GC Cut off - well if there is no setting up cost then it is just cost per copy. If there is a set up cost there is a point where the amortised set up cost means it is cheaper to photocopy in the liburary or print on the desktop.
Setting up cost? None of the print shops I use have ever charged for that, but I have always had the magazine either photocopied or printed from a file (Quark, Publisher, PDF, etc.) All the layout is done by me before printing.
I always present the artwork in the correct size and format, so this might help. For instance, for our A5 booklet, I supply a file of A5 pages arranged in printers pairs. Early on I used to take high quality printouts of the A4 sheets (with the pages laid out in pairs) and they would run it through a photocopier printing double sided sheets.
If you are looking for some cheap printing then send the artwork to me and I'm confident that my fella will beat your previous quotes.
GC