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Reviews For: FDS Graphics

Category: QSL printers; callsign badge engravers; etc.

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Review Summary For : FDS Graphics
Reviews: 154MSRP:
Description:
Full color QSL cards shipped worldwide from Just $17.50 Including delivery!
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.fdsQSL.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001545
N0RUT Rating: 2002-11-22
Great cards Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just received my new cards from Geoff & couldn't be happier!! They look great! Quality cards with a custom front and back at an affordable price. I wasn't sure about using an overseas printer, but based on the reviews here I gave it a shot. No problems. The time from first contact to receipt was exactly 6 weeks. I could have reduced that by submitting front and back instructions together, but I didn't send the back layout to Geoff until I had the front proof.

Here's how the process went (all via email):
10 OCT- Sent first email asking about picture quality requirments. My first selection was a bit lower resolution than Geoff likes so I went back to looking.
22OCT- I got frustrated trying to figure out pictures and design. I sent Geoff 3 different pictures and 2 different rough design layouts, listing my order of preference for each. I just told him to do what he could.
30 OCT- Received my front proof. Geoff used the first picture I had sent (my #1 choice) and my first choice of design. He was able to work up the photo resolution to an acceptable level. WOW!
I wrote back same day approving front proof and sent Geoff my rough back design and some pictures of varying quality for a small logo (in place of ARRL logo).
6 NOV- Received back-side proof. Geoff was able to get one of my pictures to look great as a logo. Format was perfect as was my text. Wrote back immediately with order information and gave the "go ahead."
21 NOV- Picked up my cards at FedEx. Packaged in a sturdy cardboard box, bubble wrap filling any empty space inside, cards bundled and rubber banded. All in great shape, I can use every card.

Geoff worked with me to design the card I wanted. I probably wasn't the easiest customer to satisfy, but he was more than happy to put in the work to make it happen.

My only gripe (and it's VERY small)... a couple times I had to send off follow-up email because I hadn't received a response from a prior email. He's busy. It happens.

Great cards, good price, and a printer who is willing to work with you. What more could you ask for??? I highly recommend Geoff & FDS Graphics!
K6VHP Rating: 2002-11-13
WOWZERS!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just received my batch of FB QSL cards from Geoff at FDS. What can I say but "GREAT!" He even phoned me to discuss the card, and I let him use his own judgment on the layout. He did a great job on the first draft, so I went with it. Great quality, great price, great service. Ya can't go wrong!!
Please have a look for yourself: http://www.jammerdave.com/qsl.html

AG4VG Rating: 2002-10-28
Very nice cards! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Having jumped the gun with my previous review, I am now ready for a healthy helping of crow. I'll have mine well done, please.

Even though FDS Graphics was in the midst of a holiday season printing rush (which I did not realize), Geoff still managed to take on a small QSL card job like mine. He took the photos I sent, along with my suggestions, and created a fantastic QSL card, both front and back.

The colors are vivid and the print is sharp. All the edges are clean - no "jaggies." I am very proud of these cards and can give only the highest praises to Geoff and FDS Graphics.

The wait is worth it. I humbly render my gratitude.

73,
Melanie - AG4VG
N0ZXS72 Rating: 2002-10-26
great design & printing Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Took some time,but the end product is really great!! Friends who have viewed the cards are very impressed and say they are the best qsl cards they have ever seen!! Geoff was wonderful in assisting us( phone calls etc.)We would use FDS Graphics in a flash, again.
W1EMT Rating: 2002-10-14
Top Notch Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had a number of different cards during my 30+ years in the hobby and callsign changes - I used to use V-Con but not satisfied with responce so I went searching and e-mailed a number of other printers giving them my specs. Geoff (G8RCZ) was simply the best by far!! I was a little hesitant at first re using an outside US printer BUT all my apprehension was unfouned. Fast prompt service - excellent quality - AND great prices and you don't have to buy a "bizillion" cards at once.
WR9A Rating: 2002-08-08
Outstanding quality & service! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I worked hard designing my own QSL card - from heavy editing of the photo I wanted to use as my background, to carefully placing all of the elements I wanted displayed on both the front & back of the card. I read a lot of reviews, browsed a number of web sites, and finally decided to trust my QSL card printing to FDS-Graphics.

I emailed them my order, along with a high resolution BMP image of my background photo, and smaller JPG's of how I wanted the elements on the front and rear of the card to be placed. In other words, I was going to be very picky about how I wanted my cards to look.

Three days later I received an email from Geoff (G8RCZ) with the proofs attached. They were exactly how I had specified, and he had even suggested a couple of minor modifications (font and some shadowing effects) to make it even more impressive. I quickly approved of his suggestions, and now would be waiting for my cards to arrive.

Two weeks later my 1000 cards arrived, carefully packaged, and the results were breath-taking. They were of very high quality, the photo background turned out beautifully, and the back of the card is almost a work of art itself with a very nice background photo (in black & white) of its own.

Geoff didn't have to work too hard designing my card, as I had done most of the design work myself, probably more than most people do. In fact, he even emailed me after I had received my order, saying that if everyone was as clear as to how they'd like their card to appear it would make his life a lot easier! I was not only extremely pleased with the quality of the images and printing on the cards, but with the attention to detail that went into making sure it was exactly how I wanted it to look.

Thanks to Geoff and the crew at FDS-Graphics, I have a beautiful QSL card that I can say we designed as a team. I strongly recommend them, especially for photo background QSL cards. Their prices are very reasonable for photo QSL cards, and they can customize just about anything you want.

I was one very particular and demanding customer, and the QSL card they helped me design and print turned me into a very happy one. They'll be receiving my order for reprints as soon as my first 1000 are gone, and I'll be recommending them to all my friends.

You can check out the front of my QSL card by looking up my call at QRZ.com.
http://www.qrz.com/callsign/WR9A
AE6Y Rating: 2002-07-26
Another outstanding QSL card job Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I suppose it's fair to post a second review of FDS, since I ordered a new set of cards for my P40Y expedition to Aruba for WPX CW. This time, feeling more ambitious about the design, I emailed a photo for background, plus three more photos for inserts. Geoff had some good ideas on layout and came up with a creative approach to balancing the design that really worked. After a few emails back and forth tinkering with details, the cards were in my possession a few weeks after the first email was sent.
This is a first-class operation, and Geoff is a pleasure to do business with. I highly recommend FDS.
--Andy, AE6Y
KC4PX Rating: 2002-07-06
Wow Fast Service Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Geoff at FDS was extremely helpful in assiting with the design of the card. After I approved the design, I was so surprised to receive 1000 cards within 5 days... which included shipping from U.K.

Cards are excellent and service/communications with Geoff was fantastic. I do recommend this QSL printer and plan to order more cards. My problem now is sending them all out... I'm backlogged
W9CEO Rating: 2002-06-11
SUPER JOB!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I selected FDS-Graphics based on eham.net reviews. I wanted a quality QSL card for my St. Lucia trip (J6/W9CEO and J68MS). I was not disappointed. Both cards are excellant and the service is top notch. I highly recommend FDS-Graphics.

73 - Maurice, W9CEO & J68MS
N4IAU Rating: 2002-04-22
Wonderful Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Simply the finest, don't even consider anybody else..Be patient, the best takes a bit longer..