I wholeheartedly give Advance Reprographics 5 stars. I thought at first it might just be a matter of perspective that I appreciate them so much, as I just had a maddeningly frustrating experience with another graphics company.... But I will tell you all of the reasons that support my five star rating:
-Professional
-Accessible & Responsive
-Trusted Technical Expertise
-Detail Oriented (Perfectionists)
-Flexible & Fast
-Friendly & Inviting
-Go above and beyond to deliver excellent customer service
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Professional, Accessible, & Responsive
They communicate professionally, are accessible through phone, in person, or via email - however you communicate best. I called them to talk about the job, and also had email correspondence that went back and forth several times to clarify details and transfer files. Twice when I had to come by to see the proofs, my time extended beyond the 5pm closing time, and it was never an issue. Also there are two 30-minute spots right in front of the front door, which makes it REALLY easy to get in and out fast. And they have a parking lot, in case there's nothing on the street.
Trusted Technical Expertise
The job I needed printed was pretty complicated. I had an idea of what I wanted, and when I first called, Danae knew that I needed to speak with someone in graphics due to the details of the project, and transferred me to Elvin. He listened to me explain the entire project, the application, purpose, and what I was looking for in a material. He asked questions to clarify what I needed and didn't need, and made a professional recommendation on the type of product to use. This technical expertise and direction are exactly what I needed!
Detail Oriented (Perfectionists)
You want a perfectionist working on your printing & graphics, especially for an artistic application. Elvin called me after he had done a test print to let me know that there were some faint lines in the image. He said that most clients wouldn't notice, or it wouldn't be a big deal, but as it was an art application, he wanted me to come by and look at it. Because of our needs for the project, the best printer to use was one that was usually used for outside jobs, and usually the faint lines aren't an issue for billboards and exterior signs. I came by and said it was fine, but he continued to work on the project with one of the other team members, and found a software upgrade for the printer that significantly reduced the appearance of the lines. That's perfecting your product!
Flexible and Fast
Elvin spent a great deal of time with me going over the details with me. I first called on Wednesday afternoon, and picked up the job on Friday afternoon. During this time, we spoke on the phone half a dozen times, corresponded through email, and met in person twice. I could tell he spent a lot of time on our project, was flexible with my availability, and they delivered by my deadline, while weighing all the options with me. Their location is also right off the 5 freeway, so it's fast to get there. The streets can be a little confusing because of the freeway and railroad, but just look up your directions before you go, or use you map app or GPS and you'll be fine.
Friendly & Inviting
No one I encountered had a sour attitude, made me feel like I was putting them in a bind, or seemed to drag their feet with the effort. Mine was a unique project, and they tackled it as a challenge, worked together, and made me feel like they were doing everything they possibly could to support my vision and expectations for the final outcome. I told them that I was on a short time frame because another printer had failed me, and they did all of this without a lot of preparation. The office is open, with large counters for looking at proofs, and friendly service. They invited me back into the work area to look at some details, and when I stayed after hours one day, they didn't rush me.
Excellent Customer Service
Elvin helped me with the file flattening and saving, and sent digital proofs to me to review. When I saw an area that looked a little funny, he touched it up, even though that's outside the scope of the project, and technically is design work (e.g. extra fee). When I came to look at the proof, they brought out a light so I could see what the image would look like when it is back-lit. He also gave me part of the proof to take home and show Shawn Michael, and experiment with the application before the job was even done. They open at 8, but he said I could come by any time after 7:30 to drop off the file. When Elvin originally told me what I needed for the project, he also said that they didn't carry that product. But he found some for me, and brought it in house and tested it. They found a solution, even though they didn't originally have one!
So anytime you need printing, or digital design and reprographics, do yourself a favor and use Advance Reprographics. read more