West Coast Imaging institutes a minimum order fee

[Greg Miller]

I have used West Coast Imaging for quite a while to supplement my own printing capabilities - basically to make prints larger than what I can produce in-house. Their work was always first class. And they carry my primary paper, which few other print shops offer.

Last week I placed an order for a 20x30 print for one of my collectors. I received a call the next day from WCI indicating that they now have a minimum order fee of $250. They suggested that I re-place the order through their sister business that offers lower-end printing, but that company does not carry my paper (this piece is the centerpiece of a very large client order and I want maintain the same paper for all prints that I am delivering).

This was really disappointing to me because there was a certain level of comfort knowing that I could always count on them to deliver a print that meets my quality standards, and that they use the same print technology and paper that I use - so it is easy to predict what they will provide without having to do a series of test prints.

But mostly I am disappointed that WCI doesn't seem to value photographers like me who may not feed them high volumes of work, but do rely on them to rely on them as a supplement for my business. I realize it all comes down to maximizing profit for them but it is still disappointing.

So now I need to quickly find a new print shop that uses Epson printers. Who else is out there that would be on par with the work that WCI does?

[Tori Nelson]

FWIW, I tried using their sister company, Aspen Creek Photo, and was not happy with their work. B&W prints have an obvious magenta cast and when I called to complain about it they told me it must have been in the file I sent them. When I told them that it was from a B&W 8x10 negative they explained that they don't have a dedicated printer, or the right inks, for B&W prints. They said I could submit a request for a refund and they would let me know if it was approved (I didn't bother). The few color prints I've had made, from digital RAW files, don't look any better than what Costco spits out.

[vinny]

Here's a thread I started recently on the exact same subject:
http://www.largeformatphotography.in...ad.php?t=75728

Tori, in order to print b+w on a lightjet I've been told to convert the image to RGB then attached the proper profile before uploading. My results were good but that was with a lab that had the profile available, Aspen creek doesn't. They also don't have the profile for the entrada rag on their site (you must email them for it).

[greenrhino]

I'm not quite the factory that WCI is but we should chat to see if I can do what you need.
Anthony
Greenrhinoinc.com

[Noah A]

Talk to Rick at Silicon Graphics in Philadelphia. They're a fine art print shop. They're incredibly knowledgeable, easy to deal with, their prices are good and if they don't normally carry your paper I wouldn't be surprised if they would get it for you. It's a small shop so you get good personal attention but they can also handle big jobs.

They also do mounting, including plexi face-mounting, dibond, etc.

I have no affiliation with them, just a happy customer.

www.fineartprint.com

[Greg Miller]

Gilbert Plantinga, a fellow forum member here and Hudson Valley resident, came to my rescue. I'm feeling silly for not thinking of that earlier. Gilbert printed two 80 foot long prints for a museum exhibit of mine a couple of years ago, so I should have known that Gilbert could handle this relatively pedestrian request.

Vinny - it was interesting to see you similar thread. WCI has lost any future business of mine for wasting my time prepping, uploading, and ordering my print from them without making their minimum order policy more prominent. They should at least mention it in the example they use of a $168.89 order descibed on the "About out pricing" page, since their example order does not satisfy their own minimum order policy.

[RichSeiling]

Hi everyone. I'm the owner of West Coast Imaging and Aspen Creek Photo, and after talking with Greg on the phone this morning, I wanted to answer a few of the questions that have been brought up.

Foremost I want you to realize that we are a small company (despite greenrhino calling us a factory, which gave me a good chuckle). We have two very skilled printmakers, a master scanner, a printing technician who handles printing customer files and running our inkjet printers, a chromira tech, and a packaging specialist.

Being small, we have to be very focused, because we can only handle so many calls , so many emails, and so many orders each day, and after 13 years in business, we have many long term customers who's needs we need to be structured to meet. Hence our new minimum order policy. You should also note that once you have done $500 in one year with WCI, there is no minimum order, and we do make exceptions as there are often test prints that need to be done to start a relationship and prepare for upcoming shows.

Tori, I am sorry you were unhappy with your order. I looked it up and you printed your B&W images on RA-4 paper. RA-4 color papers will exhibit drifts in the green/magenta axis with B&W photos, and there is no way to adjust for this. This is a known characteristic of printing B&W on color dye based RA-4 papers. Inkjet printers solve this by using grey inks to make up the images, and at the time ACP did not offer any inkjet printing.

Vinny, Aspen Creek does have profiles available. You can find them at http://www.aspencreekphoto.com/pages...CCProfiles.htm

[Drew Wiley]

I'll admit I'm a darkroom type and not a digital printer, but my former property was just
across the river from WCI up in the hills, and I did stop in and chat with them a couple
of times. I have dealt with a number of professional labs in the Bay Area here in the past, and by comparison, I'd surmise that WCI is running a first class operation with top notch customer service. Nobody bats 100%; no business is God, and there has to
be a business plan in place. Better an entry level fee than no labs left to help people at all. These are tough times. Give them a break.

[QT Luong]

Picture Element (http://www.pictureelement.com/) in Santa Clara was started by Mike Chambers, a veteran from Calypso Imaging. They have several Epson printers and do very careful work. Also, I remember that Alec Soth has started offering the production services of his studio to other photographers.

[bob carnie]

Very well said and appreciated Drew

Like Rich Selling I operate a small independent photo lab and some of my policy's do not please everyone, and yes dammit we also make mistakes , and man is it painful to see people bitch about an operation with absolutely no idea how difficult it is to maintain a buisness, pay staff and keep ahead of the tax man. My bet is they would fall on their faces within the first year of operation.


I know WCI is a world class operation, I printed a major fibre show from their scans , after discussion with their operator and I got exactly the craftsmanship I desired.
They have been in operation for as long as I can remember, I am now in my 21 year of deriving a living 100% from printing for others and I can honestly say I know where Rich has been.

Bob

I'll admit I'm a darkroom type and not a digital printer, but my former property was just
across the river from WCI up in the hills, and I did stop in and chat with them a couple
of times. I have dealt with a number of professional labs in the Bay Area here in the past, and by comparison, I'd surmise that WCI is running a first class operation with top notch customer service. Nobody bats 100%; no business is God, and there has to
be a business plan in place. Better an entry level fee than no labs left to help people at all. These are tough times. Give them a break.