There is one printer I have done a lot of business with -- put through as much as $50,000 worth a year. But policy changes and little things are ticking me off lately -- the nickel and dime stuff.
When electronic files are uploaded to a printer, they go into what is called preflight. What happens there is the printer's techie guys go over the electronic files with a fine-tooth comb to ensure they are kosher for print. What has happened until about eight months ago (and every other printer I work with does this now), is if there are issues in preflight, such as fonts, image resolutions, trim marks, and things that impact a layout, the printer will contact me and/or the graphic designer to advise of the issue that needs to be fixed before the book can proceed. Then the designer would fix them and the files stay in preflight until those issues are fixed. Once the files leave preflight, that's when a proof is generated.
Not so anymore with this printer. They don't tell you what's wrong with the file until AFTER the proof is generated now. What that means is, if something needs to be fixed that affects the entire layout, that means you fix them, and then will likely need a new proof. $$$ extra as a result.
Another "little thing" that has recently come to my attention is when you need a copy of the print files after press. When a proof is generated and changes are needed, you upload the individual pages that are affected instead of a whole new file. Then the printer inserts the corrected pages. So what happens is when the book is printed, the corrections may not be in the final "to print" PDF that is sent to the author (and me), and if the designer is unreachable and you need the files for another printing, you can usually get them from the printer. Not a problem with three large book printers I use -- one of them in the United States. They gave me files last week without any questions asked. They sent me a link and a password for the FTP site and I downloaded the files easily. No charge.
Not so with this other printer. They want to charge me $50 for the privilege of downloading an electronic file -- a file that is probably never moved from its location, citing that it's the cost of labor for retrieving the files. Not a lot of money, but combine that with the new preflight policy and a couple other things and I'm feeling nickel and dimed to death. Combine all those nickels and you're looking between $50 to $800. They will not budge on their policies. However, while they do exceptional work and there is never usually many issues with delivery, I do have to think about using the other printers more.
Although, I did have one issue post delivery on a book with this printer. A strange one that I really can't go back and have the bill adjusted for. Sporadic books in a delivery of 2,000 books have two signatures missing. That's 16 pages. It's so sporadic that some boxes have no books affected, some have one to eight books affected. That means checking every single book in every single box. Not going to happen. I check the books as I move to the next box. So because I don't have time to sift through the pages of 2000 books, I know it's no use in asking for a refund on the spoiled books until I open that last box. By then, they'll say the statute of limitation is up for sure.
I'll still use this printer because they do good reputable work, but the more I'm nickel and dimed, the more ticked off I get and the more I start spreading the "love" by uploading projects to other equally capable printers.
Labels: book publishing, Debbie Elicksen, layout and design, printers
