Comments on: Printers, does Print Broker “Prejudice” Harm You?

By: Tony Greg

Tony Greg — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:56:32 +0000

Hi I am also a print broker and I didn’t feel anything while saying that I am a broker Usually people gave a good response in this regard.

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By: Aaron

Aaron — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:41:58 +0000

I appreciated this post, as well. I come to print brokering as a graphic designer gone freelance after refusing to sign a non-compete contract with my employer (after three years of work, having never had a non-compete before). I love brokering, even though I’m not sure that what I do is the same thing that you (Bill) do (i.e. if my resources/printers are the same kinds of resources you use). There are trade printers out there, some good and some so-so, etc. And I imagine that if I want to make $125K (like the previous comment’s author), then I have a lot of ingenuity and salesmanship to come up with. That’s one reason I appreciate this blog… to learn what I can. Thanks.

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By: Bob Delaurier

Bob Delaurier — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:04:20 +0000

Dear Bill,
I’ve been at this (printing)for over 40 years and self self employed for all but 2 years. At one point in the early 90′s I had everything in the shop paid off and was looking at paying some serious taxes as my depreciation was depleted. I had two choices: 1) borrow money and upgrade or 2) sell the business. I picked number two. Kind of funny how that worked out as I sold the business to a broker who thought the grass was greener. He brought two sons and a daughter in law with him which did not work out well. They did make their payments though over the next 8 years but eventually declared bankruptcy.
During my last year, as the owner of an 8 employee company my income was $40k. As a broker it increased to $125k which in 1991 was some serious money. The reason that this all happened is that I have the power of observation. And with this great power I noticed that the brokers were driving big expensive cars and I was driving a Cutlass!

Excuse me, but I digress. As for brokers; never much cared for the group. The word “weasel” comes most to mind most. It was a lot of “How cheap?” and How fast?” The “fast part ALWAYS came after you quoted the job. Some were even brazen enough to ask me stupid questions like “Is this a wholesale price?” which promptly made my blood boil because as any good printing estimator knows that you quote based on your costs and an acceptable markup that lets open the doors the next morning. There is no such thing as wholesale printing;however, some printers are more efficient than others.

During my tenure as a broker I treated my printers with respect, paid them in less than 30 days and never intimated them. In short, brokers, like a lot of groups, get the respect and reputation they earn.
Bob

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By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:55:38 +0000

This is a great post. After working as an operation manager for over 20 years, then inside sales at a open web printer for 4 years, I am now working as a broker, which I really love. Sometimes it’s hard for me to say I am a print broker and I’m not entirely sure why. I think some of it is my own prejudice from working at private companies and not really thinking about the broker side. You are absolutely correct when you say that it’s a win win for printers though. I have been completely shocked sometimes when a printing company acts outraged when they ‘discover’ that I am quoting the job with other vendors.
Thanks for your post. It makes me feel better about what I do.

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