Some POD companies
are getting better. Not those ripoff publish-your-ms outfits, I mean companies who can print/ship/track a book for you, even collect your payments and split royalties with a second author.
Lulu.com is one of the better ones. Of course, the best printer is probably Lightning Source, and they certainly are the cheapest. To use LS you had better know how to properly format for print, or it won't work. Research pays off here, plus some Adobe software.
Lulu is easier and provides more in-house services, a rating system based on paid sales, the extensive forums, free storefront (no paid premium storefront stuff here) and they have several shipping options, including FREE.
For example, at our modest press here in Seattle, when we use lulu.com to print and ship books, we can produce a six-by-nine inch paperback that retails for just under 10usd each, and THAT INCLUDES A GENEROUS ROYALTY. Lulu does practically every print format and size imaginable, at a workable price. Bulk discounts are generous. Staff is great.
On a personal note, they also pay royalties promptly. PayPal is every month, checks are quarterly, your choice.
Our favorite printer is definitely Lightning Source, though. They are good and print at wholesale rates.
Study up before you use them. They also have minimum print runs...they won't do just one copy, usually.
Do NOT go to CafePress to have a book printed. They are smaller, of lower quality and cost one cent more per page, adding say...three dollars to the cost of a three hundred page novel. They do t-shirts and mugs at CafePress very well. Books? Well...
