Vistaprint Wall Calendar Review

Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict

ePHOTOzine members can currently purchase a Wall Calendar from Vistaprint for free, you just need to pay for the postage and packaging. With options to start the calendar from any month, there's still plenty of time to take advantage and create your own calendar with your best pictures.

Vistaprint Wall Calendar Features

• Customise each month with a different photo
• Use your photos or choose from complete calendars
• Add text, even to individual calendar dates
• Choose any starting month/year
• Upload from My Vistaprint Images, Facebook, Flickr, Picasa
• Multiple photos at same time
• Add events + public holidays
• Choice of Glossy 200 g/m² or Premium Glossy 235 g/m²
• Document Trim Size - Photo 279 x 216mm, 1650 x 1276 pixels

Vistaprint Wall Calendar Handling

Creating and uploading your calendar is all performed online via the Vistaprint website, there is no need to download and install any software. Once you have accessed the Vistaprint website and selected a Wall Calendar you need to choose a background. There are 100s to choose from as well as a number of themes.



Once you have selected your preferred background you need to upload your photos. Click Get Photos and you are given options to upload from your computer, My Vistaprint, Facebook, Flickr and Picasa. You'll need to upload 13 pictures, 1 for the cover and 1 for each month with the default layout. There are other layout options where you can have up to 6 photos on a page, so you'll need a lot more if you prefer this option. Your uploaded pictures are in a panel on the left, it's then just a matter of clicking and dragging them into position. If you've uploaded pictures that are of a low resolution, you will be warned by an orange triangle - this may be more likely if uploading from Facebook, for example.

Another option available is to include public holidays and your own events. It's easy but if you've loads of dates you want to add, it can be time consuming. The option to upload a calendar, such as from Google, may be an ideal upgrade to the service in future. When you've laid it out, you can go to each individual page, where you can edit the caption.

You can save at any point if you run out of time and want to finish off later. If you're happy, click Finish and Preview. This is your last chance to proof the calendar and tick off the approval box. If you're not already signed in, it's at this stage you'll be asked to login or create an account. You can choose how many copies you want and sign up for Vistaprint's exclusive email offers and discounts. Next, you're given one last chance to upgrade your paper to Premium Glossy.



A this point there is lots of upselling offered. Initially there are options which use your photos to create Desk Calendars, Holiday Cards, Mouse Mats and loads more (we were offered a total of 19 products). The next page gives you more recommended items and then there are offers from external partners, including an advert in The BT Phone Book for £5. Some people will find this annoying, but clearly this is how Vistaprint can offer low prices, if you don't want to purchase any further products, just click continue.



You finally reach the checkout, where you can change the quantity. You can pay by card or use PayPal. When coming to delivery options, for the Wall Calendar we were offered:

• Slow: 21 Days - £3.86
• Standard: 14 Days - £6.37
• Priority: 7 Days - £9.79
• Rush+: 3 Business Days with order tracking - £18.05
• UPS Express Saver: 2 Business Days with order tracking - £22.56

Vistaprint Wall Calendar Performance

Creating the calendar is easy, the whole process is done via your web browser. You can make a calendar in minutes if you want something simple, or you can spend as much time adding various pictures to each page, adding captions and important dates. It's certainly a bonus that you can save your work so you can come back to it later.



When the calendar dropped through the post we were extremely happy with the results. The images look great with accurate colour reproduction. There's no protective cover, but this is to be expected for the price. To mount the calendar to your wall there is a hole on each page for you to hang it from a nail.

Value for money

For our members it is extremely good value for money as it's free, you just need to pay P&P. For non-members, the normal price is £11.99, although there is currently a half price offer running. Any other postage method other than slow would make the calendar too expensive though.

Delivery

We ordered ours using the slow delivery method and it came through in exactly 21 days. Express postage is expensive, but will work out if you are placing a bulk order.

Vistaprint Wall Calendar Verdict

With the current offers available, you can get a Vistaprint Wall Calendar for cheaper than you'd pay for one of your favourite celebrity calendars from Clintons, only this one is personalised with your pictures. To keep the price down most people are bound to use the cheapest postage method, with is tediously slow. But creating and uploading your calendar is quick and easy and the final product is excellent, so we're happy to recommend the Vistaprint Wall Calendar.

The Vistaprint Wall Calendar is easy to create and the results are pleasing.

Vistaprint Wall Calendar Pros

Good value for money if you take advantage of the current offers
No software to download
Website is easy to use
Multiple ways to upload photos
Option to save your work and come back late
Good quality

Vistaprint Wall Calendar Cons

Upselling through the checkout is a little annoying
Cheapest delivery option is slow, faster methods are too expensive

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
OVERALL

Visit the Vistaprint website now to claim your free calendar!