I have an exhibit at the end of the month and at the last minute, I decided I wanted to make up some CDs with screensavers on them. I thought it would be a nice touch to print up some CD covers for the thin jewel cases and figured with them being 4.75 inches in size I could fit 2 to a page. My goal was to find the cheapest place locally to print them or possibly even print them myself. My husband and I did the math and figured it would cost us about dollar a page to print on photo paper using our home printer, with ink cartridges being so expensive these days.
We recently cashed in on the 20 free 4×6 photos Walgreens was offering so I decided to check there first. The last order I placed online was ready to be picked up in half an hour which would be really convenient in this situation. I found their price list in only a few clicks. Each 8×10 would cost $3.99. Meh, not a great idea since I want to sell the CDs for a couple bucks a piece. It would be cheaper to print them myself.
So I went to FedEx/Kinko’s site to see if I could find out how much it would cost to print up a color 8.5×11. Hmm… Nothing on the front page about print prices. So I hit the old faithful CTRL+F to bring up my browser's Find tool bar and typed the word “price” hoping it could help in my quest for the hidden information. I’m interested in sending them the file online and picking up the prints locally, so I start with the “Online Printing” page. Nothing about price there either… nor is there any information in the next 15 pages I look. Searching for the term “print” in the FAQ? Fail. After looking for a price list for over half an hour, I come to the conclusion that FedEx/Kinko’s must not WANT me to buy anything from them because while they seem to find it important to answer questions like “Where do I install Microsoft .NET Framework?” they never answer questions like “How much is a freaking color print?” So I found a phone number for the local FedEx/Kinko’s, which was my last resort. When I call they tell me it will be $.89 for each one-sided color print; if I want it on glossy it will cost $1.78.
Grrr. Why do they do it this way? The only answer I can surmise is that they give each individual store the ability to raise or lower the prices as they choose. But why make it so hard for potential customers to find out information about their product or service, something as basic as price? To this, I give an emphatic “Booo!” Get with the program, Kinko’s. There must be 5000 Walgreen stores across America, yet they can still find a way to regulate print prices.
Exploring the Infinite
FedEx/Kinko’s – The Price Hunt
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I understand your frustration. My novel completed, I have been searching for alternative printing methods to send copies to my line editors. I just wasted over an hour at the FedEx Kinko web site. The site is a dismal excuse for locating pricing information, or even information on specific printing services provided.
I would think that since Kinko’s is a chain, they would have a universal price sheet. Or, at the very least a price sheet with a disclaimer “individual store prices may vary.” Not a great way to induce new customers to use their services. Ironically, on one of their demos they state: “there are no hidden costs when sending online content to be printed.”
Best of luck with your future art exhibits. Beautiful work!
Dee-Marie
Ever tried Mimeo.com. I found this promo code online where you get $100 off your first order. go2print. Put it in when you sign up for an account. They don't have the prices upfront but it shows you the price as you create whatever your planning to print. At least you see the price along the way.
I came across this page as I myself searched for Kinko's printing prices. Oh irony.
You're right on about why they don't post prices on their main site. Trolling through cyberspace, I found quite a few entries for individual centers, and sure enough they all had different prices.
So how much does it cost to print at Kinko's? I believe the answer is, “whatever they feel people are willing to pay.”
Ahh…I thought I was the only one who noticed this, in fact, I found this by doing a Google search for the price of color prints for FedEx/Kinkos.
Kinkos lost my printing business. Don't know it would have been worth the trip, but I just used the local Officemax since Kinks couldn't be bothered to list prices.
I also found this site through my search for pricing lists! How annoying…so it seems like im looking at .89 cts a color copy!, thats ridiculous…thanks for doing the footwork.
I so agree with you…they suck for this and I'm taking my business somewhere else. Even if it will cost me more. Just b/c I hate the run around…sounds stupid I know, but it's the principle.
I have used mimeo.com too, if you go to their website you can sign up for a phone call. Someone will call you and offer to do a test print for free, Pretty cool concept I must say. I talked to a girl named Shuntreese (i doubt that is spelled right) anyway she was so much help.
*laughs* Same deal here. Top link for “Kinkos prices.” I wanted to add a comment, so that future people who find this will know what's going on. *smirks*
Kinko's doesn't advertise prices because they want to charge walk in customers a premium. And for that high price, you'll typically get very mundane service. They're hoping you're too lazy (or just don't know where) to find a better source.
Instead, look for a local, independent printing company. Many offer knowledgeable, helpful staff, real service (not self service) and much lower prices. Plus, you'll be supporting your local economy instead of a corporate behemoth.
I need a few copies too and can't find their damn prices either.
I don't know why I'd consider Kinkos anyway – my mom needed 91 pages scanned in to a .pdf and Kinkos charged her $100 for the project. I needed the same thing again, and a guy at the local Office Depot charged me $3 for the same service.
thanks so much, I just started looking for prices when I found your site. You saved me not only money but time. Going to check out Office Depot.
Like the others, I found this Website by doing a search for Kinko's prices. LOL. ('Cuz their Website is useless and I'm not wasting another minute on something I'm obviously not going to find.) I have a big project to print tomorrow and I'll be taking my business elsewhere. Thanks to those who recommended Office Max and Office Depot.
I too found this site while looking for Kinkos prices. GOOD LORD, Kinkos! Get on the ball!
Thanks for this post on Kinkos Prices. It saved me!
Thank you for the information. You saved me some time.
Like everyone else, I found this page googling for the Kinkos price list. Well… they do tell you the price but you have to go through the checkout process, which is kind of lengthy.
Here are some prices for my local Kinko's in Richmond, VA:
– 8×11, B&W, 30% Recycled Paper: 10c/page.
– 8×11, B&W, 30% Laser Paper: 12c/page.
– 8×11, Color, 30% Laser Paper: 59c/page.
There's apparently a volume discount if you print more than x copies of a page.
I just did a search and found your blog entry because I had the EXACT same problem today…and have had them in the past, too. Sometimes I think I'm going crazy! Called last night: told a regular 8.5×11 B&W print from a PDF would be 10c. Walk in to the SAME STORE today: they want 49c a page, plus they want to charge me for the time I would use on the computer to print it myself…if they printed it, I would not only have to “place an order,” but it would rise to 52c a sheet.
THE FREAKING COPIER AT THE POST OFFICE IS CHEAPER THAN THIS! Every time I go, it's the same thing. And like you, I can NEVER find the prices ANYWHERE. I was astounded.
I left and went to the Staples promptly: they did my order immediately (took like 10 minutes) AND it was 9c flat a page. Why don't I learn not to even try Kinkos?
I worked for Kinko’s as an assistant manager for many years and currently work for Alphagraphics. The reason a copy or print shop cannot provide an accurate cost list is because each copy project is unique and therefore the price varies depending on size, set-up fees, paper choice, quantity, collation needs, digital vs hardcopy, hand placement vs feeder fed, printing vs copying, number of inks used, raised ink vs flat ink, finishing needs, time frame, etc. Not all jobs can be replaced by a computer. It actually takes detailed information and some algebra to arrive at the price, which requires human interaction. On complex jobs, it may take me up to an hour just to calculate a bid. I know for those of you getting 1 or 2 simple copies, that seems weird, but most jobs are huge corporate jobs that require attention, and quite frankly, copy shops don’t make profit off the small walk in customers and thus do not cater to you. (Most corporate jobs cost thousands of dollars, while walk in jobs average a cost of $50) If the stores do put up a price list, and customers calculate a price based on incomplete or misinformation, then he or she may get angry when the price doesn’t match. And yes, prices do vary by region. Of course things cost more in New York City than they do in Mayberry. The employees in NY make more money and thus the copies cost more.
If you want an estimate, call or email and talk to a real person who will ask questions to understand your product and make suggestions you probably didn’t even think about. To avoid arriving at the store only to get a different price from a different employee who may interpret your job differently, ALWAYS ask for an Estimate Number. This does not guarantee the price you were given over the phone, but will help the employee and customer start off on the same page. Once you actually place the order, ask for the price in writing before work begins, which locks the price in.
As a guide, B&W copies start off at about $0.10.
Color copies start off at about $1.00.
$10 per square foot for large color copies.
The above price is for standard paper. The nicer/heavier the paper, the higher the cost of the copy.
The bulk of cost for small run jobs is set-up fees. Why? It takes an employee time to set-up the plates, originals, and machine, and you are paying for the employee’s time. Thus, the more copies you get, the cheaper per copy it is, because the set-up time is spread out over the cost of all the copies.
Last minute jobs seldom get discounts. Place your order a week or better before you need it.
Believe me, those places that advertise cheapo color copies online, those copies are inferior in quality.
For the record, Alphagraphics are privately owned, but the one I work for is a bit more expensive than Kinko’s for small walk in customers, but way cheaper than Kinko’s on bulk work. Our customer service rocks, so it is worth the extra money on small jobs to avoid the hassle. Kinko’s was a great place to work when privately owned, but the corporate mindset pits customers and employees against one another.
the Alphagraphics guy is correct on all counts. Kinko's, Staples, Office Depot, these places have grunts working the counter, and most of the time they are minimum wage people who don't even care about your job.
Just Remember you get what you pay for, and if it's cheap is probably not the greatest.
Customer Service is everything…or would you like to talk to an automated machine…we all know how that is!
I read with interest the above and I agree that pricing varies per job. However, standardized pricing should exist and if you don't want the small jobs price yourself out of the business or don't off it in the first place
I completely agree with the above poster. If you don't want to offer services to the smaller customer then don't try an open up stores at every single intersection. Anytime that I have used kinkos it is strictly due to an unmeetable deadline and the fact that they are open 24 hours. Usually, I just go to staples as their pricing is a lot better and they are willing to print something without a 24 hour wait. (I needed an 18×24 printed and even though there was no print on the plotter and I had already set the job, they told me it would be 24 hours just for them to click print. I went to staples, it was printed on photo paper from the same machine for about 10 bucks in about 30 mins.)
For anyone looking to print a book or portfolio, I strongly suggest looking at http://www.blurb.com or http://www.lulu.com. Either way, I found this thread by trying to see if kinkos gives a price sheet for 8.5×11 color prints. Although I agree with the print shop worker, standard pricing for standard pages shouldn't be so hard to make available.
Totally agree with the majority sentiment here. Nary a whiff about pricing anywhere on the Kinkos website. What cheesy customer service. On to the competition…
Google led me here because I was looking for kinko's prices too 😉
I may check out office depot. Thanks for the heads-up, other frustrated non-customers!
Well, thanks to your site, our church will be taking its business to either OfficeMax or Office Depot. I'm really disappointed in the fact that Kinko's doesn't have standard/basic pricing available online. I was even trying to find out how much it costs to copy my OWN items at Kinko's, myself. Nothing.
Sounds like everyone here pretty much agrees that the other two competitors are the best bet for your money.
Thank you everyone, for saving me from yet another internet search headache!
THANK YOU for this page. I spent 15 minutes looking for pricing and then a phone number and getting FedEx, no local #'s lsited. I then remembered why I HATE Kinkos so I am going elsewhere.
Thanks y'all!
I'll be heading to Office Depot and Office Max (they're across from each other) to see who understands best what I want and gives me the better deal!
I'm going to offer a different perspective, everyone!
My boyfriend is an opera singer who recently graduated from Westminster Choir College. For this, he needed to perform a senior recital. He went to Staples for his programs. He had purchased specific paper he wanted the programs printed on, made a mock-up of the programs, and explained exactly what he wanted.
First, they messed up. Fine, alright, it happens. Then they call and say, about four days after they initially messed up the job, that they ran out of the paper that he brought, and would he mind them using standard cardstock? He pitches a fit because 1) The paper was a certain color that corresponded to the song cycle he was singing and 2) They had promised the programs to be finished the day before, and he was due to leave for Princeton the next morning for his dress rehearsal.
They promise to run to other stores and get more paper, and have the programs ready at 8 the next morning. He goes at 8 and they keep him waiting till 930. The printing quality was low, they were late, and they messed up an incredibly simple job.
And worst of all? They charged him full price and never offered any type of apology.
As I was in my local kinkos (49c per color copy, btw) I was talking with one of the clerks about this experiecne, and she was horrified. She said they would have only charged what it cost them to print the programs, apologized profusely, and most of all had it done on time.
I go to Kinkos mostly to make prints of my art work. They have a very high quality color copier and the people working there always, always help me figure out the sizing, reducing, and cost of my project. They have always been extremely helpful and never seemed annoyed at my endless question asking.
Last time I went, the price I was quoted was 49c per color copy. As I was copying, I noticed the price was nearly four times that much. I took my slip up to the counted at the end and they immediately fixed the problem. In addition to this, they will always credit me for any pages I don't want due to the images not lining up or fitting correctly, or any images I make while trying to figure out the coloring.
I love Kinkos. Yes, it's a pain to not know the exact price but, jeeze, how do you think people lived without the internet 20 years ago? They called, or went in and asked. It's not that big of a deal, when you think about it.
You think Office Depot actually made any money from that? Businesses are in business to make money. I know my multi-function copier/fax/scanner, which will do 91 pages in about 90 seconds, cost me close to $30,000, and theirs probably cost them half of that, at least. So charging you $3 for that job is ridiculously low. It would have taken you an hour on any cheapo scanner you use at home.
lol same. i'm so annoyed right now
I work for a non-profit arts org, and we do small and mid-sized runs all of the time through OvernightPrints.Com, PrintKeg.Com (we use this for posters), and PsPrint.Com (for larger runs or for CD case inserts etc.).
The quality is quite good and very affordable.
Best of Luck!!
I have worked through mimeo now for a few years and highly recommend them to anyone!! Kinko's is a waste of time and the only reason I as just looking for prices now is to make sure I can show just how much money we will save to implement mimeo at my new company.
Thanks a lot for sharing this nice article. I appreciate this. Please keep it up. I like this comment very much””I like Kinkos. Yes, it's a pain to not know the exact price but, jeeze, how do you think people lived without the internet 20 years ago? They called, or went in and asked. It's not that big of a deal, when you think about it.””