Free Business Cards Comparison - Order Process Comparison
After placing my order from both VistaPrint and DCP-Print I thought I would compare the order process and hit the pluses and minuses of each company.
Let the free business card showdown begin!
Benefits:
VistaPrint only charges $5.25 for shipping.
VistaPrint was an easier ordering process.
DCP-Print allows you to upload your own free business card.
Downsides:
DCP-Print took a lot longer to order the free business cards.
DCP-Print costs over $4.50 more for shipping.
VistaPrint only had 42 templates.
That is the order process recap for ordering Free Business Cards.
If you are ready to order, click Get Free Cards.
Get Free Cards
There are multiple places from where you can order free business cards. Below I have listed the two companies that have the best free business cards offer.
If you need any additional advice, please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or comments.
Free Business Cards Comparison - VistaPrint Order Process
Free Business Cards Comparison - VistaPrint Order Process
Today I began the order process for VistaPrint’s Free Business Cards. I am going to assume that the order process will be easier for two reasons.
1. VistaPrint doesn’t allow you to upload your own business card.
2. They only have 42 different styles to choose from.
I immediately found the free business card template that I wanted to use. It was under the “Bonus Designs!” section, the card with the palm tree.
I click on the card and the next screen that comes up shows the business card very large.
I scrolled down and put my initials in the box that said VistaPrint won’t be held responsible if you can’t spell.
Then I realized that I am supposed to put all of my information in the boxes on the left side…I thought that was just a menu and didn’t look at it. Good thing I didn’t try to go on past this section!
After putting all of my information in the boxes I realize that I don’t really want my address and phone numbers in there…I want people to go to the website, not call me.
Then I reconsidered and added my phone number.
I noticed that the boxes are supposed to have certain information in each one of them, but you don’t have to follow those guidelines.
I put information about Vooed Business Marketing in the last 5 boxes instead of address information. That is a very nice feature!
Now that it is finished, I double checked everything, and it is all spelled correct. I’m ready to preview.
Everything still looks good so I need to put in my initials again and click “Next”.
Similar to DCP-Print, I now have to register since I have never ordered with VistaPrint in the past.
The form is straight forward. Name, email, password.
The next page is the “Upsell” page. They have you committed to one product and would like to make it worth their while by selling you additional products and features.
I don’t need more than 250 free business cards.
VistaPrint puts their logo and little ad on the backside of the business cards. Not a very nice thing to do since the backside is very valuable real estate and should be used as much as possible.
However, not worth the $9.99 upgrade to remove it.
Matte Printing is fine with me…wait, 100lb paper is $12.99! DCP-Print gave me 100lb paper free with the free business cards.
There is the first real difference in the quality. We’ll see if it makes a difference once the cards arrive.
They offer a business card case for only $6.99. If I didn’t have one already, that would be a very good deal. Looks like a nice business card holder.
I don’t choose any of the upgrades.
Here is the next difference, 21 day shipping is only $5.25! DCP-Print was $9.99 and that seemed a little steep for a small box of 250 business cards.
$5.25 sounds like a fair price to me, I’m definitely ordering from VistaPrint!
After choosing the 21 day shipping I click the button that says, “Checkout” and get another page trying to sell me rubber stamps and a folder with my business card on it.
Neither of which I need.
Click Next and I get to the secure order page, finally.
Put my info in the boxes and click “Next”.
VistaPrint also has a spot for coupons like DCP-Print so I’ll check Google and see what I can find.
No Vista Print coupon codes for free shipping on the free business cards unfortunately.
Then again, $5.25 is a good deal in my opinion.
Only payment by credit card is accepted for orders under $10.
Once more they offer and upgrade, 140 return labels for only $3.99. Sounds like a good price, but I don’t need any.
“Accept Without Labels” then the VistaPrint order is being processed. After a short delay the next page loads.
Order Complete! Easy to order, easy to complete. Took me about 10 minutes from start to finish, much quicker than the 30 minutes DCP-Print took.
One final attempt to upsell me:
You’ve been rewarded with Bonus Buys!
In the next 10 MINUTES ONLY you may take advantage of special bonus pricing and receive FREE STANDARD shipping and processing on these select products.*
But you’ll need to act quickly - this offer will expire in 10 minutes!
I can buy the business card holder and/or return labels at the discounted price with free shipping. Even a better deal, but I still have my business card holder and still don’t need any labels.
Order is finished and was definitely easier than DCP-Print.
Both were 21 day shipping and handling, let’s see which one arrives first!
Here is my finished VistaPrint free business card:
To order your own free business cards from VistaPrint, please Click Here.
Ready yesterday’s order with DCP-Print
Business Cards, Postcards, Staionery and Greeting Cards
Free Business Cards Comparison - DCP-Print Order Process
Free Business Cards Comparison - DCP-Print Order Process
This morning I began the order process for DCP-Print.
When you first get to DCP-Print’s website, you easily see in the top menu a link for “Free Business Cards” flashing at me. It is the only link flashing and is easy to find and recognize.
The next page is a little confusing. You have to pick a category for your template. I choose “Most Popular” because it was in a bold font…I guess advertising takes it’s toll on all of us.
After clicking on Free Business Cards -> Most Popular, 48 different business card templates come up. This is about 6 more than VistaPrint offers total!
After looking at the 48 templates, I don’t really find anything that fits what I am looking for so I click “Profession or Subject” from the far left menu.
When the category “Profession or Subject” opens, about 50 different sub-categories to choose from.
DCP-Print obviously offers A LOT more templates than VistaPrint does.
Many of these templates are very professional looking templates with some stock photography or stock designs on them, not just horizontal lines, dots and graphs.
After surfing a few of the 50+ sub-categories I still can’t seem to find the perfect template. That is when I see the banner on the right side that says, “Upload your own design”.
I assume that you can’t “Upload your own design” and get free business cards, but I’ll give it a chance anyways.
I decided to make a free business card for another site about business marketing.
The next screen I come to looks like a huge disclaimer list of things I don’t want to read, but then I realized that they are actually instructions on how to upload and what format, size, etc the uploaded image file must be…important stuff!
Here are some of the important parts:
1. The file size must be no larger than 1MB.
2. The file resolution must be exactly 200ppi (pixels per inch), no more nor less. All calculations in the present specifications are based on the assumption that the resolution of the file you uploaded is 200ppi.
3. The file format must be compatible with our system, which accepts the following file formats: (*.jpg,*. jpeg)
6. Color - Please take care to convert every file uploaded into the system into RGB format.
By default Adobe Photoshop was set to 72 PPI (definition: Pixels Per Inch) and so I had to recreate my entire business card to make it 200 PPI.
After that recreation process I think my business card design is ready to be converted into a free business card from DCP-Print!
The next step is a little confusing because the boxes don’t look like links. The first box that says :
At the next screen you will upload your business card that you have designed. Click “Browse” find the card then click upload.
Even though my file size was fairly small, it took a little time to upload, probably 30 seconds.
Click “Continue To Checkout” where you will get to view your finalized free business card, obviously smaller than it will be.
There is a small white box that you have to put your initials in, saying that you accept the online proof that you just looked at.
DCP-Print doesn’t want to be held responsible if you spelled your name wrong, then paid to have the business cards printed. Seems fair enough.
Next you have to choose your quantity and check the box if you want lamination.
If you upgrade to 500 or more cards, you will have to pay for the extra. A total of 500 cards will cost you $7.99 plus shipping (which we’ll discuss in a minute, hint - it isn’t free shipping).
If you want to have the free business cards laminated, you will be paying $10.99 extra for that.
I am going to stick with 250 free business cards with no lamination and no additional upgrades.
Here is where the shipping is:
Being in search of free business cards has resulted in a charge…however, they did say “Free Business Cards”, not “Free Business Cards with Free Shipping“.
The price seems a little steep for a small box that isn’t very heavy, maybe this is how they can afford to offer free business cards.
I choose the $9.99 shipping for 21 days (I know, I’m cheap.) For $1 more you can get shipping in 14 days instead of 21.
I don’t know if the USPS really offers a 21 day shipping option, but maybe it includes time to print, cut, box and then time to get to your door.
The next page is a registration page. I’ve never ordered from DCP-Print so it looks like I’ll have to fill out a new user registration form.
DCP-Print asks for a phone number, maybe they will want to call and give me free shipping as well as free business cards…who knows.
Under my total is a box that says,
“Enter Claim Codes
Do you have a Credit, Gift Certificate, or Coupon Claim Code ?
Please enter your claim code here and then click “Apply to Order”.
Maybe there are coupon codes on the internet that I can find…let me check…
After about 10 minutes of searching I can’t find any coupon codes related to their free business cards order…looks like I’ll be paying for business cards after all.
I put in my credit card info, click submit, then realize that I could have paid with Paypal…that would have been easier, now you know at least.
Here is the final screen:
Thanks for your order !
Your order has been approved and confirmation has been sent to your email address !
That was easier than I thought.
If you are looking for the short version, here it is:
Step 1. Click “Free Business Cards”
Step 2. Find the template
Step 3. Upload your own business card design or put the info into the boxes that you want on your business card
Step 4. Submit the order
Step 5. Receive cards in the mail
Sounds pretty easy, let’s see how long they take to get here…21 days is a long time away.
Overall the ordering process was pretty simple, in total it took me about 30 minutes including creating my business card.
I would have liked the option to have double sided business cards, or half size business cards, but at least DCP-Print let me use my own artwork.
Below is the jpg of the card I created, we’ll see how close they come to it!
To order your own business cards from DCP-Print, please Click Here.
Business Card Quality
I just finished designing my most recent business cards for AfterHim Media. These business cards would, in my opinion, look best with a glossy finish. However when I talked to a local business card printer, he told me that there are may different types of glossy finishes. He also said that there are many ways to create a glossy finish.
I asked him if some were better than others, because I wanted my business cards to look as good as possible, even if it meant it costs a little extra. I know this site is about free business cards, and I do have 3 sets of free business cards, these cards however, I wanted different than my free business cards, and plan to pay for them.
When I began looking at the examples of glossy finishes he had, I could almost instantly tell a difference! He explained that different paper quality caused a different finish and I quickly realized that I was overwhelmed and out of my league.
I would suggest that you find the company you want to buy your business cards from, and either email them or call them and ask them the differences and how you can get the best looking cards with the finish you want!