Frequently Asked Questions - General

We know many people are concerned as to the practicality and security when ordering goods & services via the internet. These are some common questions that arise:

1. Why should I order from your company?
We already provide a nationwide service with many blue-chip clients on our books. We have all the necessary facilities in-house, using state-of-the-art Mac/PC design equipment. We realise that potential customers not only use the internet to search out a good deal, but also expect a first class service. We aim to make the process as painless as possible for you and guarantee you will be given the same level of service as our regular customers have come to expect. If any mistakes are made on our part we will immediately set out to correct these and ensure you get what was promised from the outset.

2. Why can't I order directly from the site, without having to make contact?
We've looked long and hard at whether we should provide the facility to order directly from the site. We've also spoken with many clients about this issue and have come to the conclusion that in most instances, people prefer the 'personal' touch. Working in graphics, especially with the wide availability of graphics software, is fraught with potential problems. For instance; many sites will ask the user to upload their logo. If the print company has to adjust the logo, or get it into a printable state, then this will usually constitute an extra charge. We personally know of companies that won't even question a low-resolution logo and will just go ahead and print it. We just can't work in this way. Our corporate clients, without exception, prefer the personal service we provide as errors are kept to an absolute minimum.

3. Isn't it more difficult dealing with a company at the other side of the country?
Not at all! We have been succesfully trading with companies across Britain (and abroad) for many years. Of course some jobs, due to their tricky nature, need to be dealt with personally but in general most work can be proofed via fax, email, post etc. much quicker than calling in personally.

4. We have multiple offices around the country. Can you help?
Yes, definitely! In fact we specialise in taking away a lot of the work that is often left to one person who needs to order stationery for multiple offices. This is especially relevant with business cards, where people in larger organisations come and go on a frequent basis. If necessary, we can proof (PDF) via email directly to the office concerned or even to the person who needs the cards. Buying from one source can often save a company a lot of money. If you think this service may be of use to you then please contact Ron Hill (01635 255 552 - Ron Hill for details of how we can put this into place for you. We don't charge any extra for this service.

5. Is delivery really free or are there any hidden costs that are not published?
All quoted prices include delivery to your premises. We would only charge for delivery if the order is split across different locations. There are no hidden costs involved. Once we have established the artwork/design cost then a full quote will be emailed to you. The only extra would be VAT at the current rate. Please note that certain items are Zero VAT e.g. leaflets & booklets for instance. We would advise if your order was VAT free.

6. What's the next step?
Easy, just send an email with your requirements and we will get back to you right away. We're always online. Artwork is always the trickiest thing to cost so we may ask you to send us an existing letterhead, or similar, for colour matching, logo etc. Again, we will advise where necessary.

7. How do I know that the quality of your goods comes up to my standard?
Naturally, this is a worry when dealing with a company you don't know. To help you overcome this worry we can send you samples of our work and also assure you that nothing leaves our premises unless we are totally happy ourselves with the finished job. We have an extremely experienced team here and pride ourselves on quality, service & reliability.

8. I'm not really ready to order, but would still like a quotation for future use. Will I have your sales team pestering me once you have my details?
Definately not! We are a professional company and will only contact you when requested.

9. Your prices don't seem as cheap compared to some of your competitors on the internet. Why is this?
Firstly, we don't ever cut corners on quality. There are low grade papers and boards available but we just don't touch them as we know they can cause problems for people. For instance, many users need to put their printed letterheads through their desktop printers and a 'cheap' material can cause jamming problems etc. It's the same scenario with business cards. Many of the budget print companies will use a very thin (inexpensive) card, often around the 250gsm mark. We know from experience that a lot of people hate this thin board as it just doesn't smack of quality, and feels horrible. We use 400gsm as standard, and have never received a single complaint. If you are making a presentation at a business meeting, the last thing you need is to be embarrassed over your business cards, or other marketing material.

Many companies will advertise what at first glance looks like a great price, but when you begin to add the little 'extras', such as artwork, proofs, delivery etc. then it soon mounts up to a price that isn't very competitive.

We stand the cost of courier delivery which can make a big difference to the total cost of a job. We are also not in the habit of 'loading' prices with extras.

Many internet-based companies are now offering what seem like crazily cheap prices to produce business cards, letterheads etc. With a little digging around, you will find that many of them are producing the above using a digital process, but don't even mention the fact on their sites. Digital and lithographic printing are worlds apart, so if you're looking for consistent colour, and professional results, please check with your supplier beforehand on what process your stationery will be produced in. Could save you a lot of grief in the future.

10. Use this link to learn: What are the legal requirements concerning stationery in general? What must be printed?

11. What are others saying about Castle Print & Design?

CONTACT US HERE WITH YOUR PRINTING QUERY OR FOR REQUESTING SAMPLES We will deal with your enquiry as soon as possible You can also call us on: 01635 255 552