Every postcard order has three clocks: how long you take to approve the proof, how long the printer takes to print, and how long the box takes to travel. Most printers only tell you about the middle one.
Where the time actually goes
| Stage | Typical online printer | Sign Blast USA |
|---|---|---|
| Proof | Usually none — you upload a print-ready file | Back in 2–4 business hours |
| Production | 3 to 5 business days | Next business day after you approve |
| Shipping | Ground, 3 to 5 days depending on distance | FedEx Priority Overnight, anywhere in the US |
| Realistic total | 11 to 12 days | About 3 business days |
Competitor timelines are the delivery dates their own checkouts quoted us on 6 September 2026 with standard shipping to a South Jersey address. Delivery estimates change with distance, carrier and time of year.
Why ground shipping eats the schedule
Paper is heavy and printers ship it the cheapest way, which is ground. Ground is fast if the plant is near you and slow if it is not, and you do not get to choose where the plant is. A card printed in two days and then trucked for five is a seven-day card.
Overnight fixes the second half of the problem, which is why we ship paper that way rather than the FedEx Ground service the rest of our catalogue uses.
The part of the clock you control
Approval. Production starts the business day after you approve your proof, so a proof that sits unopened over a weekend costs you the weekend.
- Order in the morning. Proofs come back in 2–4 business hours, so a morning order can be approved the same day.
- Watch for the proof email. It is the only thing standing between you and the press.
- Know what you want changed before you reply. Two rounds of revisions are included, and each round costs a few hours of daylight.
- Say the deadline out loud. If you have a hard date, tell us before you order and we will say honestly whether it is achievable.
A realistic timeline
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Monday morning | You order and send a logo or a rough idea |
| Monday, a few hours later | A proof lands in your inbox |
| Monday afternoon | You reply "approved" |
| Tuesday | The job prints and ships |
| Wednesday | Cards at your door |
Delivery dates are estimates rather than guarantees — weather, carriers and press schedules all get a vote. But that is the shape of it, and it is a different shape from twelve days.