Purchasing directly from a manufacturer has its share of benefits. Resellers often add an extra element of service and value add to the project. There are benefits to both. And while the decision as to which is best for you is a personal choice, you need to feel comfortable that the company you work with is offering you the service you are paying for.
But what are the benefits to choosing one over the other?
Manufacturers:
The biggest benefit of purchasing from a manufacturer is service flexibilty
When you approach CardsPlus directly, you will receive the most flexible option available. When you require something less than straight forward, you can be assured that the printing company knows exactly what you need without relying on additional people. There are no long delays waiting to hear back from the printers, since we can look at our production schedule right away. With information “straight from the horse’s mouth” you can be assured that everything is being handled.
Great Pricing
Since there are no additional mark ups, you can feel confident that you are receiving excellent pricing.
Indepth Information
Plastic cards is what we do. It’s our specialty, our livelihood. We know plastic cards inside and out. If you require information about the technology or it’s application, you best contact someone who has pinpointed vision on the industry.
Resellers:
CardsPlus has a strong network of reselling agents and we believe in promoting our reseller base as there is value in buying from a reseller.
The biggest benefit of purchasing from a reseller is Added Value.
Each reseller packages their value-add in different ways. Some offer free artwork, some have a wide variety of suppliers and can offer a more inclusive product solution, others suppliment cards with loyalty provision or other software or system add on.
Advocacy
All resellers act as the mediator between the manufacturer and the end user. They keep track of your order, ensuring that artwork is completed, proofs are signed off, and delivery is arranged. While some manfacturers, like CardsPlus, offer order tracking, and delivery, it is sometime nice to have additional advocacy to the manufacturing company.
Are you not sure if your supplier is a reseller or manfuacturer? We have addressed disturbing trends in the industry about this very thing.
Choosing a plastic card supplier is a personal choice, and can refer to the time and resources available to spend on your project. I believe in the value of purchasing straight from the manufacturer. This is why CardsPlus transistioned from a printing service to a manufacturering company. Yet, the industry is so big and full with unique projects and situations, there is sometimes a better fit with a reseller than the manufacturer directly.
If you would like more inforamtion about how an order would be handled at CardsPlus, please give us a call.
