Saturday Morning Coffee Update 10
"Print on Demand" Printers or "We Do Whatever the Blast We Want" Printers.
A story of poor communication.
For some time now, we have been struggling with finding a reliable low-quantity printer to print our comics. To begin with, there are not many affordable options available and we have uncovered a running theme: Poor Communication.
At Ka-Blam, our first printer, we received our first proof promptly and efficiently. We ordered a second proof, of a different comic, and then blam! Communication breakdown.
Luckily, we were comparing two printers at the time. The second, ComiXpress, stepped in and handled the job wonderfully, then failed us.
More on those stories here1 and here2
Detroit Fanfare 2011 utilized ComixWellSpring, as did several of the local creators. So, we went with them for our Rose City Comic-Con 2012 print line-up.
It started with a proof of Durcig: Bible Volume 1 that was awesome. It was precisely what we expected and only required edits due to our adding more material. After a few weeks, we placed our full order, consisting of four separate books. Shortly there after, we received notification that there were problems with three of the four titles, one of them regarding the cover of Durcig. The cover was too small they said, yet the dimensions they gave were as much as three quarters of an inch bigger than the finished size. Trim is only one eighth of an inch on a side. Anyway, things were sorted, and re-uploaded.
Unexpectedly, proofs were sent out (with no notification of their shipment), and boy were we glad that they were, as only three of four were received. ZeD was left out of the set of proofs. The second Durcig proof was pocket size. And 12hour Comic Project Volume 1 was actually printed with the pages in an inside-out order. Something that might happen, especially when you do not require your clients to provide spreads.
The books were assessed, and revisions submitted in writing via email. Here is a shining plus on CWS vs the other two. They requested a phone call in order to confirm file set-up. Everything was sorted, pagination corrected, sizes noted, missing books flagged. The order shipped, once again with no indication, and three boxes, of which the sizes appeared to be able to accommodate the full order, arrived in the mail.
Three sets of books. ZeD was left out again. The call was placed, a voice mail left. we received a text message, on the day that we marked as needing the books by, that the book had been more or less overlooked, and was being taken care of.
After four days, we called for a status update, got the voice mail, and no return call. No text. Seven days after the receipt of the text message, they arrived. Thankfully in proper enough condition to sell, but I would rate them in the realm of sub-par. The trims were off in regards to the cover, an issue we had with the proofs of the other books (according to them, this was because the files were not sized/centered correctly).
So there is another PoD printer scratched off the list. Communication in this field seems terrible, and should be addressed across the industry. If others have had, continue to have, good experiences with any of these, or other, companies, feel free to reply. We aren't out to bash these folks, and it's not an individual company's issue.
These companies need to reevaluate their business conducting methods. Communication is the keystone in all relationships. Implement proper FAQs, provide your ideal print setup specs (some of us do know what we're doing, contrary to what passes as popular belief), and provide status updates. Or an option for them. Tracking numbers on the shipments at least. Yeesh.
Note: There is still RA Comics, and we plan on talking to folks in Portland to discover what local printers are available.
