35mm not compatible with 8x10

[planetrobert]

Mat board is heavy, but a shipping charge of over 40% is serious gouging. If they won't credit you a decent amount, I'd return the stuff and take my business elsewhere.

I don't know if it's gouging, it's just whatever UPS charged to ship it. That I can understand, it had to go from California to New Jersey, but I'm very angry about no glass panes.

 

[planetrobert]

OK, apparently I did not specify in the order that I wanted a "Frame Set" ... I only ordered the "frames" ... which do not include plexiglass, hanging elements, etc ... How utterly annoying. On the flip side, always the optimist, I don't think I would have wanted plexiglass and I'm sure I can go somewhere and get glass cut pretty inexpensively.

 

[pschwart]

OK, apparently I did not specify in the order that I wanted a "Frame Set" ... I only ordered the "frames" ... which do not include plexiglass, hanging elements, etc ... How utterly annoying. On the flip side, always the optimist, I don't think I would have wanted plexiglass and I'm sure I can go somewhere and get glass cut pretty inexpensively.

Your experience is not a great advertisement for Redimat
I always use OP3 acrylic glazing. It is much lighter than glass, it's unbreakable, it doesn't add a tint like some window glass, and it blocks about 97% of UV. It does cost a lot more than regular window glass but I think it's worth it.

 

[tkamiya]

Just as a point of comparison, I put in a mock order to my usual supplier. This is a top-notch vendor and I like its product. Always perfectly done and shipped very securely.

16x20 frame, metal least expensive molding, Alpha rag mat board, acid free backing board, and glass.
12 of them will cost me $380 + 43 shipping from TX to FL.

Doing the same with no glass ends up being $300 + $16 shipping.

So, after all is said and done, your deal was actually decent. Shipping seems excessive but you'll pay that one or the other anyway, either as part of the frame or as S&H. Ordering from outlets like this usually means you'll have a chance to pick and choose.... if you didn't pick something, even accidentally, you aren't going to get it. Very annoying I know but my vendor is similar. It does make it clear what exactly you are ordering several times in the process though.

 

[planetrobert]

Just as a point of comparison, I put in a mock order to my usual supplier. This is a top-notch vendor and I like its product. Always perfectly done and shipped very securely.

16x20 frame, metal least expensive molding, Alpha rag mat board, acid free backing board, and glass.
12 of them will cost me $380 + 43 shipping from TX to FL.

Doing the same with no glass ends up being $300 + $16 shipping.

So, after all is said and done, your deal was actually decent. Shipping seems excessive but you'll pay that one or the other anyway, either as part of the frame or as S&H. Ordering from outlets like this usually means you'll have a chance to pick and choose.... if you didn't pick something, even accidentally, you aren't going to get it. Very annoying I know but my vendor is similar. It does make it clear what exactly you are ordering several times in the process though.

Yeah, I'm not really so angry, just annoyed with myself for not paying closer attention to things. Anyone who reads this thread will not necessarily come away with a negative opinion of Redimat. If anything, this information will help as a price comparison next time I'm at a local art supply store looking for this stuff. Thanks for the mock order!

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Cut your own mats. Problem solved. A cropped image doesn't always fit the arbitrary standard sizes. This also gives you the flexibility to position the opening where you want it. I *never* want it centered which is what you get with precut mats.

+1

 

[OzJohn]

It gets worse than that.... I just experienced a situation where same brand, same level, and same color.... two different batches.... DIFFERENT COLOR! I'm also amazed how many white there are and how much difference they actually make on how prints look.

I tried to be careful and consistent. I can't win all the time, I guess.

I own a framing business and have never experienced a colour variation from batch to batch in any quality matboard brand. I think you could have been sold crap in either or both cases. Either that or the supplier had run out of the original colour, particularly if it was a white, and substituted assuming that you would not notice. OzJohn