Vendor raised prices - still worth it?

Inflation affects everything. Surprised prices stayed stable this long honestly.

Just wanted to chime in on the price increase discussion. I've been ordering from this vendor for a while now, so when I saw the new prices I was a bit hesitant at first. But I decided to pull the trigger anyway because they've always been reliable. Honestly, I'm glad I did. Here's my full breakdown.

Ordering Timeline
Placed my order on a Tuesday evening, got the payment confirmed within like a couple of hours. The vendor shipped it out the next morning. Domestic shipping took about 4 business days to land in my mailbox, so total turnaround from order to arrival was just under a week. That's pretty standard for them – they've never been super fast, but they're consistent.

Packaging Stealth Details
Came in a plain, unbranded bubble mailer with a nondescript return address that just looked like a small biz sending documents. Inside, the actual product was wrapped in a layer of black foam and then sealed inside a Mylar bag – no smells, no rattling. There was also a secondary inner envelope that looked like a standard greeting card, which kinda added another layer of plausible deniability. No customs declaration that raised any eyebrows, and the whole thing felt very low key.

Communication Speed
I had a quick question about the new pricing structure before ordering, shot them an email through the contact form on their site. Got a reply within a few hours – polite, direct, and they confirmed the quality improvements they'd been making. During the order process, I also got an automated confirmation and a tracking number update. No issues with ghosting or slow responses at all.

VFM Rating
With the price bump, honestly I'd put it around a solid 8/10 for value. The old prices were a steal, but the new quality really does justify the increase. The details are sharper, the materials feel more durable, and the overall finish is noticeably cleaner than my previous orders from them. If the quality stays this consistent, I'll keep buying even at the higher price point. It's still cheaper than some other options I've tried, and the reliability is hard to beat.

Specific Pros and Cons
Pros: The raised price comes with genuinely improved print quality – much better color matching and less blur around edges. The template work feels tighter, and the lamination seems thicker and more scratch-resistant. Customer service was responsive even during a busy period, and packaging was discreet without being overkill.
Cons: Obviously the price hike itself, but that's not a dealbreaker given the improvements. Also, their shipping time hasn't sped up any – still taking that 4-5 day window, which can be a bit nerve-wracking if you're on a deadline. Another minor downside: the new material feels slightly heavier, which might be a plus or minus depending on your use case. For me, it's fine.

Overall, if you were on the fence because of the price change, I'd say go for it. The quality improvements are real and they make the product feel much more premium. Just plan ahead for the shipping time and you'll be good.

15% is noticeable but if the product improved it tracks.

Which vendor? Want to compare to my current source.