I Tried Printful & Printify in 2024 - Do NOT Choose Wrong!!

Santrel Media
6 Nov 202326:07

TLDRIn this detailed comparison, MO Brien from Sandal Media explores the pros and cons of two major print-on-demand services, Printful and Printify. He orders samples from both platforms, including a Gilden 5000 t-shirt, a mug, and a hat, to evaluate factors such as design interfaces, product quality, shipping times, and pricing. While Printify offers a more consistent experience with reliable quality across products, Printify provides a wider range of options with varying quality and pricing. The verdict? It's supplier-dependent with Printify being a safer bet overall, but Printify could offer better deals. Brien recommends testing both services personally to make the best decision for your print-on-demand store.

Takeaways

  • 🔍 When choosing a print-on-demand service, considering the supplier is crucial as it can significantly impact the success of your store.
  • 📦 Printful and Printify are two of the most recommended print-on-demand services, but they have fundamental differences in how they manage orders.
  • 🏭 Printful handles everything in-house, including printing, packaging, and shipping, while Printify acts as a middleman connecting you to various third-party suppliers.
  • 💰 The quality of products, shipping times, and customer service can vary greatly with Printify due to the use of multiple suppliers.
  • 🌐 It's important to check the product catalogs of both Printful and Printify, as some products might be exclusive to one platform.
  • 🔖 Both services offer a range of products, but Printify provides substantially more options due to its numerous suppliers.
  • 🎨 The design interfaces for both Printful and Printify are user-friendly, making it easy to upload and adjust designs for products.
  • 📦 Packaging differences between Printful and Printify can impact environmental considerations and brand messaging.
  • 🚚 Shipping times and costs can vary between Printful and Printify, with factors such as supplier location and express delivery options influencing these aspects.
  • 💵 Pricing can differ between the two services, and it's not always the case that one is consistently cheaper or more expensive than the other.
  • 🔄 It's recommended to order samples from both Printful and Printify to personally assess product quality, shipping times, and overall service before making a decision.

Q & A

  • What is the main difference between Printful and Printify in terms of order management?

    -Printful handles the entire process from production to shipping in-house, while Printify acts as a middleman, contracting out to third-party suppliers for printing, shipping, and fulfillment.

  • How can the choice of supplier impact a print on demand store's success?

    -A bad supplier can increase shipping costs, offer low-quality products, and result in inconsistent product quality, leading to lost customers and a failed store.

  • What factors should be considered when choosing a print on demand supplier?

    -Factors to consider include pricing, customer service, product quality, shipping times, supplier ratings, and environmental packaging options.

  • How does Printify's supplier rating system work?

    -Printify rates its suppliers based on production speed, quality, and stock reliability, allowing users to choose suppliers with higher scores for better service.

  • What is the advantage of using Printful for a print on demand store?

    -Printful offers consistent quality across its products, as everything is handled in-house, which can lead to a more reliable customer experience.

  • What is the environmental benefit of using Printful's packaging for a mug?

    -Printful's packaging for mugs is made of recyclable cardboard that folds into itself, eliminating the need for Styrofoam and reducing environmental impact.

  • How does Printify's product variety compare to Printful's?

    -Printify offers a substantially larger variety of products due to its use of multiple suppliers, which can be beneficial if a specific product is only available on one platform.

  • What is the main downside of using Printify for a print on demand store?

    -The main downside is that the quality and service can be inconsistent since Printify relies on third-party suppliers, which can lead to variability in product quality and shipping times.

  • What is the recommended approach when deciding between Printful and Printify?

    -It is recommended to test both platforms by ordering samples, as this allows for a direct comparison of product quality, shipping times, and pricing before making a final decision.

  • What was the outcome of the comparison between a Printful and a Printify hat?

    -The Printful hat had better quality and was more satisfactory, while the Printify hat had a sloppy embroidery and poor material condition.

  • How did the shipping times and costs compare between Printful and Printify for the products tested?

    -Printful generally had faster shipping times and more reliable quality, while Printify offered lower prices but with longer shipping times and inconsistent quality.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Introduction to Print-On-Demand Platforms

The paragraph discusses the importance of choosing the right supplier for a print-on-demand store, regardless of the platform used for selling. It highlights the potential issues with a bad supplier, such as increased shipping costs, low-quality products, and lost customers. The speaker shares their intention to compare two popular platforms, Printify and Printful, by ordering samples, testing shipping times, packaging, product quality, and pricing, as well as customer service. The speaker also clarifies the fundamental differences between the two platforms, with Printful handling everything in-house, while Printify acts as a middleman connecting the store to various suppliers.

05:00

📈 Comparing Printify and Printful's Product Catalogs

The speaker compares the product catalogs of Printify and Printful, noting the differences in pricing, product availability, and supplier options. They mention that Printify offers a wider range of products and allows the user to choose from multiple suppliers based on ratings for production speed, quality, and stock reliability. The speaker also discusses the impact of supplier location on shipping times and the importance of considering express delivery options for faster fulfillment. They provide examples of product pricing and shipping costs from both platforms, emphasizing the variability in prices and the need to consider multiple factors when choosing a supplier.

10:02

🎨 Design Process and Supplier Selection

The speaker details the design process on both Printify and Printful, including uploading designs, choosing product colors and sizes, and customizing product listings. They discuss the different supplier options available on Printify, which allows for selection based on ratings and delivery speed. The speaker also shares their experience with ordering samples from various suppliers on both platforms, noting the differences in production times, shipping costs, and the ability to add multiple products to a single order. They highlight the importance of testing different suppliers to find the best fit for one's store.

15:04

📦 Product Arrival and Quality Assessment

The speaker reviews the products they received from both Printify and Printful, assessing the quality, design, and packaging. They discuss the arrival times, with some products arriving faster than others, and the differences in packaging materials, noting the environmental impact. The speaker compares the print quality of t-shirts and mugs from different suppliers, pointing out the variations in color saturation, detail, and overall appearance. They share their satisfaction with some products and disappointment with others, emphasizing the importance of testing samples before committing to a supplier.

20:05

🔍 Final Verdict on Printful vs Printify

The speaker concludes their comparison by summarizing their experiences with Printful and Printify. They note that while Printful offers consistent quality and reliability, Printify can provide cheaper and faster options but with more variability in supplier performance. The speaker recommends testing both platforms by ordering samples to determine which best suits one's needs. They stress that the choice between Printful and Printify ultimately depends on the individual's priorities, such as cost, speed, and quality.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Print on Demand (POD)

Print on Demand (POD) is a business model where products are printed and created once an order is placed, rather than in bulk beforehand. This model is central to the video's theme as it discusses the comparison between two POD services, Printful and Printify. The script highlights the significance of choosing the right POD supplier for running a successful online store, emphasizing how it can impact product quality, shipping costs, and customer satisfaction.

💡Supplier

In the context of the video, a 'supplier' refers to a company that produces and ships products on behalf of another business. The script underscores the critical role suppliers play in the POD business model, particularly in determining the store's success or failure. It mentions how a bad supplier could lead to increased shipping costs, low-quality products, and lost customers, making the choice between Printful and Printify a crucial decision.

💡Printful

Printful is presented in the script as one of the leading POD services that handles everything in-house, from manufacturing to shipping. It differentiates itself by owning the production process, ensuring quality control and consistency. The video script describes how Printful's comprehensive service model impacts aspects like product quality, customer service, and overall reliability for entrepreneurs.

💡Printify

Printify is described as a POD service that operates differently from Printful by outsourcing production to third-party suppliers. This fundamental difference means that Printify acts as a middleman, connecting store owners with various suppliers. The script explores how this model offers potential cost benefits due to competition among suppliers but also introduces variability in quality and shipping times.

💡Product Catalog

The product catalog in a POD service refers to the range of products available for customization and sale. The video script compares the product catalogs of Printful and Printify, noting significant differences in availability, pricing, and customization options. This comparison is critical for viewers to understand which service might better suit their business needs based on the specific products they intend to sell.

💡Shipping Costs

Shipping costs are a significant consideration for any e-commerce business, and the script highlights how these can vary greatly between Printful and Printify. The discussion includes the impact of choosing suppliers with multiple packages and how this can drive up costs, emphasizing the importance of understanding each service's shipping policies and pricing structures.

💡Quality Control

Quality control refers to the measures and processes in place to ensure product consistency and customer satisfaction. The script contrasts Printful's in-house production model with Printify's reliance on third-party suppliers, exploring how each approach affects the quality of the final products received by customers. This comparison underscores the trade-offs between control and flexibility in the POD industry.

💡Customer Service

Customer service in the context of POD services includes support for both the store owners and their end customers. The video script addresses how direct involvement in production (as with Printful) can lead to better customer service experiences compared to a model that involves multiple third parties (as with Printify). This aspect is crucial for business owners who value reliability and direct communication channels.

💡Pricing Comparison

Pricing comparison in the video refers to the detailed analysis of costs associated with using Printful versus Printify, including product prices, shipping fees, and potential discounts for bulk orders or memberships. The script meticulously compares the two services to reveal which might offer more value under different circumstances, highlighting the complexity of pricing structures in the POD market.

💡Sample Orders

Sample orders are individual purchases made by store owners to test the quality, shipping, and overall service of a POD provider before committing to selling their products. The script details the process of ordering samples from both Printful and Printify, using these orders as a practical way to evaluate each service's offerings. This practice is depicted as essential for making an informed decision about which supplier to partner with.

💡E-commerce Integration

E-commerce integration refers to the ability of POD services to seamlessly connect with online store platforms like Shopify, Etsy, or personal websites. The script discusses how both Printful and Printify offer tools and features for integrating their services into various e-commerce platforms, emphasizing the importance of this capability for simplifying the management of online stores and enhancing the customer buying experience.

Highlights

The importance of considering the supplier when setting up a print on demand store is emphasized, as it can significantly impact the success of the store.

A bad supplier can increase shipping costs, offer low-quality products, and result in inconsistent products and lost customers.

Printful and Printify are recognized as the two biggest print on demand suppliers, but they have fundamental differences in how they manage orders.

Printful handles everything in-house, including printing, packaging, and shipping, while Printify acts as a middleman connecting you to third-party suppliers.

The video creator plans to conduct a detailed comparison between Printful and Printify by ordering samples, checking shipping times, packaging, product quality, pricing, and customer service.

The difference in the business model between Printful and Printify can lead to different store experiences, with Printify potentially offering lower prices due to competition among its suppliers.

The video provides a step-by-step guide on how to set up accounts with both Printful and Printify, and how to navigate their platforms.

Printful and Printify offer different product catalogs, with Printify having a wider range of products due to its multiple suppliers.

Printify allows you to rate and choose suppliers based on production speed, quality, and stock reliability.

The video creator orders samples from both Printful and Printify to compare the quality, pricing, and shipping of a Gilden 5000 t-shirt.

The design process for a t-shirt is demonstrated on both Printful and Printify, showing the ease of use and differences in the interfaces.

The video creator also compares mugs and hats from Printful and Printify, noting differences in pricing, design options, and supplier locations.

Printful offers CO2 offsetting for a small additional fee, showing an environmental consideration in their shipping process.

The video creator concludes by recommending that users test both Printful and Printify by ordering samples to determine which one best suits their needs.

The video provides a comprehensive comparison between Printful and Printify, highlighting the pros and cons of each platform for setting up a print on demand store.