What determines printing speed?

nobody

I ask this question because I've ordered prints from my own gallery, and seen them sometimes ship the very next day, but others about 5 days after placing the order. Are there particular times of year that the printing labs just get backlogged with orders? Does the size of the order affect printing speed? When an photo is printed, is it all automated, or do you guys have to take a quick look when "autocolor" is used? Just curious. Thanks.

Wendee

Hi Ethan,

We need 1-2 business days for processing and printing on orders. Canvases and merchandise items can take an extra day sometimes. I looked up orders using the email address on your account, and I see a handful of orders in the last year. Most recently, an order placed on Friday the 26th and shipped on Tuesday the 30th. This is to be expected, and within 2 business days.

You're right, sometimes orders do ship the next day or even same day. If you're ordering from Bay Photo they are phenomenal at prioritizing Next Business Day orders, it's definitely possible with them to have an order delivered the day after you place it. (Of course, depending on the workload at the lab it may not be possible, which is why we always ask for the 1-2 busines days for processng and printing.)

The ordering system is automated, and the correction/Auto Color does not delay the order. Especially at EZ Prints, Auto Color is an automated process as well, so it does not increase the time before the order ships.

We do have busy times of year, graduation time is sort of one of them. Mostly it's the end of the year/holiday season that gets super busy.

The size of the order should not affect printing speed, no.

I hope this helps a bit, holler if you need anything else.

~Wendee
Support Hero
http://wendee.smugmug.com/help/emailreal

nobody wrote:

I ask this question because I've ordered prints from my own gallery, and seen them sometimes ship the very next day, but others about 5 days after placing the order. Are there particular times of year that the printing labs just get backlogged with orders? Does the size of the order affect printing speed? When an photo is printed, is it all automated, or do you guys have to take a quick look when "autocolor" is used? Just curious. Thanks.

nobody

Wendee: thanks for the info. I wasn't making that post to complain, but just was curious about how it all works and you've answered it. I have not yet ordered or seen a canvas print, but hopefully one day I'll get one I like well enough for it.