PDF file to printer not acceptable

[samrc]

I created the product label in XARA Xtreme about a week and a half ago, sent it to the printer in pdf format, went on vacation and while I was gone, the printer contacted my boss.

Printer quoted him 6-8 hours of computer layout time PLUS the cost of the plates, etc. Said that since the file was sent to him as a PDF instead of AI he had to start from scratch. BAH HUMBUG! Printer is full of bull. I opened the PDF file in Illustrator and it came in perfectly! I told my boss and he called the bluff. Printer backed off a bit, reducing labor to only 2 hours work.

Any advice (other than change printers) for dealing with these type folks? I MUCH prefer XARA's interface to Illustrator's and would like to avoid this situation in the future and avoid working in Illustrator if possible too.