Background Information for Students #

Background information for students who are interested in what goes on behind the scenes.

Script Prices #

or: “Why does a script cost as much as it does?”

The price of our scripts depends on various factors such as paper costs, maintenance costs, printer wages, depreciations, machine leasing, etc.

One of the largest cost factors are our machines. These machines have a certain depreciation time (approximately 10-20 years), after which they become outdated or broken. As a result, the wear and tear of the machines is included in the script price. Additionally, leasing costs for the printing machine are incurred. Combined, these factors make up around 50% of the costs.

Another major cost factor is paper. Although we purchase paper from a cheap paper supplier with good discounts, it still accounts for a good 25% of the cost.

The remaining 25% is almost evenly distributed among printing wages, wear and tear materials, maintenance costs and risk surcharge (for miscalculations, misprints, etc.).

For bound scripts, costs for binding also apply.

Finally, some good news: since the scripts are subsidized by the CIT, we are able to offer them at a particularly low price.

Delays #

or: “Ugh… I need my communication technology script now!!! These lazy printers…”

Wait, that’s not true! We script writers and printers enjoy our job. However, sometimes there are problems such as errors in the script request process, hardware malfunctions, or simply not having enough staff available.

Sometimes the departments also fail to submit their templates for the scripts by the deadline, which is about 5-6 weeks before the semester begins. We try our best to complete these sometimes three or more weeks delayed scripts by the beginning of the semester, but even we script writers and printers can’t work miracles.

There have also been instances where repairs were needed in the middle of the printing process, requiring parts to be ordered and causing several days of downtime. Knowing our luck, this always happens when time is running out.

In short, there are many factors that can cause a delay. However, in our many years of experience we have developed mechanisms that minimize delays to a minimum.

Timetables #

or: “Why can’t I get my script now!!!”

We are all volunteer students who attend lectures, study, and take exams. And sometimes we even allow ourselves to take a few days off.

During the lecture period, we have two selling sessions a week, often with evening sessions (which we specially arrange for the busiest students). Each regular sale requires at least two student representatives as sellers, so we already spend over a hundred hours just selling in one semester!

As a result, we cannot and will not make more sales sessions during the semester. On days with a lot of traffic (beginning of the semester, old exams), we also have extra sales and usually for longer than the regular half-hour period - often double or triple the time.

If a script runs out during the lecture period, we will print it immediately. However, this takes at least a day, if not longer - especially at the beginning of the semester when many scripts run out simultaneously.

We are not operating during the semester break for simple reasons: we also want to successfully complete our exams! Additionally, there is relatively little traffic during this time. However, since each sales session, no matter how small or large, requires the same effort from us and especially from our financial manager (who has to do everything alone and is already overworked), you must give us very good reasons as to why you couldn’t make it to nearly 50 sales sessions. Therefore, for accounting reasons, sales are not made at certain times - the financial manager has already accounted for the day or week.

You should not expect an extra print during the breaks since it is unfortunately very expensive for a single script. If a script runs out, it is unfortunately out.