[TheForge] Peter Schiffer obituary

[xlch58 at swbell.net]

Andrew Vida wrote:
> PlumDon at aol.com wrote:
>
>   
>> Interesting  to note that he finally had to take a lot of his operation to 
>> China. Not because  of the economics but because he could not get the 
>> printmaking and formatting  quality he wanted here in the states.
>>     
>
> 	And people wonder why we're having economic problems.  Sheesh

It was definitely the economics.   He couldn't get the printmaking and 
formatting quality he wanted here in the states at the price he 
wanted.   I know a lot of printers and all of the higher end ones are 
struggling.  My wifes family has a very large operation and is known as 
one of the top quality printers around, doing a lot of work in the past 
with annual reports and prospectus' (two jobs that in the past, people 
wanted the very best).  Problem is that print is declining in general, 
and in economic situations like we have now, one of the first things 
companies cut is their print budget.   It's well known enough, that 
another printer friend looking for a loan was flat out told that 
printers are on a "do not lend list" right now.    The in-laws have been 
around for over a hundred years, so hopefully they will weather it.  
Quality printing takes well maintained equipment and skilled employees 
with an eye for detail.  Both cost here in the US, you don't get it by 
running a different set of illegals through your business every week.   
There is still a lot of art to it and every machine has its feel that 
the press operator learns.  The US definitely has the quality printers, 
just not cheap.   "could not get the quality they wanted here in the 
states" is true in a very few specialized areas, but usually they are 
not completing the idea, i.e. could not get the quality they wanted here 
in the states at a price that allowed them the profit they wanted"  Not 
to pick on Peter S, ultimately, it is often the consumer at fault.   The 
consumer won't pay more than $50 for a picture book, and to get a 
quality one done it is going to cost $51.  Negative margin.  If he is 
addicted to quality he has to choose between no product and one made in 
China. 

Charles