Discussion

By Robert Godwin on Sep 30, 2016

Frank,

I did look at the miniature press. Although non-functioning, it effectively doubled the number of "presses" at the show!

By Lyndee Sing on Sep 30, 2016

Great video, Frank! Love your shirt.

By Ray Rafalowski on Sep 30, 2016

Hi Frank.
It was great to see you again at the show. This craft of ours sure has changed.

By Michael Jahn on Sep 30, 2016

Who waits days for quotes ? Most storefronts have online estimators - some have them for custom jobs.

Mimeo.com has had one for nearly 10 years

By Helene Smith on Sep 30, 2016

Hi Michael -- we are not talking about storefront-type work as it stands today. People all over the world wait an average of 2-3 days on custom, higher-end and/or more complex jobs. Of course, buyers and their customers make changes so that they can see how different stocks, etc., may change costs, turnaround times, etc. -- and this adds time, as well.

By Michael Jahn on Sep 30, 2016

Hi Helene, there are many storefront vendors whom offer the ability to build a complex quote from using a publicly accessible browser. Not just height and width, press and paper selection - I am speaking about adding scoring, folding, stapling, padding, versions, finishing tasks - which was what prompted my comment. This is not new, and Frank seem to think this was.

The issue is, if i were a print buyer, I would need to know a bit about WHY and WHEN i would need to add scoring ( example, heavy stock ) and also know why coating was not something you would add to uncoated stock.

It is not that this is new. It is that most folks would not have enough print knowledge to configure a quote correctly.

By Frank Romano on Sep 30, 2016

Michael: There are many more printers than mimeo and vistaprint and their ilk. And yes, there are many MIS, estimating, and pricing systems. I think you should look more into this one. Arifiq sold several systems at the show, so there are commercial printers who do not agree with you. You may have the last word if you wish. I will not respond. Love, Frank

By Michael Jahn on Sep 30, 2016

Oh My. Lets try again, shall we ? No need to have ruffled any feathers here - I am *thrilled to hear many commercial printers who do NOT have PrintMIS systems now have some online estimating solution. Hats off to arifiQ deQuote !

Getting a customers to order print using some online tool is a great step forward. Having an engine that calculates press, cost/markup, paper cost/markup and finishing task cost/markup in real time vs some price table is a significant difference, but that was NOT my point.

Print sales people have a hard time generating a quote with all the right finishing tasks. If deQuote magically suggest things like "you need 4 inches bleed because you selected canvas wrap !" and "you need scoring because you selected 130lb stock and you want to fold this" then count me in as a massive fan !

Will look at it Frank, thanks for your reply !

By Robert Godwin on Sep 30, 2016

"There are many more printers than mimeo and vistaprint and their ilk"
Really Frank? Ilk? Posted earlier, someone opined how the industry has changed. Rather, it has evolved and accordingly, survived.
I do not long for the 'good old days', Frank, these ARE the good old days (with apologies to Carly)

By Carina Karlsson on Oct 01, 2016

Hi Michael,
I'll go straight to your really good and highly relevant questions and yes, arifiQ do automatically take care of scoring when needed, arifiQ also handles bleed, and much more in the complex world of print production, so I am happy to count you in as a fan :)
The deQuote app is just one way of using our estimating engine, we also have an InDesign plugin and most commonly used is the arifiQ PRO (web based user interface).
We also have an open API that makes it easy to take advantage of this engine in other software solutions.
/Carina Karlsson, CEO arifiQ