FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
General
What does A+E stand for?
Architecture and Engineering, we were the first digital reprographic (blue print) shop in the Lowcountry serving primarily the architectural, engineering, and construction industries (A/E/C).
How do I place an order?
Call (link), Email, Upload, or stop by our office at 517 King St. between 8 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday.
Where is your office?
A+E is located at the corner of King St. & Morris St. in downtown Charleston. We are across the street from Starbucks & the old Morris Sokol building.
Do you have parking?
There are metered spaces available in front of the building on King St. and next to the building on Morris St.
What is A+E’s typical turnaround time?
- Orders for plans and specs are typically ready for pick up within 2-3 hours, with exceptions for high-volume orders.
- Standard items such as business cards and posters are typically completed in 1-3 business days for digital printing and 5-8 business days for offset printing. Turnaround begins after proof approval. Please inquire for turnaround time on custom items.
- A+E is committed to meeting all customer deadlines to the best of our ability. If your job is time-sensitive, please call us at 843-853-5066 for information regarding expedited turnaround options.
- Please note that changes to active orders will delay turnaround. Your order will not be added to the production queue until we receive a print-ready file. If your order requires layout or design, we will not start on the design until we receive all necessary copy and images.
- Multiple file resubmissions for the same order may incur additional fees and will delay your job. The best way to ensure fast turnaround is to submit a print-ready file at time of order placement.
What type of payments does A+E accept?
Cash, corporate check, personal checks (local only, must show drivers licenses), Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover Card.
Can you bill my company for my order?
If your company has established a Net 30 account with A+E, you do not have to pay upon pick up. You will receive a statement at the beginning of each month for the previous month’s balance. If you do not have a Net 30 account, your order may require a 50% deposit and payment in full is expected upon pick up.
How do I open an account with A+E?
Fill out and return the Credit Application to establish Net 30 terms for your company.
Can you keep a credit card on file to be charged for my monthly balance?
A+E provides complimentary auto-pay credit card billing to Net 30 customers. Please fill out and return the Auto Pay Credit Card Authorization form to set up monthly credit card billing.
My company has an account with A+E and our information has changed (e.g. address, AP contact, etc.).
Please email our Customer Service Department with your updated company information.
Do you provide delivery?
Yes, A+E provides delivery for customers with Net 30 accounts. Restrictions and fees may apply.
What type of businesses utilize A+E’s services?
Architects, engineers, contractors, facilities management departments, hospitals, school districts, attorneys, government offices, restaurants, hotels, museums, marketing departments, universities, real estate agents, retail stores, and event planners are just some of our clients.
Do you offer self-service printing and /or low-volume copy services?
A+E specializes in commercial printing. We recommend contacting FedEx Office, UPS Store or Staples for self-service copying and low-volume orders.
Why is the total on my invoice different from the initial estimate?
All estimates are based on the information provided at the time a quote is requested. Estimates include tentative pricing that may change based on the art and/or specs provided to us at the time of final order placement and approval. Changes in quantity, paper, art, size, or finishing may incur additional fees. Please contact us if you have questions regarding an invoice.
Reprographics
What is reprographics?
Reprography is the reproduction of graphics through mechanical or electrical means, such as photography or xerography. Reprography is commonly used in catalogs and archives, as well as in the A/E/C industries.
What email address do I use to place an order for plans and specs?
plot@aecharleston.com (email must be less than 25MB)
What is your standard turnaround time for reprographics orders?
1-3 hours depending on our current workload and the order volume. Please call to discuss options for faster turnaround if your order is time-sensitive.
Does A+E keep plans on file after I place an order?
Files submitted for reprographic printing are retained for approximately one week after we receive them. If specifically requested, A+E retains record sets and revisions for order availability.
What type of files can you print?
Please send PDF files for reprographics orders. We cannot print from DWG or CAD files.
How do I see the list of public bids you have available for purchase?
Click here to visit our online plan-room.
Can you manage public bids?
Yes, A+E offers bid management services.
Do you print plans for architects?
Yes, A+E prints plans and specs for a wide variety of customers including architects, engineers, contractors, facilities management personnel, real estate companies, attorneys, and homeowners.
Marketing Graphics
What email address do I use to place a graphics order?
print@aecharleston.com
What is your standard turnaround time for graphics orders?
Standard graphic items are typically completed in 1-3 business days for digital printing and 5-8 business days for offset printing. Please call us at (843) 853-5066 to discuss options for time-sensitive orders.
How do I set up my file to print properly?
Click here to view our tips for file set up.
Does A+E offer graphic design services?
Yes, we offer a variety of creative services with package options tailored to your project and budget.
What type of files can you print?
Please send art files in PDF format with a minimum of 1/8” bleed (if applicable). We cannot print from Microsoft Office files (Word, Excel, Powerpoint). Additional charges may be incurred for converting tiff and jpeg files to PDFs for printing.
I was told that my file is not print-ready. Can A+E edit my file to print properly?
Our ability to edit customer-provided files differs with each order and is based on file type and set-up. Please let a Customer Service Representative know if you need help preparing your file for printing. If your file requires minor adjustments for printing, a small additional charge will be incurred. If more time-consuming edits are necessary, A+E offers graphics services billed at $100 per hour.
- A note on resolution: A+E provides high-resolution, presentation quality print services. We do not have the ability to improve image quality on customer-provided files. If low-resolution files are provided, they may look blurry or pixilated when printed. You will be alerted prior to printing if there is an image quality concern with your order. If notice is given of low-resolution images and production approval is given, the customer agrees to accept the job as is, and A+E will not be held responsible if the order requires reprint.
Is there a minimum order quantity?
There is no minimum quantity for most standard marketing items including posters, flyers, brochures, and flat / folded cards, but all price breaks are quantity-based. There is a minimum of 250 pieces for business cards. Custom and offset items such as envelopes, vinyl labels, foil / spot UV business cards, and die cut items may require a minimum order of 500 pieces.
What is A+E’s proof policy?
It is the responsibility of the customer to carefully review and request any necessary changes to all proofs provided by A+E prior to printing. This includes and is not limited to checking for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors, as well as design and layout issues. Once the customer has approved the proof via email or signature, the job will be printed as is. A+E will not be held responsible for any errors that were not caught during the proofing process and may require a reprint.
What information should I have available when placing an order?
In order to provide you with accurate pricing and expected turnaround, we will need to know the following information:
- Item: What you would like to have printed (e.g. flyers, booklets, posters)
- Qty: Number of finished pieces needed
- Size: Dimensions of finished piece (flat / folded if applicable)
- Paper: Type of paper preferred (text weight or cover stock, matte or gloss)
- Color: Color or black and white / Double or single-sided
- Finish: Binding, lamination, mounting, etc.
- Deadline: Requested date for order completion
Does A+E print presentation boards?
We offer mounting options on foam core (short-term) and Ultra Board (long-term) with a variety of paper and lamination options.
What are my binding options?
Plastic comb (black), plastic coil (black or white), wire (black or silver), or saddle-stitch. Please specify what side of your book you would like to be bound: top, bottom, right, or left.
What is the largest size you can print?
We can print on a 54” roll on our large-format inkjet color machine. We also have larger options available for various PVC, vinyl, and aluminum signage.
Do you print photos?
We do not offer traditional photo processing (4×6”, 5×7”, 8×10”). A+E does offer large-format photo printing at sizes of 18×24” and up.
What is A+E’s overrun policy?
Due to the nature of print production, it is not always possible to deliver the exact quantity of items ordered. A+E consistently provides customers with a small overrun of additional copies on most digital orders. For offset orders, we abide by the industry standard overrun/underrun of 10%. Policies may vary on custom orders.
Document Services
Does A+E offer drafting services?
Yes. Click here to find out more about A+E’s CAD & BIM services.
I have a large volume of hard copy documents that need to be converted to a digital format. Can A+E help with this?
Yes. Please contact us today to learn about our scanning and archiving services for paper, microfilm, and microfiche records.