Local vs. Online Printing: Why Orange County Businesses Choose Forest Printing Over Vistaprint
by Forest Printing Team, Printing Experts
In the digital age, online printing services like Vistaprint, Moo, and GotPrint promise convenience and low prices. But for Orange County businesses and organizations, there's often a better option hiding in plain sight: your local print shop.
At Forest Printing, we've heard countless stories from customers who tried online printing first—only to come to us after experiencing delays, quality issues, or hidden costs. Here's an honest comparison to help you make the right choice for your next printing project.
- Average savings vs online
- $150+
- Faster turnaround
- 5-10x
- In-person quality control
- 100%
- Serving Orange County
- 45 years
The True Cost: Beyond the Advertised Price
What Online Printers Show You
- $19.99 for 500 business cards!
- Free shipping!
- 24-hour turnaround!
What They Don't Tell You
Online pricing often involves hidden fees that inflate the final cost:
- Template limitations: Free designs lock you into generic templates. Want custom design? Add $50-$150.
- Shipping tiers: "Free" shipping takes 7-10 days. Need it faster? Overnight costs $30-$60.
- Material upgrades: Basic cardstock looks cheap. Premium stock (what most businesses actually want) costs 2-3x more.
- Proof delays: Changes require new upload → review → approval cycles, each adding 1-2 days.
Example: Business Cards Cost Comparison
| Item | Vistaprint "Deal" | Actual Cost | Forest Printing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 business cards (premium stock) | $19.99 (advertised) | $19.99 (basic) → $59.99 (premium) | $55.00 |
| Custom design | $0 (template) | +$99 (custom) | Included |
| 2-day shipping | "Free" (7-10 days) | +$45 (expedited) | Free local delivery |
| Total | $19.99 | $203.99 | $55.00 |
Reality: The "$19.99 deal" ends up costing $200+ once you add the features most businesses need. Our $55 all-in price includes premium cardstock, custom design consultation, and same-day/next-day local delivery.
Top tip
Ready to see real pricing? Request a free quote with no hidden fees or surprises. What you see is what you pay.
Quality Control: What You See Isn't Always What You Get
The Online Gamble
With online printing, you're buying blind:
- Screen colors ≠ print colors: That vibrant teal on your monitor might print as dull gray-blue
- No physical proofs: You approve a PDF, cross your fingers, and hope for the best
- Batch variance: Each print run uses different machines—your reorder might not match your original
The Forest Printing Quality Guarantee
In-Person Proofing
Come to our Laguna Hills shop and see actual printed samples before we run your full order.
Pantone Color Matching
We use Pantone color books to ensure your brand colors print accurately every single time.
G7-Certified Process
Our calibrated color workflow guarantees every print run matches the last—critical for brand consistency.
Same-Day Fixes
Spot an issue? We reprint it immediately—no waiting for return shipping or refund processing.
Real story: A Newport Beach real estate agent ordered 1,000 flyers from an online vendor. The property photos printed so dark, you couldn't see the home's features. She had to reorder (and wait another week) during her listing's critical first days. Now she uses Forest Printing and approves every job in person before printing.
Top tip
Want to see your prints before we run the full order? Schedule a press check at our Laguna Hills shop or request a physical proof with your quote.
Speed & Flexibility: When "Fast" Isn't Fast Enough
Online Printing Timelines
- Upload files → 1 day processing
- Review proof → 1-2 days for revisions
- Print queue → 1-3 days (you're one of thousands of orders)
- Shipping → 3-7 days (standard) or pay premium for 1-2 days
- Total: 6-13 days
Forest Printing Timelines
- Drop off files or email → We respond same day
- Proof approval → In-person or via email within hours
- Print immediately → No queue; your job starts right away
- Pick up or delivery → Same day to 48 hours across Orange County
- Total: 1-2 days
Plus, flexibility: Need to change your flyer copy at 3 PM for an event tomorrow? Online vendors have rigid cut-off times. We can accommodate last-minute changes because you're talking to the people actually running the press.
Need printing done fast? Check out our rush printing services for same-day and 24-hour turnaround options. Or browse all our services to see what we can print for you.
The "What If" Factor: When Things Go Wrong
Online Printing Support
- Call center roulette: 30-minute wait times, outsourced support reading scripts
- Return process: Print and ship back the bad order, wait for refund, place new order, wait again
- No accountability: You're customer #487,293—they don't remember you
Local Printing Partnership
- Direct access: Call our shop and talk to the owner or production manager
- Immediate fixes: If there's an issue, we reprint it while you wait (or deliver same day)
- Relationship: We remember your preferences, past orders, and deadlines
Real story: A Laguna Hills HOA needed 500 newsletters for their annual meeting—3 days away. Their online vendor's shipment got stuck in Memphis due to weather. They called us at 10 AM Monday, we printed everything by 3 PM Tuesday, and delivered it to their clubhouse Wednesday morning. The online vendor's package arrived... the following week.
Complex Projects: Where Online Breaks Down
Online printing excels at simple, standardized products (business cards, postcards). But for complex projects, you need human expertise.
Projects That Need Local Expertise
- Large format (banners, signs, vehicle wraps): Require material selection, sizing guidance, installation
- Specialty finishing (foil stamping, embossing, die cuts): Can't be accurately previewed online
- Variable data (personalized mailers, numbered tickets): Need custom setup and testing
- Multi-piece campaigns (matching business cards + letterhead + envelopes + folders): Require color/paper coordination across formats
Forest Printing has in-house designers who can:
- Advise on materials: "For outdoor banners, use 13oz vinyl. For retractable stands, use wrinkle-free fabric."
- Optimize files: "Your logo has too low resolution for a 10-foot banner—let's recreate it as a vector."
- Coordinate projects: "Let's print your brochures on the same cardstock as your folders so they match perfectly."
Top tip
Planning a complex project? Browse our large format services or contact our design team for expert guidance.
Environmental & Community Impact
When you choose a local print shop, you're investing in your community—not just getting better printing.
Local vs. Online: Beyond Print Quality
Local Carbon Footprint
100% local production in Laguna Hills. No cross-country shipping. Your order goes from our press to your door in under 30 minutes.
Minimal Waste
Hand your order to you in-store or deliver in reusable containers. No excessive boxes, plastic wrap, or bubble mailers.
Community Investment
Family-owned since 1979. We sponsor local schools, charities, Little League teams. Your money stays in Orange County.
Top tip
When Online Printing Makes Sense
To be fair, there are scenarios where online printing is a reasonable choice:
✅ Ultra-simple projects: 100 standard business cards with a template design ✅ No time constraints: You can wait 2+ weeks ✅ National shipping needed: You're in California but need delivery to New York ✅ Rock-bottom budget: Willing to sacrifice quality/service for lowest possible price
But for most Orange County businesses—especially those who value quality, speed, and reliability—local printing wins.
The Forest Printing Advantage: Best of Both Worlds
We combine the convenience of online ordering with the quality and service of a local shop:
- Online quotes: Use our quote form for instant estimates
- File upload: Email us files or use our secure upload link
- In-person consultation: Schedule a design meeting or press check at our Laguna Hills location
- Local delivery: Free delivery across South OC; same-day available
- Nationwide shipping: Need to send printed materials elsewhere? We ship too
You get digital convenience + local accountability + personal service.
Real Client Testimonials
I used VistaPrint for years to save money. Then I had a trade show booth disaster—colors were off, text was blurry, and reprinting would've missed my deadline. Forest Printing rescued me with a 48-hour turnaround and flawless quality. Never going back.
For our HOA's monthly newsletters, we tried a national mail house to save $200/month. We got non-delivery complaints every issue and zero tracking. Forest Printing's USPS-certified mailing with IMb barcodes solved everything—worth every cent.
As a real estate agent, my marketing materials are my first impression. Online printers made my listings look cheap. Forest Printing's premium cardstock, color matching, and same-day service give me a competitive edge.
Make the Switch: Try Local Risk-Free
Still not sure? Here's our challenge:
Order your next printing project from both us and an online vendor. Compare them side-by-side on:
- Total cost (including shipping, design, upgrades)
- Turnaround time (when do you actually receive it?)
- Print quality (color accuracy, paper feel, finish)
- Customer service (how easy was it to get help?)
We're confident you'll choose Forest Printing for every project after.
Ready to Experience the Difference?
Stop gambling with online vendors. Get expert guidance, guaranteed quality, and fast turnaround from Orange County's trusted local print shop.
Request a Free Quote | Call (949) 951-7000 | Visit Us in Laguna Hills
Forest Printing & Copying, Inc. – Your trusted printing partner since 1979.