Like many of you I decided that the DIY invitation route was the best way to get what we wanted for the best cost. I did my homework and figured out that I could order the cardstock online and have the inserts cut to the correct sizes. I knew that I couldn't make a perfect cut with my exacto knife so I took the cardstock to Kinko's.
They did a horrible job and ruined all the cardstock we had bought. The inserts were cut at least a 1/4" to short and none of the corners were square. You could actually see the paper cut marks on the sides of the stacks. I just wanted to give everyone the head up, because I figured that if you have a professional cut the paper then they won't come out worse than doing it yourself. I would recommend that if you take your inserts to any Kinkos, Office Maz, Staples make sure you tell them its for wedding invitations and that the cuts have to look perfect. I wish I had emphasized that more. Thanks for letting me vent.
I had our invites cut at a kinkos and had a so so experience as well. I had ours cut before anything was printed and told them specifically I wanted two 4.5" x 6.5" stacks cut, even drew it out on the paper.
Somehow I ended up with one stack of 4.5" x 6.5" and one stack of 4" x 6.5". Luckily I only needed one stack but wanted to get my monies worth.
They didn't charge me for the cuts and said they would recut on their paper for free.
Always goes to show even if you aren't doing the cutting yourself- measure twice cut once! Make sure you just give them one piece to cut first then the whole stack!
I used Kinkos and didn't have a problem. One time the man who was cutting told me he knew his cutter was off a little and it would make the biggest difference on longer items... so I went to Copy max and they did it for me. It turned out great.
I would suggest having them do a test run on a stack of typing paper or a smaller extra stack of your actual paper. That's what we did, before we decided to use them.
I went to Staples to cut baby shower invitations and I had to go back at least 5 times to have them correct it! It was horrible. Since then, I went directly to printing shops (local paper and printing stores that specializes in printing and cutting) and found that they do a better job with the same price.
Also, if you've ordered from paperandmore.com - you can call them up and have them cut before they deliver them to you. They're great!
It's nice to know I'm not the only one who was disappointed.
I just talked to my fiance who kindly went out today and bought more paper and had it cut at Office Max. I guess the cuts came out just as bad and the manager told him it was the best that anyone could do. They didn't charge him... he was so frustrated he went to the bar next door and called me, hehehe.
I'm going to staples after work and buying the nicest rotary paper cutter I can find and I'm just going to do it myself.
Maybe they're cutting too much paper at once. I know that they think their paper cutters can do anything, but if you have them do it all at once maybe have them separate it into two groups before they cut.
I had taken ours to Office Max and maybe it was the guy working, but he did a great job! it could be also that the person doing it wasn't their normal print area guy....
i've heard that they cut all the sheets in one cut, which probably explains the misalignment. THey have paper cutters out there that you can use for free. even though its slightly more time consuming, i've been cutting everything on my own so that the sizes are consistent.
I bought a paper cutter and did it myself. Yes, it did take a long time, but they came out exactly as I had measured, and I didn't have to worry about someone else's screw up.
FI and I did all the post-printing cutting on kinko's self-serve cutters. they turned out great! FI didn't trust the workers there to cut everything correctly, so we went the more time consuming route. at the end, i think it's worth it. Kinko's self-serve cutters are industrial grade, which are must better and sharper then those home-use cutter you can purchase from craft stores.
I am just starting the DIY invitation process and planning to buy the paper from Paper Source and have it cut at Kinko's. This is a dumb question but I'm curious - do all Kinko's locations have the self-serve cutters? Is there a "self-service" area in the Kinko's stores where I can do all of the copying and cutting that I need to without asking a store rep?
I have taken many many things to office max to be cut and they have done a perfect job. It probably depends on the condition of the cutting machines. I think it is well worth the cost but I would definately check it out before handing over my good paper.
Thanks for everyones suggestions, I ended buying a paper cutter at Staples last night and cutting the inserts myself. I spent $35 on the paper cutter and I think it ended up being well worth it.
I would defintly recommend buying your own cutter or using the good one at a Kinko's or Office Max. Its not worth it to trust someone else with your wedding invitations.
omg that's terrible! i got my menus and programs cut at kinko's, but i stood there to make sure they would get it right...they did a perfect job, but i think it was because they knew i was watching them!
Hey Everyone,
Like many of you I decided that the DIY invitation route was the best way to get what we wanted for the best cost. I did my homework and figured out that I could order the cardstock online and have the inserts cut to the correct sizes. I knew that I couldn't make a perfect cut with my exacto knife so I took the cardstock to Kinko's.
They did a horrible job and ruined all the cardstock we had bought. The inserts were cut at least a 1/4" to short and none of the corners were square. You could actually see the paper cut marks on the sides of the stacks. I just wanted to give everyone the head up, because I figured that if you have a professional cut the paper then they won't come out worse than doing it yourself. I would recommend that if you take your inserts to any Kinkos, Office Maz, Staples make sure you tell them its for wedding invitations and that the cuts have to look perfect. I wish I had emphasized that more. Thanks for letting me vent.
posted by Kimbeerlee 99 posts 3 months agoI hope you got your money back and the paper replacedd!
posted by Sweeney2Be 1,488 posts 3 months agoI had our invites cut at a kinkos and had a so so experience as well. I had ours cut before anything was printed and told them specifically I wanted two 4.5" x 6.5" stacks cut, even drew it out on the paper.
Somehow I ended up with one stack of 4.5" x 6.5" and one stack of 4" x 6.5". Luckily I only needed one stack but wanted to get my monies worth.
They didn't charge me for the cuts and said they would recut on their paper for free.
Always goes to show even if you aren't doing the cutting yourself- measure twice cut once! Make sure you just give them one piece to cut first then the whole stack!
posted by KatieB 66 posts 3 months agoI used Kinkos and didn't have a problem. One time the man who was cutting told me he knew his cutter was off a little and it would make the biggest difference on longer items... so I went to Copy max and they did it for me. It turned out great.
I would suggest having them do a test run on a stack of typing paper or a smaller extra stack of your actual paper. That's what we did, before we decided to use them.
posted by HappiestOne 97 posts 3 months agoI went to Staples to cut baby shower invitations and I had to go back at least 5 times to have them correct it! It was horrible. Since then, I went directly to printing shops (local paper and printing stores that specializes in printing and cutting) and found that they do a better job with the same price.
Also, if you've ordered from paperandmore.com - you can call them up and have them cut before they deliver them to you. They're great!
Best of luck to ya!
posted by pinkparfait 72 posts 3 months agoIt's nice to know I'm not the only one who was disappointed.
I just talked to my fiance who kindly went out today and bought more paper and had it cut at Office Max. I guess the cuts came out just as bad and the manager told him it was the best that anyone could do. They didn't charge him... he was so frustrated he went to the bar next door and called me, hehehe.
I'm going to staples after work and buying the nicest rotary paper cutter I can find and I'm just going to do it myself.
posted by Kimbeerlee 99 posts 3 months agoMaybe they're cutting too much paper at once. I know that they think their paper cutters can do anything, but if you have them do it all at once maybe have them separate it into two groups before they cut.
I had taken ours to Office Max and maybe it was the guy working, but he did a great job! it could be also that the person doing it wasn't their normal print area guy....
posted by alli 247 posts 3 months agoi've heard that they cut all the sheets in one cut, which probably explains the misalignment. THey have paper cutters out there that you can use for free. even though its slightly more time consuming, i've been cutting everything on my own so that the sizes are consistent.
posted by crave13 27 posts 3 months agoI bought a paper cutter and did it myself. Yes, it did take a long time, but they came out exactly as I had measured, and I didn't have to worry about someone else's screw up.
posted by CarolineG 284 posts 3 months agoFI and I did all the post-printing cutting on kinko's self-serve cutters. they turned out great! FI didn't trust the workers there to cut everything correctly, so we went the more time consuming route. at the end, i think it's worth it. Kinko's self-serve cutters are industrial grade, which are must better and sharper then those home-use cutter you can purchase from craft stores.
posted by clessy00 35 posts 3 months agoI am just starting the DIY invitation process and planning to buy the paper from Paper Source and have it cut at Kinko's. This is a dumb question but I'm curious - do all Kinko's locations have the self-serve cutters? Is there a "self-service" area in the Kinko's stores where I can do all of the copying and cutting that I need to without asking a store rep?
posted by Lilhawkeye2 17 posts 3 months agoI have taken many many things to office max to be cut and they have done a perfect job. It probably depends on the condition of the cutting machines. I think it is well worth the cost but I would definately check it out before handing over my good paper.
posted by jenjen08 21 posts 3 months agoThanks for everyones suggestions, I ended buying a paper cutter at Staples last night and cutting the inserts myself. I spent $35 on the paper cutter and I think it ended up being well worth it.
I would defintly recommend buying your own cutter or using the good one at a Kinko's or Office Max. Its not worth it to trust someone else with your wedding invitations.
posted by Kimbeerlee 99 posts 3 months agoomg that's terrible! i got my menus and programs cut at kinko's, but i stood there to make sure they would get it right...they did a perfect job, but i think it was because they knew i was watching them!
posted by daffodil 65 posts 3 months ago