I feel horrible for you. My husband did our school's book last year. IT was the first year for it. We only did the graduating 5th graders. It was a big hit. Luckily, he works for Josten's, so we were able to get a great deal from them since he did all the work at home, and didn't use company time to do it. We will be going to middle school this year and will have 3 times as many students to do, not to mention all the activities involved in middle school. In the past, they have done it on black and white xerox paper. Not exactly the memory book I have invisioned for my kids.
I would say, it's a hard lesson learned. Just make sure you get good credentials and contracts next year. Good LUCK!
The next time a yearbook is done. Make sure the school aproves it. Been there and done that. Ask a teacher to be over it, but parents can help. Our school board had to see our finsh before we send it. WHo signed the contract?
Wow, what a story! I am the sole person responsible for our schools yearbook. I have been doing this job for 6 years now. We use the same publishing company (Taylor Pub.) every year. As long as I do it I want the people I know. We are a large school, 3 grades, 930 students. I get a disc from our school photographer with all the photos and names on it. I ship it to the publisher and they take that part from there. I do get to proof though. Putting together the book is a lot of work but so very rewarding. I have worked with other people before but since most of the work is done on my kitchen table or my home computer I have found it easier to just do it myself. Try to find two best friends to take it on. And possible from your lowest grade and maybe they'll continue till they leave your school. Continuity makes all the difference. My books get better and better each year. The first year was the hardest. It is important to use a company that has a tech support person. I have had the same person every year and that is SOOOOO helpful. She knows me and my needs.
We order about 575 yearbooks and spend $12 a book. Hardcover, 72 pages, with a 4 color page insert. Top quality in all ways.
The year has now officially ended and the books were passed out as is.
So far I have received one request for a refund from a parent but only because her daughter's unusual name has been mis-spelled 2 years in a row.
Isn't it something when you fret that it will all go wrong and in the end it really doesn't.
As for paying the guy . . . he started asking for seed money ($500) in March. WE PAID. Then he asked for $500 more to keep the desinger going. WE PAID. Then we got so fed up with paying little amounts WE JUST PAID THE WHOLE THING before we got the books!
NOW before the rants and raves start . . .
We NOW know that was the stupidist thing we could have done and we blame ourselves and lack of experience as well as extremely poor leadership on the part of the previous board.
But it was a great lesson and when my new board decides to moan and groan about "creating more paperwork" like contracts etc. I have the perfect comeback!
All in all we have been left with approximately 100 books. I am going to put a press release out in our local paper stating we still have books available to sell. And see if I can sell a few more.
Thanks for the help and insight. As always, this board is wonderful place to vent!
I was just clarifying that you can't change the rules mid-stream, that it is okay to refuse to pay if everything is returned but not okay to refuse because now you feel he has taken advantage of your group money-wise. I'm saying it very poorly, but you know what I mean. If the books are that bad, you aren't going to want them at any price and should base your actions on that alone. You cannot base your actions on the fact that you feel he should have done it at cost or for no cost. You can see if he will give them to you at cost instead of you returning everything to him, but you cannot renegotiate the price because you feel he should have done it for nothing. Go after him for the right reason... it will strenghen your arguement and it holds up better in court.
Let me clarify. I am recommending not paying in full for the quality. The job is done, they will just recycle it if returned. Nothing can be done about that. The problem is they should not hold the PTO responsible for the entire payment. I deal with print brokers (aside from the fact he is trying to make an extra buck on you), part of his job is to deliver the product correctly. If it is not, then you can withhold payment until an agreement is made. I would, however, pay what ever the actual printing costs are so they are not on his back for payment.
It's not a good situation - I've been there with printers before, and will be there again I am sure. I deal with them all the time. It's part of the business. But, when they fall short (like any business), you can hold them accountable for it.
