ISBN number

[G.G.]

I have a few questions about ISBN...
1- does it matter where you buy it? I have seen places on the internet who sells them for 50$ while other places like this one http://www.epubbud.com/isbn.php?gclid...
only ask for 9$

2- When you buy one, since you need one for Ebook and one for Printed book, is it better to buy two at once?

3- If you go with CreateSpace/Amazon, where they offer theirs, can you decline them and use your own instead?

4- Sometimes I seen books here with a choice to check the book in different stores but the number set for the book gives a 'do not match any number' at amazon.com. What causes that?

Well I think that's all I have FOR NOW :P
Thank you for any input you may have.

[Dante]

ISBNS are licensed by an international organization. Each country has a single location to buy ISBNs. In the US it is Bowker. There website is https://www.myidentifiers.com/ When I bought mine I found that it was cheaper to buy them in bulk than it was to buy them one at a time. If you want the full low down on them check out this site. http://www.isbn-international.org/

[Tara]

Hey Ginette!
Saw your post. Thought I'd put my two cents in. I could be wrong or not know everything though.. It's been known to happen. LOL!

1. If you're going to purchase ISBNs, I would stick with Bowker. https://www.myidentifiers.com/isbn/main

2. & 3. This is what I do. Not sure what others would recommend. - I use the free ISBN from KDP/Amazon. It still allows you to put in whatever name of the "publisher" you want. For Createspace, in the past I've used the Free one. Going forward, I will purchase the $10 option allowing me to put in my own Publisher name.
*If you are going to purchase ISBNs, then yes, you do need a separate ISBN for each platform.

4. If a book doesn't connect to the store, then the author or librarians did not add the additional editions. You have to add the edition with the ISBN for each place it's sold. Look on a book's page at the top right and you will see a place for other editions.

Anyway, I hope this helps. Again, if someone has more or different info., I'd love to hear it too.

-Tara :)

[G.G.]

Thanks Dante for the web address for ISBN. It sure makes more sense to buy 10 for the price of two...

And thank you Tara for the details! :)
I had read somewhere that it was better to buy your own ISBN but I can't really see why, so I think I will skip the expense after all and go with the free ones. Why not take advantage of their offer? Since Smashwords works just the same as Amazon on that regard there is no need to mess with it.

[Clarissa]

Just a thing to consider as well, ISBN's are not required to publish a book :) you're not 'obliged' to get one.