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A Review of VistaPrint - Online Printing Services

Updated on November 15, 2012

My personal review of VistaPrint

As a graphic designer and artist, I am very picky about how printed materials and designs are made. My partner and I owned a sign business for over 14 years, so design, visual communications, branding, marketing, presentation, color and proper image creation are very important to me.

One online company that I highly recommend on the Internet is called VistaPrint, and you may have seen some of their offers pop up in your email inbox. I have been using VistaPrint for over 5 years now and was first introduced to them through one of those online emails offering me 250 free business cards.

I have to say, I was a little skeptical about that word "free". Anything free to me usually means that there's more than meets the eye.

Needing a new business card however, I decided to give VistaPrint a try. I only had to pay the shipping cost for the cards, so I wasn't losing much if the business cards came out poorly. About a week and a half later, I was not disappointed when I received my free business cards. The paper stock was nice, the design very crisp and the colors correct. I used a free design template that VistaPrint offered, and uploaded my own logo for a small cost to be added (logos are not included with the free business card offer - but the fee to add mine was reasonable - just $4.95) Since then I have designed several business cards on VistaPrint - including business cards for my husband.

VistaPrint also offers many other design and print services for small businesses and consumers - banners, car magnetics, postcards, rubber stamps, wedding invitations and websites for businesses.

My double sided postcard ordered from VistaPrint

This is a double sided postcard I ordered from Vistaprint for one of my businesses. I designed it using a photo of one of my Christmas painted holiday windows. My customers love the postcard.
This is a double sided postcard I ordered from Vistaprint for one of my businesses. I designed it using a photo of one of my Christmas painted holiday windows. My customers love the postcard. | Source

My latest business cards from VistaPrint

My latest business card for my writing business. Designed using VistaPrint and one of my photos.
My latest business card for my writing business. Designed using VistaPrint and one of my photos. | Source

What I have designed and ordered through VistaPrint

I have ordered and designed many things through VistaPrint. I have also designed many things for friends, family and other businesses through Vista:

  • Business cards for myself
  • Business cards for my husband
  • Vehicle magnets for our church children's center
  • Banners for an art studio
  • Postcards (double-sided) for my holiday window painting business
  • Rubber business stamps
  • Wedding invitations and envelopes for a friend
  • Small business website

Review: The things I like best about VistaPrint

There are many things I like about VistaPrint but to narrow the pro's down I will focus on the main things I have noticed that stand out about the company:

The things I like:

  • The cost to print through VistaPrint is very reasonable. Compared to most local brick and mortar businesses, VistaPrint wins over the competition hands-down. It is cheaper for me to get business cards through them than use a local print company. The same applies for their banners and vehicle magnetics. In a cost comparison that I did, sign companies and printers cannot compete against their low prices. The reason for this is because of the sheer volume of printed materials they are producing, and their patented processes.
  • It's very easy to design on VistaPrint - even a non creative person can create beautiful printed materials. Though I have an edge in designing, even those that are not very creative can design on VistaPrint through standard templates that they offer. All you have to do is basically fill in the blanks and voila' - you have a beautiful printed design. You can also upload your own designs and add your own logos.
  • You can get your printed materials fast. I found that even using just the standard shipping, I received my order before I expected it. If you are in a hurry, VistaPrint does offer expedited production with faster shipping options (at a price, of course)
  • A wide variety of services, everything you need for your small business. VistaPrint is a one stop shop. You can get all your visual identity needs through VistaPrint. Banners, rubber stamps, holiday cards, business cards, banners and even coffee mugs.
  • Very user friendly website. Easy ordering. It doesn't get any easier than this. I can design, create and order my materials through VistaPrint within a short time.
  • Easy re-ordering. VistaPrint saves your old designs so re-ordering is very easy.
  • Good specials and free offerings sent via email. Once you sign up for your free account at VistaPrint, you will receive free offers for other printed materials along with deals on their products and services. I use these offers frequently.

    VistaPrint design and printing service rating: 5 out of 5.

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Review: What I do not recommend at VistaPrint

The one service I do not recommend at VistaPrint are their small business websites. The reason why is this: When you get your small business website through VistaPrint, you do not "own" your domain. You must use their templates and you cannot customize your website with affiliate products or other services.

I got my name domain through them several years ago, and could not get my domain name back for a couple years. This made me highly heated, even though I had stopped using their web services. I felt that my name had been "held hostage" for a couple years.

If you don't care about your small business website being controlled by another company and need just a very basic website for your business, this may work for you. I, however, as a writer and publisher, want to be able to customize my websites and add my Google Ads, Amazon and affiliate links where and when I like. Through VistaPrint, you cannot do this.

VistaPrints small business website service rating: 2 out of 5.

Only good for newbies, beginners or those that can't, don't want to, or don't know how to build a website or host one.

(Reviewer: Dorsi Diaz. These are my personal opinions of Vistaprint and a writers review of their services. Please feel free to leave comments at the bottom of this hub. I do not work for nor am I affiliated with VistaPrint)

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