DC Printers Help Consumers Beware of the Asterisk
A Washington, DC printer company prints words on everything from promotional items like coffee mugs to important loan documents. Many promotional paper objects such as discount smoothie coupons, movie tickets or grand opening flyers contain fine print which may exclude certain items on the menu, certain days of the week or combinations of items that are already deeply discounted.
Several companies are offering discount coupons on everything from office equipment to cell phone service, running their promotional material in newspapers and magazines and sometimes as direct marketing mailers to consumer’s homes. A reputable print shop could print the promotional materials in addition to mail the direct marketing coupons for the company, taking care of all aspects from print to mailing, the business would simply provide the designs.
The reason many companies decide to design their own coupons or promotional material rather than leave it up to a print shop, because many DC printers now employ designers, is because they have ‘small print’ or something they must legally put on their promotional items before sending them out to the public. This is mainly true of companies who offer discounts on contracted items such as cell phone companies, cable or satellite television companies in which a contract must be signed in order to apply the coupon or discount.
The marketing departments of these types of companies are very smart when they designed their promotional advertisements or discount coupons because they place the special discount in large letters and bright colors, and any restrictions are in small print next to an asterisk at the bottom. Consumers are caught off guard by the bright colors and the special bonus discounts which are often meant to bring customers into the store in the hopes that will make a larger purchase even if they cannot use the coupon on their intended item.
In order to keep businesses morally and ethically responsible, a print shop may suggest they cut back on some of the fine print in order to print any restrictions large enough so that consumers can read them better and make an educated decision about their pending purchase.