What website can print this book for me?

October 11, 2008 3:19 PM

What online printing service could cheaply and quickly print a PDF document to paper, slap it in a 3-ring binder, and send it to me?

The document is roughly 200 pages. I want to have printed document in my hand in no more than 7 days, and I really don't want to pay an arm and leg for it. What are my options?

posted by ThePinkSuperhero to shopping (10 comments total)

FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko's) does this, I believe.
posted by amro at 3:27 PM on October 11, 2008

Link
posted by amro at 3:28 PM on October 11, 2008

One more thing: if you have a rough idea of the cost, that would be helpful. Document is black and white.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 3:31 PM on October 11, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I'm pretty sure FedEx just charges whatever they would charge for copying and collating in their store, plus the cost of shipping.
posted by amro at 3:33 PM on October 11, 2008

FedEx Kinkos does this. It would probably be a little cheaper for you to have the job sent to your closest store to pick up (it may also be cheaper still to just have it printed on 3-hole punch paper and put it into a 3-ring binder you buy at a drug store). You could also use the services of Office Max or Office Depot for that type of thing, but I don't think the mail option would be as available.

The websites won't have prices, but call your neighborhood Kinkos and they'll give you an idea of the price.
posted by birdherder at 3:35 PM on October 11, 2008

Just about any print shop should be able to do this. What you describe (except for the part about delivering it to you) is as basic as plain old photocopying these days for the printing business.

If there's a Staples or Office Max, etc. near you, they should have it ready in a matter of hours, for the regular photocopying cost plus the price of the binder. I haven't asked them to deliver but I'd be surprised if they wouldn't (and you've got the whole 7 days to pick it up). Otherwise, check the yellow pages (better yet, the local community version) for a local print shop that has lists a web site address in the ad.
posted by winston at 4:30 PM on October 11, 2008

FedEx Kinkos has a website where you can upload your PDF, specify how its printed, bound, where you want to pick it up or have it sent, and how much it will cost you. I have used this service several times. If you don't have any odd-size paper or color requirements, the cost is usually just a little higher than reasonable, but not high enough to not have them do it. If you have oversize prints or color... the price can skyrocket quickly. Each time I've used the service, I've been pleased with the results. I've had multiple copies of 400+ page PDF printed and ring bound (reasonably priced), and color copies of 11x17 spiral bound (OUCH!). All were ready for pickup in less than 24 hours from the time I placed the order online.
posted by taubman at 5:09 PM on October 11, 2008

You may also check with local legal services companies. They do this sort of thing on a regular basis.
posted by Pants! at 7:50 PM on October 11, 2008

Both FedEx Kinkos and Sir Speedy do this. Contact the one closest to you, ask for them to give you an estimate for printing and binding into a 3-ring binder (or just to print to 3-hole drilled paper, and you buy your own binder), and then ask if they offer local delivery. If they don't, then you can get them to ship it to you.

It should be fairly reasonably priced since it's not in color. I just did a job of 200 copies of 70 double-sided pages for $600, which works out to about 8.50/200 pages. It probably would at least double in price without the volume discount, but I'd say you could do it for under $20 or so.
posted by gemmy at 9:28 PM on October 11, 2008

I would definitely recommend FedEx Office Print Online. I use it all the time. There are probably a zillion locations in NYC. The website will actually calculate the price for you before you click "submit." This is a pretty easy job for them, they should be able to turn it around in 24 hours. I would suggest, as other have, to get the binder separately and just put the punched (drilled, actually) pages in that.
posted by radioamy at 11:28 PM on October 11, 2008