Piedmont Copy

My experience at Piedmont Copy was absolutely horrendous. I give this business negative five stars. I will never go back to Piedmont Copy. I was assisted by a thirteen year old child who destroyed my book.
It was a wet and rainy day. Upon entering, I saw with my eyes that all the counter surfaces were covered in a layer of grime and bacteria. I joined the queue in front of me. I was planning on letting the employee know that I wanted to make black and white copies from two books, as well as xeroxing some other sheets of paper. She then pointed me to one machine. I continued over and attempted to use said machine but to no avail because the machine’s hardware malfunctioned. The top part was not staying up, it collapsed. I needed it to stay up, I could not hold it up and put my documents on the scanner at the same time because I only have two arms. I asked the adult employee to assist me or let me use a different machine. Her response was somewhere in the line of that it wasn’t broken and that I should try to fix it, and work with it, and that my complaint was not warranted. She did not offer to help hold it up, or to put the documents down on the scanner. She never even left from behind the counter.
I pleaded with her to let me use another machine, to which she finally agreed because she was not going to assist me in any other way. She directed me to a different black and white machine. I proceeded to use it, but it turned out that there were no more sheets of paper at size 8.5″ x 11″. I needed my documents to be printed on 8.5″ x 11″ size paper, but the only size that was available in that machine was larger, and longer. I had already printed a few sheets from different paper trays in that machine. When I tried to print on size 8.5″ x 11″ paper, the machine did not work. I really did not feel comfortable asking the lady with so much disdain for me behind the counter to assist me but alas I was at the mercy of her business.
As I was approaching the counter, the adult employee looked fleetingly away, almost aloof. I explained to her that the size 8.5″ x 11″ tray was empty, and she replied «Are you sure?» to which I answered, «Yes.» «Try again», she said. She then looked over to a young girl about thirteen years old standing next to her and asked her to help me with the machine. A few questions entered my mind at this point. This young girl, shouldn’t she be in school? Shouldn’t she be with her friends? What are the laws concerning child labor in California? How is the child employee going to be able to assist me in this situation that I am in? I need size 8.5″ x 11″ paper.
The child employee proceeded over to the machine and immediately picked up my book that was lying atop the scanner, spread the pages apart forcefully, and pressed it against the scanner. I grabbed my book before she was able to close the copier on it, which would have caused further damage. When she forcefully spread the pages apart, the binding snapped in half from top to the bottom. I was deeply saddened by this. I did not want to damage my book from overuse, so I decided to make copies of the pages and in the process, I damaged it even further. As I was holding on to my book almost in tears, I said to the child employee that I needed size 8.5″ x 11″ paper and that the tray was empty. She did not respond, she did not say anything. She just looked past me, she did not even smile, or frown. She had soulless eyes. Celebrities have this vacant look I am talking about. I thought perhaps the girl did not understand what I was saying. I thanked her and told her that I was finished using the machine, went to the counter and paid for the copies I had made with the larger and longer sized paper. «Sixty cents.» the child employee said with an accent. Her mother, whom I assume was the lady helping me earlier, was no where to be seen, or heard. She had vanished.
Here are some points to consider from this story:
1. Customer service
2. Child Labour laws in California
3. Hardware malfunction management
4. Supply management
5. Cleanliness

Contrary to the review below about easy printing you’ll be charge an additional dollar for anything you’re emailing in to have printed. Not a big deal for some, but the lack of transparency over the phone feels deceiving.
True price of printing 3 B&W pages on 8.5×11 regular paper: $ 1.50 NOT $ 0.15/page.
Service is otherwise prompt and friendly.

Dig them. Email them a file, they print it up, come pick it up later… they are always pleasant to deal with and SO unlike Kinko’s!

Went today to use computers. All three were so slow that they had to rebooted by 9:30 am. When I told the girl upfront that there was an issue when I first walked in; she just stared at me like I was from out of space!
Wasn’t she sure if she understood me, but she just told me to go to the next computer (she did not think my complaint warranted her to stop folding paper!!) Really? Again, the 2^nd computer had to be rebooted because it froze, THEN the 3^rd computer… just shut off on its own while I was on gmail. !!! I KID YOU NOT…
That same girl did NOTHING to help so I had to go to the BACK of the shop and pull someone out to the front of the shop to help me the issue.
Even then this person blamed the issue on a prior customer earlier that morning? How awful to blame the lack of maintenance of their computers (which they charge sky rocket prices per hour to use) on their clients. I came here to print off their computers because I don’t have my own printer at home. Big waste of my time!

Piedmont Copy has a higher quality final end product available than most other print shops around. They’re also willing to help you tweak some of the graphic design finishing touches in house if you need it.

I teach a writing course each summer, and Piedmont Copy has become my go-​to spot for all my photocopied course materials.
Their prices are reasonable, as are their hours (although I wish they were open on Sundays, they never hassle me when I show up after work on weekdays, ten minutes before closing). I don’t often need assistance with my projects, but someone is always available when I do. The self-​serve machines are old but kept in decent repair; I almost never have issues with jams. Sometimes the copies have minor streaks, but they’re quick about cleaning the document glass if you let them know. Even the «regular» paper is bright and good quality.
This week, I needed to print dozens of copies of the class books of my students’ writing. One of the staff offered to copy the books for me on the higher-​quality machines in the back. While she was working, I discovered I had inadvertently left out one student’s essay – oh no! I was able to use their computer to find the text in an email, format it, print it, and copy it without having to go home to my own computer. Sure saved me a big headache.
Meanwhile, the lady in the back printed and boxed up my class books, keeping the two course sections separate (though they looked identical from the outside of the stack and it would have been easy to mix them up). Very professional – and they didn’t charge extra for the service or higher-​quality printing. I have the skills and equipment to do the comb binding myself, but Piedmont Copy would be able to take care of that, too, if I needed them.
I’ll definitely be back!

This is a review to thank Badar. He helped me so much today. Listened perfectly, got the order right, and did it all promptly.

Great service! I got invitations printed here; they were prompt, courteous, and did a wonderful job. I highly recommend this shop.

SAVED MY BUTT!
I had 9 huge files (3ft x 8ft) and needed them printed asap.
I called after noon, when no one else could do the job, and they said YES.
They ran out of the right paper, and rushed to go out of their way and finish the prints.
AND though they closed at 5pm, when I was supposed to meet them, they waited until 5:30 so I could pick up my prints and get my work done!
Friendly, affordable pricing, and really deserve all those stars.
THANKS PIEDMONT COPY!

Came in on a Saturday morning for 100 greeting cards folded with envelopes. One woman was juggling all the customers who came in. She took care of everyone and had all my cards printed and folded within a couple hours!

Sometimes their printers run out of Ink which is exactly why I came here in the first place, and they don’t seem to really care. They’re very nonchalant about their business, which can be good and bad. Sometimes they charge you more, sometimes they charge you less. They are very convenient though!

Worth the trip from SF! It’s that good.
I wanted to make 3 new books for SF Zine Fest and tried out Piedmont Copy for the first time. I’ll definitely be using them again. The prices are fantastic and the quality and service were great too.

I have been using Piedmont Copy for over 10 years– both for my work at Chaple of the Chimes and personally for my son’s Bar Mitzvah. They always come through! Hard working on the details, family feel, excellent service. They are the best

Worst customer service I’ve ever received in my life. Ever. The man in the back was rude and unhelpful. If you need to assist another customer or take a phone call, while working with someone, it’s polite to let the person you’re helping know that you’ll be right back. I was left standing at the printer, unassisted, several times. I was there for 45 minutes and only one of my files was printed. I was also told I would be charged for the 10 minutes it was going to take for the man to help me print my files. Who charges for 10 minutes of customer service? If he was busy, he simply could have offered to have me email the files to him for pick-​up later that day. At that point I would have paid for the help, just to get my things printed, but he walked away again. After waiting several (more) minutes, I finally walked out, fuming, leaving my one and only piece of printed paper behind. Terrible service and a waste of time. Thankfully, the guys at Grand Copy Center saved the day!

Good photo copy, short run fast printing places are hard to come by, especially in the East Bay. I want to give Piedmont Copy props for going the extra mile on my last visit there. Yesterday I telephoned the shop to see if they would except some emailed images to be printed onto posters and if I could get them in less than an hour. I only needed 3 (13×19 Color). They gladly obliged and asked me to send the files. When I got there, they printed double what I ordered and refused to accept my money. The posters were for a protest I was attending and they said because it’s for a good cause they wanted to support. I told them it was okay and I still tried to pay and yet they persisted and refused. They didn’t have to do this yet they proved that they are a part of the local community. That’s something that’s hard to find in a business these days.
Oh, and the quality of the prints were perfect.

I spent many years in the printing business. I managed a very busy Alphagraphics store in Emeryville, many years ago. Remember them? We offered pretty much the same services and products (printing, copying, design, banners, etc.) as Piedmont Copy does today.
So I know what goes into providing excellent service to customers. And I can say, with authority and without hesitation, that the folks at Piedmont Copy are exceptional. I’ve been dealing with them for ten or fifteen years now. They have consistently demonstrated a commitment to producing great work on deadline (sometimes impossible deadlines). They have caught mistakes of mine and called to double-​check things many times.
I have recommended them to many friends and business associates over the years and will continue to do so.

They’re nice staff, but I’m looking elsewhere for competence. I was unhappy with the quality of their poster-​size scanning, they ran over $ 100 of large prints before noticing an imperfection in the file, and told me, when I asked, that the prints were cut to size when they weren’t.
But for simple jobs with no deadline I would use them.

I went to Piedmont Copy for graphic work, copy, and labeling work to be done with a 5 day deadline. Not only were they able to meet my tight deadline, they were so great to work with.
Badar, the graphic artist helped me with the graphic designs which came out perfect. I really appreciate him for being so patience with me and he was able to meet all that I need within a short time frame.
After the designs are approved that same day, there was only a couple hours to get the brochures printed, bind as well as the labels printed and attached to the CDs. The staff really made it happened for me and I am very grateful and happy with their level of service. they provided.
Thank you so much for meeting my tight deadline.
Karen

Always great service. There are always enough people to help you with what you’re doing. I’ve come here to print out 12′‘x18” color concert posters. I was surprised that their prices were much lower than Kinko’s or Staples.
Bottom line, best copy store I’ve been to.

I had to punish myself for being on such a party high this weekend that I decided to spend Tuesday morning at the DMV. Prior to making it there though, I stopped over at Piedmont Copy for use of their computer and printer.
Might they be open at 8:30am? Indeed they were! I have to give them 5 stars because they didn’t charge me for use of their computer (like Kinko’s does), they were open when I needed them to be and the lovely lady there was very sweet in helping me.
Cheers to you, Piedmont Copy.