The Print Shop

Breakdown:
Customer Service From Linda: 4 Stars
Follow Up Skills: 2 Stars
Apache Partners Experience: 1 Star
Print Quality: 1 Star
Binding: 5 Stars
Price: 2 Stars
Final Verdict: 2 Stars
Story /​Personal Experience:
In anticipation of graduation from my Graphic Design Bachelor program, I needed to get my final portfolio/​thesis printed and bound for presentation on a relatively tight timeline. After working with Linda (who has been at The Print Shop for 17 years), I felt like I was in the best hands I could be in for my needs. I took a leap of faith, and let The Print Shop (now under management by Apache Partners Corporation) handle the job.
Over the course of 4 business days, I spoke to Linda on the phone to check up on my order and to receive an update on its status. I dropped everything off on a Wednesday, expecting to proof by Friday – but was ultimately told that the quality and production could be trusted and that they would bind my work and have it ready by that following Monday (because they were behind schedule as well). Again, taking a leap of faith, I decided to bite the bullet and move forward. HUGE MISTAKE!
This print shop has no care or consideration for small projects. Unless you’re a giant business or individual with big dollars to spend on massively bulk projects, you’re not going to be an important client to the company (as a whole). As I mentioned, Linda is a total sweet heart, and her personal service (with all the deadlines and projects already on her desk) made me feel safe and secure in working with The Print Shop and Apache Partners regardless of their busy schedule. But she alone does not run the company and works under a supervising manager that has the final say in how things get done… so that in and of itself ruined the latter half of my experience.
My portfolio was 28 pages, full color, front and back, 12×12, full bleed. Pretty basic and small (comparatively speaking). When I got to the Print Shop on Monday to check out my work… it was not usable. The print work was completely streaky, the colors were off, their computers and «rip» process completely butchered the PDF file they were printing from (which caused weird artifacting and ghosting in some of the work). The bind (which was hand done) was exquisite. But given that a totally weak print job was set inside of it, the whole production was worthless.
Linda agreed that the print job was not up to standard, so she didn’t charge me for it (which was nice from a «make-​good» perspective). I also got a dust jacket that was to wrap around the printed portfolio (which was like $ 25), and that had indentations and color issues as well. Again, not usable.
Before I left, Linda basically asked, «what do you want me to do» — to which I replied…“bind a better print job I get from somewhere else for free” — to which she said, «we cannot do it for free, but we can work something out» — I’ve since had no follow up from her and that was on Tuesday (after her saying she was waiting to meet with her boss to then provide me with a solution). *crickets*
I really didn’t want to write an essay on Unilocal about my experience at The Print Shop, but I know I will not be the first or last student seeking a quick solution to a rather simple situation (given expertise and expected professionalism on the companies end). As such, I would not recommend any kind of small print work from this location. Their inability to spot very BASIC issues with their print work stunned me, and their interest in getting you out the door as soon as possible will not yield the best results.
As I mentioned, Linda was very helpful… but she is incredibly limited in her ability to «go the extra mile» because of the corporation that now owns this location. As such, I would recommend you print somewhere else like BPS, Clourdrop, Autumn Express, Kinkos or anywhere you’ve had tried and true interactions as a customer and client. The Print Shop does exceptional binding, but their print work was sub-​par and their disinterest in keeping up with a single book order and thesis/​portfolio project truly left a bad taste in my mouth.
I will never use them again. I would sooner use Taurus Book Bindery (though they are a little more expensive) as they outright say «we can bind, but you have to figure out where you want to print and then bring it to us.» A much more honest experience that will save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.
PS – BPS ended up doing my portfolio twice (because of their printer head issues) and made sure it was PERFECT before I had to pay or before it was bound. That’s how it should be.
That’s all!

I can’t say ENOUGH POSITIVE things about The Print Shop/​Apache Partners. ONE WORD: amazing customer service. Okay, three words.
Princess helped me out as a friend would have. Tight deadlines and short on time. she made it work. My client was so pleased with the finished product as was I. Quality service, quality printing and product.
This will be my print shop that I use from now on. I love Princess!

I just wanted to take a moment and write a review about the amazing Linda at the Print Shop. I was an out-​of-​town, first– time (very nervous) client and Linda totally put me at ease with her professional dedication. Not only did she go over every detail with me and make sure it was done to spec, she even picked up on my nervousness and went out of her way to reassure me that everything was under control-​a great print side manner:) She fielded all my million phone calls and was sweet and patient the whole time. She even came in even though she was feeling sick to make sure my job got done. Linda is incredibly dedicated and a true professional. I would recommend her to anyone who needs out-​of-​state printing they can trust.

The folks at Print Shop saved my life last week.
I’m getting married in September and my calligrapher-​friend bailed on me. I was sitting with a box of 175 invitations and just a few days to get them out, cringing at the thought of paying $ 3/​an envelope to have them hand done, and in a rush no less.
Thank God for the Internet and thank God for The Print Shop!
I went online and after calling countless print and card shops who all told me there was no hope, I happened to discover something called «Digital Calligraphy», but couldn’t find it in SF proper.
I almost gave up, but a friend suggested I google on — and in my next search found The Print Shop!
I spoke first to Jon who gave me hope, and Linda who made it happen. They dealt with my neuroses, accepted me being days late in dropping off, and turned the whole job over in 24 hours for about $ 40. And my envelopes looked fantastic! Jon did the job like a total pro, sent me proofs, took my suggestions and got me exactly what I wanted.
I would 100% for sure recommend this place, and Jon and Linda, and will certainly look to them for future jobs — if they’ll deal with me again!!!

The WORST printer in San Francisco, no question. They are rude, disorganized, did one order late, lied about the other order which they claimed would be ready 2 days ago but has not even been started. Then when I wanted to talk to the manager, the graphic designer, John, hung up on me. Horrible customer service. I hope they go under.

As Billy Joel put it, honesty is a lonely word.
So it’s always refreshing to come across an honest business person who knew they could make a buck off you when you were in a panic, and decided to help you out instead.
Linda at The Print Shop in SF recently did just that.
I’m kind of freaking out right now, trying to find a local printer to bind 100 books by a deadline that’s a month away (and it won’t be ready for another 2 weeks). Partly thanks to a liiiiittle too much time on Unilocal,I am running slightly behind schedule (I have no business writing this as we speak but really wanted to give props to LInda). I could actually print it out myself at home but I soooo don’t want to go that route.
I was looking to find a local printer who does perfect binding, and they are not easy to find. Most people in the yellow pages don’t even list this kind of thing, and a google search brings up way too many people who are not local, even if you type in the word «bay area» or «san francisco.» I ended up calling The Print Shop and Linda was so nice, really up front and honest about everything. She told me she could do it but knew I could get it done for less at another place, and even gave me the phone number to call and a couple of names of people to talk to.
I just had the most crappy morning on the phone disputing a credit card charge from a company in LA who was very sneaky about re-​billing me when I wasn’t aware of it and never got any use out of their services to begin with. I was so angry I was *this close* to going out and buying a big fat pack of cigarettes and smoking away my frustration (something I vowed I’d never do again). There are so many companies out there that are not honest and will try to suck every last dime they can from you. So PEOPLE LIKE LINDA ARE TRULY A BREATH OF FRESH AIR!
By the way, The Print Shop does have a ton of other services, they just don’t aren’t set up to do low cost book binding (like MOST places are not).
Services they offer include:
Multi-​color printing
Banners
Signs
Magnets
Complete Camera and Bindery
Thermography
Index Tabs
(there’s more stuff if you go to their site)
They also have a website:
.
The place Linda recommended (called Giant Horse Printing) were equally nice and they actually seem like just the kind of printer I am looking for. Thanks to Linda and The Print Shop for your honesty! My day is looking a lot better.
And I’m going to continue to stay the hell away from cigarettes.