Now let’s look at costs: Here are prices from a recent actual quote for hardcover books using the specs above from one of the larger book manufacturers:
Quantity Cost Cost/Unit
5,000 $10,689 2.17
7,500 $14,255 1.90
10,000 $17,817 1.78
Additional 1000s $1,426 1.43
Not familiar with the concept of additional 1000s? Say you order 5,000 books. Book manufacturers allow for production waste. If they only produce 5,000 jackets and one is torn during the process… the order is short and they have to go back to press, a manufacturing fate worse than death.
To allow for normal waste and also for variation in the manufacturing process, most quote jobs on a percentage over/under basis. For example, if you want 5,000 books your contract may be for 5,000 +/- 10%. Delivery of any quantity between 4,500 and 5,500 is considered acceptable.
If the manufacturer keeps waste down and delivers 5,400 books, great—you’ll be charged for all of them. If they experience excessive run waste and only deliver 4,700, they don’t have to go back to press but also can only charge for 4,700 units. (For the manufacturer, not so great)
You can tighten the over/under spread if you like. For example, you could contract for 5,000 + 5% over and no unders. That means you won’t accept anything less than 5,000. Just know your price per unit may go up slightly since the manufacturer will probably increase waste allowances to compensate for the risk of missing the mark.
So with all that said, additional 1000s is the price you pay for overs. If you order 5,000 books you’ll be charged $2.17 for the first 5,000 and $1.43 for any books over that amount (up to the maximum quantity allowed.)
In case you're interested in the difference between hardcover and softcover prices, here are the numbers for softcover books using the same basic specs as above:
Quantity Cost Cost/Unit
5,000 $7,372 1.47
7,500 $9,531 1.27
10,000 $11,690 1.17
Additional 1000s $863 .86
Softcover books are obviously cheaper: Less materials, less processes.
