Beware:Don't count on Overnightprints.com for overnight printing & next day shipping!

[tokaygirl]

My order first order to Overnight Printing was submitted on a Thursday for 8,000 4x6 postcards using my own artwork and was confirmed via email by a customer support representative on Thursday night. She said the order would print that evening and ship Friday for Monday delivery.

On Monday I hadn't received the postcards so I went online to use their buggy order tracking/customer service system. The system showed that my order was "Partially Printed." but I had received no notification from Overnight Prints of any printing problem or delay in shipping.

I called and was put on hold with 23 others in front of me. While waiting I tried to email customer support. I couldn't get the "Contact Us" screen from their website to clear my email message from Thursday. I sent an email to the address I had received an email from on Thursday night. I then goggled Overnight Prints for complaints. I found the "Beware Overnight Prints" thread on Digital Grin and also found that THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU HAS GIVEN OVERNIGHT PRINTS AN "F" RATING. Go to their website and check this out.

I was on hold for over an hour before I spoke with a rep. She found that 5,000 of the order cards had printed and 3,000 had to be reprinted. No explanation for why the 5,000 hadn't shipped on Friday, or why I hadn't been informed of the problem on Friday or Monday morning. She promised to contact shipping and find out if the 5,000 printed cards could ship Monday evening.

After several other calls and at least another hour on hold I finally got through to someone who said she was the shipping manager. But, strangely, she couldn't communicate directly with the warehouse and she wasn't in the warehouse. She was polite and did seem concerned about the problem. She promised to see that the partial shipment went out that night and call me back with a tracking number. I did eventually get a tracking number that evening. My emails went unanswered.

I received a partial shipment of the postcards on Tuesday. They were trimmed to 3 7/8 x 5 7/8 and had the right border almost cut off. But they were there and the printing was clear and I needed them for a time sensitive project.

So I called Overnight Prints again to see if I could get a tracking number for the rest of the order. The operator told me that the girl I was told was the shipping manager was in customer service, not shipping, and the operator would not connect me with anyone else in the company. She just dumped me in the line with 20 some other people.

I hung up and called back three times asking her (politely, I must say) to please connect me to someone who could tell me if the rest of the order was shipping today and give me a tracking number. I pointed out that I had already been on hold for well over 2 hours the day before trying to find out about my "overnight" order. Tuesday's operator was tougher than Monday's and she just kept dumping me in their horrible customer service line.

Right now it's late Tuesday afternoon. I'm on hold again...going on 50 minutes and now I'm customer number five.

Update Wednesday. After waiting on the phone for about an hour and 20 minutes I got through to someone who promised that the rest of my order would ship. I also got an email confirmation that my order had shipped with a tracking number. So the order didn't arrive today and upon calling UPS I found that they have a tracking number and billing information but they haven't been given the package yet. That's a new one for me. I didn't know that a package could be entered in UPS's system without being in their posession.

The customer service girl I spoke with on Tuesday pretty much said that every call she's had that day had been a problem. So all those peope who ordered overnight printing didn't get overnight printing. What am I to do? I'll have to stay on the phone another hour or so to speak with customer service again. AGGGHHH!

I googled their address and found Farheap Solutions. 1800 E Garry Ave Santa Ana, CA 92705-5809 (949) 417-1277. The receptionist said that they own Overnight Prints and I asked for Kim, the owenr. The girl said that they were having a Christmas party and that no one could help me. I would have to call the Overnight Prints customer service number.

Overnight Prints' prices look great...but can you afford hours on the phone for follow-uo or an angry customer when your time sensitive material shows up late or poorly printed? Hopefully, some other printer will figure out how to do overnight printing right. It's a great idea...just beware of Overnight Prints.

Does anyone know of a printer who can really do rush jobs well at a reasonable price?

[Dee]

After reading your experience -- I sure hope you have a speaker phone! And then your success at finally getting through, they were at a Christmas Party?

I honestly, don't see how they can promise overnight printing in the first place. But someone I designed a business card for was happy with the results.

I sure hope the problem finally resolves itself for you. I can't believe your patience!

My current tale of woe (with internet purchases and LACK of customer service) is that I bought a new canon printer, and got an ink refill kit for it. Unfortunately NO ONE can tell me how to refill the cartridge! Three messages left on their phone system, 2 e-mails, NO REPLY. Even posted in a forum, and my membership and post disappeared! No reply back from the webmaster, as instructed.

The only good thing is that I can use the refill kit to fill my Epson 3000, there are enough instructions on the web for that one.

[ian408]

Just FYI, many shippers allow the shipper to pre-print labels using a website.
The tracking number is issued when the label is printed. That's how you get
a number for a package that hasn't been picked up by the shipper.

Ian

[Pro-Cards]

I started using them about 1 year ago. They were great!!!!!! But about 6 months ago I called with a printing error, they fixed it. Then it was down hill from then on. They still owe me money from a job that came back. (Blank Cards) I must have about 80 business card accounts with them. I just called and was placed at number 23. Through past experiance I hung up knowing that when I finnaly got through it would be a message machine telling me that the box is full. I just called today to see if whatever problem they were having may have been fixed. I guess not! I think they grew to fast, maybe had some mechanical problems. I just wish they would tell us what the problems are, apologize etc, refer us elsewhere until they work things out. Anyway I am now using GotPrint.com. Give em a call, they answer their phones.

[Shay Stephens]

Trying to get anything in December quick is going to be a roll of the dice. You have to give yourself more lead time in December for everything. Stuff happens.

And remember this. You can have two of the following three options:
You can have it quick
You can have it good
You can have it cheap

[Bobby]

I had a very similar experience myself with this schiesty company. You can read the actual email correspondence I sent them here: http://www.dragulescu.com/overnightprintssucks.html

It's funny and sad at the same time.

[ASMGoods]

Maybe I can help!? :)

I run a print shop and very competitive in prices~

Lisa
ASM Goods
Custom Printing for Your Business
214-256-3583 or asmgoods@comcast.net

[Andy]

Ordered new cards on 9/14, a Thursday night. Requested 2nd day Air. Received the cards today, Tuesday 9/19.

[3rdPlanetPhotography]

I own 3rd Planet Photography, but I don't do photography all over the planet. In fact if you are far from St. Louis, then my services are useless to you... unless you are "paying" for the travel.

I think we all take the name of the company too literal. Overnight is somewhat a speculation. I've ordered from them twice. Their products were wonderful each time. If I get myself into a situation where I have to have the product that fast, well I've screwed up somewhere to get myself here... or if this happens frequently then I need to find a local place that can promise me what I want when I want it. Then if you have a local place and you are done wrong then you have a neck that you can reach out and strangle.

All preaching asside, they do have nice product and they don't deliver anything "overnight"

[mikeshots]

Originally Posted by Bobby

I had a very similar experience myself with this schiesty company. You can read the actual email correspondence I sent them here: http://www.dragulescu.com/overnightprintssucks.html

It's funny and sad at the same time.

Sorry about your experience, but that was a very funny response! Thanks for sharing that. I loved the "Hugs and cuddles" as a sign-off. Perfect!