Book Printers


Who’s your favorite book printer? Why? How do they rate for quality versus price, for instance? Customer service? Integrity? Turnaround flexibility? Tech knowhow?

We’re moving on from our previous “regular” printer, United Graphics, to hopefully greener pastures. Instead of having a favorite we default to, we want to cover more territory. Googling “book printer” or “book printing” produces thousands of results, however, and they aren’t listed by quality. We have worked with others, only a few listed in the first couple of pages of Google’s results, but want to know your thoughts. Collectively, we have much greater knowledge and experience.

Are any of you interested in helping to create a database here at Foreword specifically listing book printers?

This database would be a searchable list of book printers. It would be populated using an online form open to any visitor to the site (i.e. no registration, memberships, etc.). Fields would be available for at least:

Printer name
Printer web address
Your Customer Service Rep email address/phone
Is rep at plant? (yes/no)
How recent is your experience? (0-6mos, 6mos-1yr, more than 1 yr)
Does the printer only work with books? (yes/no)

Rate the following. (1-10, one being avoid, five average, ten outstanding)
Quality of paper stocks
Quality of bindings
Shipping quality
Overall quality
Customer service knowledge
Customer service availibility
Tech department availibility, if necessary
Customer service overall
Integrity (i.e. does what they say match what they do)
Turnaround time
Ability to meet deadlines
Tech knowhow
Use of latest (newest) graphics programs

Misc:
FTP availbility (yes/no)
PDF workflow (yes/no)
Digital proofs (yes/no)
Direct-to-plate (yes/no)

The form would require a valid email address in case of problems or questions, but that would not (ever) be part of the online report. (Right? Or should it auto-publish? I’d like to avoid spam. Trolls, too.) And, of course, the form would have a field for comments.

Suggestions, questions, ideas all welcome — comment away.


TrackBacks: 0

Posted by Giles, Thursday, October 7, 2004, at 6:52 PM.
Posted to Book printers

Comments:

Personally, I really love this idea. Thanks Giles!

Amanda , October 8, 2004 5:05 AM (#)

have recently retired to Victoria and would like to pick up some pin money by typesetting, if you feel I could assist please either email me at doak@telus.net or telephone at 250-370-7646

Software I can use - Adobe Page Maker, Adobe Photoshop Image Ready, MS package, Corel Draw

I have PDF for Press export capability

Thanks, Sheila Doak

Sheila Doak , October 12, 2004 5:02 PM (#)

Add to the discussion.

Note: Foreword uses comment moderation to help combat spam. Sign in to receive "trusted commenter" status and have your comments approved immediately. Otherwise, until your comment is reviewed, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for your understanding.


Top of page