from Bay.

:cry sadness...

any reason? just curious... not popular enough? every once in a while I have a client who wants a matte print....

Andy

duds wrote:

:cry sadness...

any reason? just curious... not popular enough? every once in a while I have a client who wants a matte print....

Give them Lustre, it's extremely close, but IMO better. It's certainly a higher quality & grade of paper (thicker).

Candid Arts

Andy wrote:

Give them Lustre, it's extremely close, but IMO better. It's certainly a higher quality & grade of paper (thicker).

I second this. It's about all I print in. Metallic is also an amazing option, but spendy.

Andy, was the assumption about the canvas correct earlier? That the process that Bay uses is quite a bit better than that of EZ? How much better is it? $20 my cost better?

Andy

Candid Arts wrote:

I second this. It's about all I print in. Metallic is also an amazing option, but spendy.

Andy, was the assumption about the canvas correct earlier? That the process that Bay uses is quite a bit better than that of EZ? How much better is it? $20 my cost better?

EZPs canvas are really good - Bay's are even better Try it, you won't regret.

Candid Arts

Andy wrote:

EZPs canvas are really good - Bay's are even better Try it, you won't regret.

More worried about my pricing for customers. It's high enough as it is for my clientell, and I wouldn't imagine raising it would do me any better. I'm always for higher quality, but as my clients are currently friends and family (actually only friends as of now), I don't think they'll wanna spend the extra money on that.

Hmmm... I suppose I'll just have to then. Unless I want to delay all orders for printing and switch to EZP for all canvas orders...

Well anyways, it's up to me now. Thanks for all the info Andy, and everyone else. Much appreciated.

cabbey

Candid Arts wrote:

Running with this idea... Could I simply put a delay on the printing, and when I recieve an email that I had an order placed, if it's for a Canvas (which is way cheaper from ez vs bay, when I'll normally be set up to print from bay), then I can go in and switch it for that order, and switch it back? That should work right? Because I noticed earlier that it saves your prices when you switch from one printing company to the other. It'd kind of be a hassle on my end, but it'd take $20 (my cost) average off of each canvas sale.

My only wonder then would be, if I have it set normally to bay (which doesn't offer the 12x18 size), how would I display that size option and make that an option to order to be able to switch the print location when an order is placed for that specific size? *(did that make any sense?)

I think I'm definitely going to go with BAY for my prints. But I REALLY like the canvas prices from EZ and they offer a 12x18 size... Any ideas on why they wouldn't be able to print a 12x18 size?

Just a note that this idea WILL NOT WORK. Once an item is in the cart it's lab is locked in stone.

Candid Arts

cabbey wrote:

Just a note that this idea WILL NOT WORK. Once an item is in the cart it's lab is locked in stone.

Alright. Well then that problem is solved I guess...