Bill’s Copy Shop

Could I give less Than a 1… no option just like at Bill’s copy shop! The worse service, the worse quality I have ever received in a business. I called ahead to ask for quotes from someone you can barely perceive as speaking english, upon entering it was the same thing. Long wait before being greeted. When I asked for help I was told «do 24 hour service» when I wanted something printed immediately due to time frames. The quality was worse than the service. an 8 and a half by 11 colored pic with julia’s fingerprints all over the picture rippled paper and lamination curdled and bubbled. The second picture was worse with textures blurred with plastic and cutoff font… WTH REALLY!!! I WAS SO AMAZED AND EMBARASSED AT THE PRODUCT BEING A SANTA BARBARA LOCAL OWNER! WITH YOUR MONEY I WILL NEVER USE AGAIN!

Bill’s Copy Shop is convenient and decently priced. I have had many jobs done here, but not without some slight maneuvering in the tactful sense.
This is the kind of place that reminds you with signage not to talk on your cell phone. They further belabor the point by explaining in additional signs that it is rude for you to do so and distracting to others.
Computers are available for use, but they are not free… and signage tells you with great emphasis! Ok, so this is like your break room at that shoe store you worked at as a teenager. That’s the mentality. They love to post things that no one cares to read, but when they do you fell uncomfortable.
I wanted to print some color pages double sided recently. I popped in, chatted with the attendant… who immediately seemed impatient and said to use the computers and self-​print. Oooo k. So I sat down to a *cough* Windows 98 machine and proceeded to pull up my files and print. The print options were VAST! How do I know what to do? There were 10 printers to choose from and they didn’t tell me which one. So I ask. Well, the response from the staff was impatient. I felt very bad for even asking questions. I kept getting the same answer! All I wanted to know is how to print color. They said «choose printer 979» it’s a PCL… which apparently means prints in color. How am I to know?
I could go on, but I felt very small and did not appreciate their customer service at all. I was VERY polite and never showed frustration once.
I think I understand how to use some of the equipment there, so I will probably return to do business because it is cost effective. But I would give those employees a lesson in tact like my father gave me a lashing as a child.

Great service, terrific prices, outstanding quality! We just had materials printed for a conference we’re holding in town.
Lisa and her team worked with us to provide a great product, delivering exceptional service and even giving us a discount on top of that. We work with independent print shops (as well as chain stores when we have to) and I can say unequivocally that the level of professionalism you will find is second to none.
This business is highly recommended, from a Santa Barbara native now living on the other side of the country, and doing business requiring copy services everywhere in between. I am confident you will find Bill’s Copy Shop to be your best choice for printing services and other print marketing needs.

Bill’s is consistent in 1 thing… surly service. Not sure if they train their employees to behave that way or if they hire them because they have bad attitudes. I go out of my way to shop local but I like myself enough to never again subject myself to such rudeness and indifference.

I came here to get my poster laminated because a friend of mine had mentioned great things about them. Turns out that their machine isn’t temperature controlled and ended up ruining a limited movie theater grade edition poster. They were willing to pay for the poster in full for what I received it for, but unfortunately, the poster is no longer available for purchase anywhere on the web. Probably would be wise to stay away from this place. Cheap and destructive is not the way to go.

If you are managing large complicated print jobs and want to save money, this is the place. They ask the right questions and will make your presentation look very professional. They even call and ask follow-​up questions to get things just right.
The staff is very knowledgeable and professional, but calling them friendly is a stretch.

This place is fantastic!
I always hated going to FedexKinkos. They’re overpriced, and almost anything you need to get done is broken down into a million different unnecessary steps in order to charge you more.
Bob’s is quick, easy, affordable an everyone here is super friendly and helpful.
No more FedexKinkos for me!

We need more independent copy shops like this one. .. not wired directly to Big Brother like Kinko’s. And, hey, they’re half the price!

Bill’s copy shop has the best prices you can find and conveniently located in downtown SB. The reason they may not be voted best in customèr service, etc. is that they work so dang hard! That’s why I give them 5 stars. And for free copies under 5. They did a good job on our brochures and we saved $ 30 on a $ 110 order.

I have to agree with Jason!
I am a local business owner and I try to support local businesses BUT I have had it with the RUDE, AWFUL, TERRIBLE service at Bill’s Copy! Never again! Usually the staff is very unfriendly but my most recent visit was the worst yet! The girl so obviously did not want to help! She told me to wait while she helped other customers that just needed to use the copy machines that were coming in after me. I should of just walked out. Finally when she didn’t have any excuse not to help me, she took my order. She did not hide how annoyed she was that I had a few questions about my order.
So Rude and Unfriendly! Never again!

THIS PLACE HAS CHANGED, NO ONE CARES AT ALL ANYMORE.
I used to use Bill’s Copy Shop for all my printing, because they made things so easy, and just did what I needed done. Though their copy prices are still the lowest, after going in today, they made it quite clear they just don’t care, and seemed angry that they had to even get up to help me, a long time customer. They actually turned me away, rather than even trying to take my order, or even care enough to ask about deadlines, which is something I’m sure the printing industry sees frequently.
Last time I was in the copy shop, last week, the manager was very rude, and complained at least three times about how annoying her customers are, sarcastically saying ‘well this is a good lunch break’, since she had to answer the phone on her break. Her behavior was ALMOST enough to scare me off.
I used to be able to go into Bill’s, download my files, and ask them to print the correct size, etc, and walk out with my prints. Now I have to put in some sort of order? And wait around for them to get around to it? Even though I need it now? And pay to use the computer for 30 seconds? No thanks
SORRY BILL’S, YOU JUST LOST A LOYAL CUSTOMER.
ADVICE: CARE MORE. TEND TO YOUR CUSTOMERS. DO NOT MAKE THEM YOUR CUSTOMERS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE INCONVENIENCING YOU, BY REQUESTING A COMMON PRINTING TASK. IT IS YOUR JOB TO TAKE CARE OF CUSTOMERS, AND MEET THEIR NEEDS.

In seeing the so so reviews, I thought I would add another viewpoint, that this independent copy/​printing shop is great! Best bargain for self serve copies by a sizeable amount (.05). Friendly helpful through on other printing jobs, including ability to receive files via email. If there is a problem with their machinery, they call, and they’ve gone the distance to get the job done when needed (like when their laminating machine broke on them, they tapped the resources of a like business in town to get it done for us).
With Bill’s, handle your job task no different than what ought to be done at any other copy/​printer place: if you are emailing a job, and there are important relevant instructions, I would be on top of confirming they got the email, could access the attachment successfully, to seeing a proof, and so on. When I’ve seen shortcomings in how a job was handled (one of my past employers used them), I would have to say that the employee handling the job didn’t go the distance on ensuring that instructions were understood as intended.
They are not open 24/​7, so if you need that, then see FedEx Kinkos. But you should be very happy with the end product, and very happy with the final price point.
Support your independent businesses!

These guys are great — helpful and friendly. I needed to send a file in a hurry since my Internet wasn’t working, and not only did they send it for me, they didn’t even charge me. (Not that I would expect that every time.)