Book printing for beginners, the questions I wish I'd asked before my first run

Just finished my first print run and I want to share the questions I wish I'd asked the printer before sending my files, because every single one of these caught me by surprise during the process and I think they'd be useful to other first-time authors.

Questions about pricing and quotes.

What does free shipping cover exactly. Some printers offer free shipping over a quantity threshold, some over a dollar threshold, some only to certain regions, some only ground shipping.

Are proofs included in the per-unit quote or are they an additional line item. Most printers separate this out, you pay for proofs separately, but the website pricing doesn't always make this clear.

What's the cost of a single file fix after I submit. Some printers do small fixes for free, some charge $25-50 per fix, some require a full re-quote.

Questions about turnaround.

What's the production timeline from file approval, not from order placement. The difference matters because file approval can sit for a few days at the printer before they actually start production.

Is shipping time included in the quoted turnaround or additional. Same gotcha as the previous question, the "10 day turnaround" sometimes means production and sometimes means production plus shipping.

What's the rush option if I miss a date. Some printers have rush capacity, some don't, the time to find out is before you have a launch deadline.

Questions about quality and options.

What's your standard paper for a paperback and what other options exist. Most printers default to a specific paper, you might prefer something different but you have to ask.

Can I get a sample of the paper before committing to a print run. Some printers will send you samples for free or for nominal cost.

What's the cover lamination spec. Matte vs gloss matters but so does the lamination film weight, which most printers don't advertise but affects how the cover ages and feels.

Questions about service.

Who's my point of contact if something goes wrong. Some printers have account managers, some are pure self-serve, some bury support behind ticket queues.

How do reorders work. Do you keep my files, do I pay setup again, what's the turnaround on a repeat order.

For anyone else starting their first print run, ask all of these before you commit. Each one is a potential gotcha that's easier to handle by asking up front than discovering in the middle of production.