Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: ASI Membership

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Ashland, Wisconsin
    Posts
    527

    ASI Membership

    I know some of you have storefront operations. Do any of you belong to ASI, past or present? I have always considered it but the cost was a little much. I'm going to try a 90 day free trial just to check it out. I'm curious of any of you have any experience with them, good or bad. Has some perks like a 45% discount on UPS service which might come in handy.

    Any feedback always appreciated.

    Jeff in northern Wisconsin
    SawmillCreek.org
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    45W Epilog Helix
    Corel X4, Photoshop CS3
    Sherline 4400 lathe
    JET 1221 Lathe
    JET 1014 Lathe
    Craftman 36" VS lathe

  2. #2
    I haven't joined ASI (they keep trying) it's too expensive for what I need. There are a few others out there, Sage and a couple
    others. There is a free on can't recall the name right now.

    The thing ASI is great for is searching products an samples. They have a great search engine. I have found in today's economy
    many ASI vendors will sell to you as long as you have a tax ID number. I buy blanks from a few as they have a different
    selection of products than the standard awards ind stuff and sometimes they are cheaper.

    If you don't know the pricing code do a google seach an you'll find it. That's one thing I wish our industry had then we wouldn't
    need a seperate pricing guide with the catalog.

    If you have a good market for "ad specialty" products I would give them a good look. If not the vendors are good for blank products!
    Martin Boekers

    1 - Epilog Radius 25watt laser 1998
    1 - Epilog Legend EXT36 75watt laser 2005
    1 - Epilog Legend EXT36 75watt laser 2007
    1 - Epilog Fusion M2 32 120watt laser with camera 2015
    2 - Geo Knight K20S 16x20 Heat Press
    Geo Knight K Mug Press,
    Ricoh GX-7000 Dye Sub Printer
    Zerox Phaser 6360 Laser Printer
    numerous other tools and implements
    of distruction/distraction!

  3. #3
    How expensive is the membership? For the UPS savings it may pay for itself with enough shipping, but then again I don't know the cost lol

    Martin- What all vendors are there? I have been trying to find decent ones ever since I bought my laser, before that I just made my own glass blanks and sandblasted them. My previous method ate up a lot of time but I saved a ton on my blanks and had never before seen designs.

  4. #4
    Braden, What type of products are you looking for? There are hundreds of ASI vendors. You sound like you may already
    be beyond us if you are casting glass blanks. I buy acrylic sheets from Delvies and black acrylic bases fro Huang Acrilics.
    I design and cut the sheet the cut a slot in the base and epoxy.

    If you are looking for standard vendors check these out, Engraver's Journal has online magazine and a vendor listing page.
    Most laser engraving (Epilog, ULS etc) has a listing page also.

    I have added these guys for clocks as the have a nice selection at reasonable prices;

    www.tpi2000.com/
    Martin Boekers

    1 - Epilog Radius 25watt laser 1998
    1 - Epilog Legend EXT36 75watt laser 2005
    1 - Epilog Legend EXT36 75watt laser 2007
    1 - Epilog Fusion M2 32 120watt laser with camera 2015
    2 - Geo Knight K20S 16x20 Heat Press
    Geo Knight K Mug Press,
    Ricoh GX-7000 Dye Sub Printer
    Zerox Phaser 6360 Laser Printer
    numerous other tools and implements
    of distruction/distraction!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Gig Harbor, WA
    Posts
    1,157
    I have bought from www.swedausa.com they do give discounts to those in the industry with a business lic#. Rep stops by every year on his rounds, as do the JDS and PDU reps


    I buy the products that I use "blank" and engrave myself... They sell just above wholesale.
    Last edited by Mark Sipes; 02-10-2012 at 12:55 PM.
    Mark
    In the Great Northwest!

    Trotec Speedy C25, Newing-Hall 350 (AMC I & HPGL), NH-CG-30 (Carbide Cutter Sharpener)
    Sawgrass 400 Gel Ink Printer, CS5, 5/9/x6 CorelDraw

  6. #6
    You can join ASI as a "Decorator" for $50 a month...most people pay more than that for their cell phones.

    Neal

  7. #7
    Martin, the free one you are thinking of is Distributor Central.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Henderson, KY
    Posts
    66
    Jeff,
    I was a member of ASI for 3 years, I did not feel it paid for itself. I am now a member of PPAI, much more affordable, with better services, as far as I am concerned. Take a look. Sage is actually easier to search than ASI's service.

    Just my 2 cents.

    Dave
    BrightStar 60 watt laser, Roland Print & Cut
    Screen Printing, Embroidery, Signs, Pad Printing

    "Quality is remembered, long after price is forgotten"

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Ashland, Wisconsin
    Posts
    527
    Thanks for the info. I got a deal through the company I got my laser from. 90 days free, after that it's $40 / month. The UPS discount is certainly worth part of that. I'm going to get a detailed indoctrination on a phone/web connection next week. I'm not sure how it will be but this time of year, I've got the time. (winter in northern Wisconsin isn't ral busy)

    Jeff in northern Wisconsin
    SawmillCreek.org
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    45W Epilog Helix
    Corel X4, Photoshop CS3
    Sherline 4400 lathe
    JET 1221 Lathe
    JET 1014 Lathe
    Craftman 36" VS lathe

  10. #10
    You'd better verify the UPS discount. Sounds way too high for a long term offer.

    If you want to jump into the promotional products business with both feet then ASI may make sense for you. I've been in business for 15 years and never wanted to get into that aspect of the business. Promotional Products people are out pounding the pavement 5 days a week. Keep in mind that 99% of their products are marked by the supplier.

    There is always somebody around who will sell what you want without joining an expensive organization.
    Last edited by Mike Null; 02-11-2012 at 10:32 AM.
    Mike Null

    St. Louis Laser, Inc.

    Trotec Speedy 300, 80 watt
    Gravograph IS400
    Woodworking shop CLTT and Laser Sublimation
    Dye Sublimation
    CorelDraw X5, X7

  11. #11
    Mike is right on Promo Products. A bigger buy no longer exists (the US Gov) they can't use promo products right now.
    Many ASI will sell to you. Go to an ASI show sometime it's pretty interesting.

    I just have a hard time spending $600 for this "membership" I figure I have to sell at Least $1500 a year to make the
    profit that goes to membership costs.

    I would rather be running current software at the same cost as That pays for itself quickly and I use it everyday.
    Some business have a client base that Promo Prods are a natural, so yes it may be a good investment for some,
    but you have to get a fair amount of business to offset the investment.
    Martin Boekers

    1 - Epilog Radius 25watt laser 1998
    1 - Epilog Legend EXT36 75watt laser 2005
    1 - Epilog Legend EXT36 75watt laser 2007
    1 - Epilog Fusion M2 32 120watt laser with camera 2015
    2 - Geo Knight K20S 16x20 Heat Press
    Geo Knight K Mug Press,
    Ricoh GX-7000 Dye Sub Printer
    Zerox Phaser 6360 Laser Printer
    numerous other tools and implements
    of distruction/distraction!

  12. #12
    ASI is too expensive for what they provide. PPAI is a better choice. Lower membership cost. You can sign up for a UPIC number or name for no charge. Some ASI suppliers will not sell to you if you are not in ASI. Most suppliers that are not affiliated with ASI will sell to you if you have a PPAI number or a UPIC number or name. PPAI also seemed to be more distributor friendly. We owned a Promotional products business for years and never ran into a situation where we absolutely needed an ASI item.


  13. #13
    Give www.distributorcentral.com a try. It is free.
    Laser Products Direct
    Jerry Hewett
    GCC SpiritGX 40W
    EngraveLab Laser
    PhotoGrav
    CorelDraw X3
    Metalphoto Converter
    Brother GT-541 Garment Printer
    Epson Stylus Pro Printer 9700 (44")

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •