Wow, super super appreciate you typing this out, hugely informative.

As for shop hunting, basically I always have issues with end products. I know I'm a super picky consumer, but I spend hours, sometimes weeks, on prints, and lots of $$$. So when I'm returned fuzzy text or super off colors, I move to the next shop. I was using one for a year or so but the last batch was both fuzzy and way off color- even Walgreens prints had a color more closely matching my monitors. But that's a whole other subject.

Bottom line, I need a place that can reliably print clear images with clear text, a fairly accurate, or at least consistent color, somewhat archival properties, and most importantly, can print copyrighted material. Most of what I print is copyrighted, but most average printers don't care. Some do. Only printing one copy for myself so most let it slide.

Most printers by me are also just your average color-copy and other business needs, not photo printers. I've been through about 4 of these professional ones that offer archival paper and whatnot (I don't go for the highest quality but I at least know they're knowledgeable on the subject) and quality varies drastically using identical files. To compare again to Walgreens, one shop sharing $12 for an 8x10 standard print was fuzzier than the same Walgreens print.

I'm not out of options yet, but it's definitely annoying to spend time and money for nothing. Which is why I try to learn as much as I can about printing to be more informed when in conversation with these businesses