Start with the job the print has to do.
A business card for a handwritten appointment needs different qualities from a display card that sits untouched on a shelf. Before scoring, write down the intended use. Choose a few criteria that matter to that use and leave the others untested. A beautiful sample is not automatically the right choice for your project.
Make the comparison fair.
Compare samples at the same time, under the same light, and at the distance at which people will read them. If the artwork differs, separate what you can judge about the material from what the design contributes. A sample with large dark lettering cannot establish how tiny pale lettering will look on the same stock.
Use a spare sample for pen or handling tests. Record the pen, surface and conditions alongside your observations. A quick test is evidence about that sample in those conditions; it does not establish a general resistance or durability rating. For an outdoor or frequently handled piece, ask for the relevant material specification and test the actual application.
Take a useful question into production.
Instead of “I like sample B,” write “sample B was easiest to read and accepted the pen we use, but we still need to confirm the final thickness and availability.” Keep the sample name and your artwork version together. A preprinted sample helps compare materials; a proof of your own design answers a different question.
This free worksheet records your observations. It does not request a sample, place an order or certify a material. Once you have a direction, explore business card formats and prepare an artwork handoff checklist for the next review.