Who's fault is it?

[gr7ap2hi0cs]

If there is a spelling mistake in the clients address on something that was printed that they approved numerous times and did not catch...who's fault is it? Now I can't remember where the address came from but I had to of copied it from an email sent from someone in the office here. I never type out address's i always copy and paste them, but I am not sure where I copied and pasted it from, so I'm not sure who's fault it is.

Now this is a street name in the address line, so its not like an obvious word that would get noticed (Monoco vs. Monaco) but I would think the client would have noticed, especially in their company info but they didn't and they accepted it as it was after seeing it about 6 times on a pdf proof to go to print.

So do we have to pay to get them printed again or does the client? Its only $347 so its nothing too horrible but still. I feel awful!!! :(

[rickself]

You end up paying one way or the other. If the client is worth it, you should pay. If they're not worth it, you lose them as a client. Maybe a 50-50 resolution of sorts can be worked out? Depends on the importance of the client.

[doubting_thomas]

How it works here is if the client signs off on a proof, they've bought the job.

[Satchel]

That's not something that you can easily catch, like you said. The client could have read over it and thought it was spelled correctly, and you didn't know it wasn't. I'd say it's just one of those things that it's not really anyone in particulars fault, but I do not think you should have to cover the cost of re-printing.

[nyc_skater]

Rickself is right, the rules say if they sign off on a proof it's their fault for not catching it, but realistically you will lose them as a client and possibly any other ones they may recomend from your business. Weigh the options.

[gr7ap2hi0cs]

Thanks for all the opinions we are weighing it out right now, the owner of our company does not know yet so he might just say go ahead and we'll pay for it for them but who knows.

I feel like it is my fault and i feel horrible but it's a street name? It could have been spelt either way.

All this feedback is excellent, keep it coming we like the opinions over here as we try to weigh it out :)

[rickself]

You copied and pasted. That's the same I do...takes my fat fingers out of the equation. Just wait til you make an error on a 4-color job and plates, materials, time, etc. $347 can be a lot of money, but there's always a worse case. Good Luck!

[balou]

I used to work for a printer and this happened occassionally. It's bound to. Even thought the customer signed off on proof, if we layed out the work, we would usually eat part of the cost. Not all of it though. They'd give a discount on the reprint.

[PrintDriver]

We get or give a 'second print' discount depending on the mistake. The hard part of the file prep is already sorted out.
But also like Thomas says, sign-off on a hard proof when on print process material is part of the contract. When you sign off on one of those, you own it.

[orkaknos12]

I've been guilty of this a couple of times and usually printers are really helpful getting it sorted out. I trust my copy writer, but sometimes adresses and phone numbers slip by the microscope. I should have checked, the copy writer should have checked and the guy who does the comittee who approved the copy should have checked, so I don't blame anyone, I just get it reprinted asap and figure out the cost with the client and the printer later. For smaller clients, I usually pay for it. Corporate clients will usually help you out once you explain what happened.

-Jon