// Internet Duct Tape

Is VistaPrint a scam?

Posted in Miscellaneous, Technology by engtech on August 02, 2006

I recently picked up a set of 250 free business cards for personal use. I heard about VistaPrint from RegFlagDeals. How free was it? I still cost me $9 for shipping and taxes. The shipping costs seemed high, but I figured that a box of 250 is a bit heavy.

Today I got a tax receipt email and I saw that VistaPrint is located in Bermuda. Er, ok. The website I was visiting was clearly labeled as “VistaPrint Canada” and gave every indication that the prints would be shipped from Canada. Explains the shipping costs.

The Bermuda address set off warning bells and I did a Google search. The company itself isn’t a scam, but the big warning is they have been known to affiliate with spammers and customers have received repeated $10 fees for stealth-signed up membership to MWI Businessmax and similiar companies. Always read the small print.

VistaPrint’s non-free prices aren’t very good (personalized notepad costs $11, letterhead is over $1/page, I can’t imagine what the additional shipping on those items will be). I’m wondering if I would have gotten a much better deal by shopping around locally. In the future I’m going to take the time to read ePinions before purchasing.

The cards shipped on Monday, I’m going to take the time to review my credit card bill for the next few months and post an update later on.

17 comments

17 Responses

Subscribe to comments with RSS.

  1. David Allan said, on August 11, 2006 at 8:45 pm

    I made the mistake of doing business with Vistaprint and have regreted it ever since. I had 2500 cards printed for my church. When the cards arrived there was an obvious printing defect. I called their customer service department and was put on holdddddddddddddddddddddddddddd.

    I finally got to talk to a real person and was asked to fax or email a scanned image of one of the cards and an explanation. I was told someone would get back to me in less then 3 business days. That didn’t happen. Five days later I called and was told they never received it. I was asked to send it again and did so – only I checked the read-receiept feature of my email program. About a day later I got confirmation they had read my email … but when I called they said they had not received it still. I finalllllllllllllllllly got them to give me the email address of an actual person and sent it to that person. Despite several calls and messages I was not contacted for at least 10 days.

    I finally got through and they admitted there had been a printing error. Their “solution” was to give me 50% off on a second order !!!! Are you kidding me ???

    They never backed down and I ended up going to a local business. Their cards cost me about 50% more, but were printed on thicker stock and were much better.

    Vistaprint is NO deal – go elsewhere.

    They have a handful of employees and you have to fight like hell to get to talk to one of them.

    Do yourself a favor and shop elsewhere.

  2. AJ said, on September 06, 2006 at 6:58 pm

    Just to add. I have used vista print in the UK. I was happy with the quality and the price I got 1000 business cards for less than £10 ($18) including delivery. As someone else said they were shipped from abroad not from UK. I had a problem with the order (i clicked the wrong thing) and rang their number, they did sort the problem out (which involved them refunding some of the money I’d spent) the only complaint I have is that when you call them you don’t get to speak to someone in your country, I was speaking to someone with an aisian accent with a 2 second delay(bit annoying). Otherwise would reccomend!

  3. VistaPrint business cards isn’t a scam « //engtech said, on September 20, 2006 at 10:01 am

    […] A while back I posted that VistaPrint might be a scam. They are a print shop located in Bermuda that often advertises on websites like RedFlagDeals. I found several other sites complaining that VistaPrint is was partnered with an unscrupulous affiliate that charges $10 a month for membership to some site you never joined. […]

  4. Freelance Work Exchange (freelanceworkexchange.com) wants to give you a virus « //engtech said, on September 24, 2006 at 7:53 pm

    […] (Although it’s common for international companies to have an address within North America for marketing purposes) […]

  5. Rebecca said, on December 08, 2006 at 8:25 pm

    ARGGGGGGHHHHHHH – no such things as a free lunch. VISTA-PRINT SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER SUCKS! Of course you don’t get 250 business cards for free. Once you finalise it all and get to the checkout (after insisting that you don’t also want a calendar, a T shirt, a mug, a letterhead etc.etc) it still wants to charge to £4 for each photo you uploaded and upto £15 for delivery if you want them within 15 days or so. !!!! What a waste of my flipping time.

  6. brian neil said, on December 18, 2006 at 9:38 am

    vistaprint is a scam i have justed used a company called http://www.printsmadeeasy.com and they gave me 100 free business cards all
    i had to do was enter firstonefree
    you should try them out.

  7. JD said, on December 19, 2006 at 7:13 am

    Well, I’ve been burnt by Vista Print too. That’s the last time I do any online shopping without researching the company first. I ordered the free stamp and free business cards along with some photo notecards. A total price of NZ$161. They arrived within good time but there was a flaw through the front of every card – the quality is so poor that I can’t give them as Christmas presents as planned. Because I am in New Zealand I can’t phone the 1-800 number and no-one responds to the Email Us form on their website. I haven’t noticed any extra charges on my credit card yet and I hope I don’t. Be warned – if you are anywhere outside of the US don’t use Vista Print unless you are prepared to get nothing for your money.

  8. Bobbi said, on December 20, 2006 at 12:38 am

    It’s all about http://www.OvernightPrints.com
    They have the best card stock and turnaround time, and the website is so clean and easy to use. As a designer and reseller, I’ll use no one else.

  9. AB said, on January 06, 2007 at 12:26 pm

    I’ve been a VistaPrint dealer for over two years. They are a shady company- so many various problems. They are the devil because they can work great, and then screw you over, it’s the luck of the draw. They finally just broke the camels back, and I’ve started switching everything I can to other printers.

  10. Arthur said, on February 12, 2007 at 12:56 am

    I live in Bermuda and tried to order the catalog they(Vista Print) offer, but they only ship to USA addresses.

    Huh!!!

  11. Rick A. said, on February 13, 2007 at 8:42 am

    I have used Vistaprint for years for a rather extensive mailing list. Annually I have ordered over 15000 postcards, numerous brochures and business cards. The only problem I have ever had was paying extra money to rush my order. It showed a day later than needed. I called and they explained it was ordered after hours and was pushed ahead 1 day. It became quite clear to me that this was my mistake but they still refunded my extra $25 dollars. I can see people have had issues but I for one have not. The printing has always been beautiful and when you reach quantities in the thousands the price is incredibly cheap. I have used various printers in the past including places like CopyMax. They couldn’t cut a straight line with a lazer. It seems like most people with problems are looking for freebies. I’m sure my next order will be screwed up now that I have given them praise but I will continue to use them until given reason not to.

    Rick

  12. Brian Gaciel said, on February 28, 2007 at 6:56 am

    For printing please give us a try, great quality and low prices

    http://www.dcflyers.com

    Regards,

    Brian

  13. Jane lalime said, on March 08, 2007 at 12:02 am

    Vistaprint is NOT on the up and up. They will slam you into repeated credit card charges from companies they own…there are various ways they do this, but they all have one thing in common:
    YOU DIDN’T SIGN UP and YOUR MONTHLY CHARGES ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP.

    I was slammed into a $14.95/month “credit service” and have wasted hours trying to get the charges removed.

    DO NOT DEAL WITH VISTAPRINT..,.sooner or later, they’ll get you.

  14. jack said, on March 15, 2007 at 4:25 pm

    I just ordered the “free” business cards from VP, but had to pay $17.24 for shipping & processing. After reading all the not-so-good comments about VP, I checked with my bank and was told that the transaction did not go through – what a relief! However, I am a bit concerned about what they would do with the personal details that I provided them for my business card and for the shipping.

  15. Tony said, on March 21, 2007 at 10:29 am

    I’ve been using Vista Print for about three years. I’ve only had one problem and that was clicking a wrong button and getting signed up for a $10 monthly thing I didn’t want. But it was reasolved OK. I get all my business cards, postcards, mailing labels from VP. Printing crisp and clear, good paper and shipping. VP has the best prices I’ve seen. Customer service is a little shakey. When I have called I always get someone who speaks broken English but we manage. I continue to use them.

  16. edoublenet said, on March 21, 2007 at 9:41 pm

    VistaPrint sucks.

    I tried to use their Free Website and inputted my CC number.
    Now I called 5 times to cancel it but they put me on holds for hours and finally told me that they can not cancel it. I have to wait their tech support call back.

    Really Annoyed

  17. Angel said, on April 05, 2007 at 1:17 am

    Vista is a artist at reaping people off with their high shipping charge when you hop on their promotions. A standard shipping rate for 500 business card is about $6.00. VistaPrint charged us $10.85. Which is 50% of our order. Don’t do business unless you have to.


Comments are closed.