Print editions now available for every zine
All of Julia Evans' zines are now available in print. After releasing the first four zines as print editions in June, the full catalog is now available to order. The timing is deliberate: orders placed now should arrive well before the holidays.
Orders are open now through October 12. Print editions ship around November 5, in time for Christmas delivery. Full logistics are covered in the Preorders FAQ on the store site.
Why a preorder model?
The preorder system solves a simple inventory problem: it lets the publisher know exactly how many copies to print. Running an open preorder avoids the risk of underestimating demand and leaving buyers empty-handed.
Print quality and fulfillment
The zines are printed by Girlie Press, the same company used for the June batch. Buyers who received that first run praised the paper quality and printing on social media.
Shipping is managed by White Squirrel, a small Seattle-area company that handles fulfillment for artists. They've handled the logistics for the last four months.
Free shipping is available on US orders over $30 and international orders over $50.
Pricing and discounts
Anyone who already bought the PDF version of a zine can use the PDFBUYER code at checkout for 50% off the print edition. The code requires using the same email address used for the original PDF purchase. Problems can be sent to [email protected].
Print orders include the PDF version as well. A download link is sent with the order confirmation, so digital copies are available immediately even while print editions are still being produced.
Bulk orders for teams qualify for a 20% discount on orders over $300 with the code TEAMZINES.
Free zines in print
The store doesn't list print versions of the free zines such as "Networking! ACK!" or "So you want to be a wizard." Those are available through the "Your Linux Toolbox" box set, which bundles the first seven zines in a printed collection. Orders for that set can be placed through links on the Wizard Zines blog. The box set is priced much lower than the other print zines because it generates almost no margin, but it's the only way to get those titles in physical form. Similar box sets for the newer zines aren't possible yet, as no print partner has been found for that format.
Why domestic printing and shipping make sense
The author initially considered printing in China, the common choice for publishers looking to cut costs. Instead, the operation keeps both printing (Girlie Press) and fulfillment (White Squirrel) in the same region near Seattle. That decision costs more but brings two practical benefits:
- Much faster turnaround. New print runs can be requested, printed, and sent to the warehouse quickly. Even with a preorder structure, buyers don't wait long for their zines.
- Fewer rigid logistics problems. A large fulfillment company that was under consideration required individual barcodes on every sticker and warned against shrink-wrapping, out of fear that 500 stickers might be treated as one item and shipped to a single customer. Smaller operations are less prone to that kind of failure.
