Recently I enquired of a business about them doing a task related to printing for me.

As part of the enquiry I asked if proofs would be supplied.

The letter I got said that proofs could be made available, but generally only corporate customers and Bridezillas ask for them.

I had vaguely heard the term Bridezilla before, but I needed to look it up.

I have thought about this.

I remember that back in the 1960s I read a book about running a very small printing business, basically about a sole trader on his own with at one stage assistance from a young person. I had no intention of starting a printing business. The book arrived with an Adana 8 by 5 printing machine, a hand press, the machine bought for hobbyist Private Press printing, not to run a business.

One particular thing I remember from that book, and that has been influential on my attitude in relation to things nothing to do with printing, such as in advising students,  is as follows.

The author of the book suggested a scenario of a potential customer wanting a job done in a shorter time period than the business would take to do the job in the normal course of workflow.

The author said to either accept the job and do it or say that the time scale is too short and decline the job, never say that one will do it "to oblige" or "as a favour". The customer is paying to have a printing job done, the customer is not to become obliged or owing someone a favour.

So I am wondering whether referring to a customer who was being precise and trying to ensure that the job was being done to her satisfaction as a Bridezilla is being dismissive of a customer and smirking about her, as if doing a printing job for her was some sort of grudging tolerance of what is perceived as her unreasonable fussiness. I am concerned that such an attitude tends to result in sloppy work.

Using the word Bridezilla a sort of Freudian slip as to the culture of the business.

So I have regarded the reference to a Bridezilla as a red flag as to the culture of the business. Although I am not female, and not a bride, I wonder if asking a question or specifying something would be regarded as impertinence, ragarded as telling a tradesperson how do their job.

Do you agree, or have I misinterpreted the meaning?

William