Since I started on this project, to write and self publish a novel, I have been trying to find a good deal for getting it printed.
The considerations:
1) Must be done locally in Shanghai.
2) I only need 500 copies to start (a minimum run)
3) Offset printing
4) Computer to plate
Computer to plate is very important. It means the company can take a fully edited and formatted computer file and just make the printing plates from it directly. Cutting out the need for people without English as a first language to have to play with the text.
I have worked at schools who print text books here and have never come across a case where there was not mistakes. And I've never come across a case where they kept proofing and letting you check until it was perfect, for the same fee.
Maybe there is someone who can do it - but for now, I'll eliminate this possibility by going computer to plate.
Anyway, here's the scoop. After Googling a bunch of companies based here who had English sites I found all their offers to be outrageous. Although 500 is a minimum run and will be more expensive for sure. 5000 is more usual. So finally, a friend came through with this offer from a contact he has:
600 rmb for the plates (which you keep and can re-use)
As low as 15-20 rmb per book.
It's a range as I couldn't give an exact page count.
So, 500 books would be, at the 15 rate, including the plates, 8 100 RMB.
Now, through the publishing house and mainstream booksellers model that is a loss as a novel sells for around 40-50 rmb here and the bookseller and publisher usually take a massive cut. However, using the indie model you keep 100% of sale so you'd only need to sell around 200 of them to make your money back.
The search continues.
