October 2, 2023, I took 4 images to Minutement Press in Kelso for printing. Correct scaling of the…read moreimages was critical. After several excuses, the prints were finally completed after 17 days. Later, I realized that I needed to make corrections to one of my schematic images. I took the updated image to Minutemen Press to have it printed in the same way as before; by scaling a virtual ruler in the image to appear at 1:1 scale. I sent the new file to them and paid at 9am November 8. Before paying, I explained that the image needed to be scaled so that the virtual ruler in the image was printed at actual size. He acknowledged my instructions, then I paid. He told me the print would be ready before 5pm, but it wasn't. I waited until the next morning to inquire. When I arrived at 10am, the print wasn't done. Samantha said I could return after a short time and the print would be ready. 45 minutes later, the print was not done. I waited about 10 minutes more, and I was given the print. I looked at it carefully, and thought it might be under-scaled, but I wasn't wearing my reading glasses so I wasn't sure. I asked Samantha if she could get a physical ruler and see if it matched the the ruler printed in the image. She did so, and she told me it matched perfectly. She said, "We didn't scale it." I was a bit confused; I said, "If you didn't scale it to the virtual ruler in the image, how did it come out to be the right size?" She replied, "Just a lucky guess." That reassured me that it was done correctly, so I took it home. In my studio, I noticed that the print was in fact under-scaled. When I put my physical ruler against the ruler in the print, each printed inch was about 1/16th inch too short. That meant that over eight inches, the image would lose 1/2 inch of its size. Over a length of 16 inches, it would lose a full inch. This discrepancy would've been disastrous for the prototype I'm making; I'm glad I caught the mistake before I started cutting expensive materials to the wrong sizes. At noon the same day, I sent my courier to return the bad print and to request a new print be done at the correct scale. While my courier was in the shop, I called 'him' on my phone. Our conversation was interesting; 'He' refused to acknowledge any mistakes were made by any employee, and he didn't apologize. 'He' told me to scale the print correctly there would be an additional charge of $10.00. I asked him why he hadn't charged that fee when I paid. I reminded him that before I paid, I had told him the print needed to be scaled to make the virtual ruler within the image life-sized; I reminded him that he had acknowledged that instruction at the time I paid. When I reminded him of these facts, he immediately became defensive and rude. He said, "No, you told me the ruler would scale automatically to the right size", which isn't true. I never said any such thing. My courier called me to tell me that she had demonstrated the size discrepancy to him, and he attempted to blame my ruler for the mistake... My courier paid the $10 fee for me. Then she measured the new second print, and told 'him' that it was still not correct. They did a third print, which was identical to the second one. He informed my courier they wouldn't do another. My courier told them the third print still wasn't accurate, but he refused to do the job a fourth time.
My courier said jokingly, "Well if it's not done right you'll get the customer's wrath." He replied, "If he comes down here and gets violent we'll call the police." My courier quickly said, "He won't do that. He's not that type of person." Then he said sarcastically, "Oh he's SO manly." So at first he fears that I might come do violence against him, (over a printing error) and then he tries to insult me because he's told I'm NOT the type of person to get violent? That exhibits insanity, or stupidity, or both. I don't remember this boy's name, but he was dishonest, irresponsible, unprofessional. He also seemed impaired in some way, perhaps with drugs or alcohol. His speech was slurred, among other signs. He should not be working in a position which requires clear communication or professionalism with the public, because they won't get it. As for his inappropriate comments about me, I attribute that to being young and dumb. I've come to expect such behavior in this area from kids who act, dress, and speak like 'wannabe gangsters'. I suspect he had some trouble with the law, he was forced into a recovery program to avoid jail, and he was given a job at Minutement Press as part of the deal. Am I getting warm? If he is the manager of that shop as he claimed to be, I'm Elon Musk. I won't do business with MP again. I'll go to actual professionals who hold to the business practices described below: (From the Minutemen Press website) "We are a locally owned and family operated printing business that takes great pride in providing great professional courteous customer service." What a crock of bs.
