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Ingram Spark, Createspace, Print and fulfilment
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I think it depends where you are.If you are selling a lot of print books or expect to in the USA then Createsapce is probably best because Amazon make Ingramspark's access to their site a bit difficult.
If you are looking for sales in the UK or Australia and New Zealand then Ingramspark works out cheapest as far a posting your books to you and their distribution is better.
Thanks P.D.R. I was asking about the create space e store. It appears to pay more royalties than amazon as a distribution point.Pauline
Luke wrote: "Trying to get my debut self published novel out to the UK and US market as a paperback. I was wondering if any of you had some experience regarding the pros and cons of Ingram Spark v Createspace o..."Luke, I am based in the US but I sell quite many paperbacks in Europe. One thing I can tell you for sure is that Amazon/CS delivers books in Europe in "rapid response time." 2 days! They print in Europe, plus they have 9 distribution centers in Germany alone.
I think that's important because, these days, customers want to click a button and what they ordered - NOW!
From what I have heard IngramSparks isn't nearly as fast as Amazon/CS; which is why I never looked at them.
Also, the old adage that US libraries don't buy from CS is a myth. They do, b/c they are buying my books.
Can't tell you if that is the same in Europe even though I was born there (Austria). Maybe you should try to find out how quickly IngramSparks delivers on both continents? Obviously, if your book arrives quickly it will lead a positive experience.
Fair comment. I should say, in the end I went with IngramSpark. The killer reason for me was that it reduces the cost of the book (in countries outside the US, and I guess Europe), by about A$20, i.e. it changes the price from about A$45 to A$25, when you include delivery. (Because IngramSpark print locally in a huge number of countries, so delivery cost is far lower.)There were other benefits too, like a far wider range of book sizes available, and many more options on the production (such as being able to print on the inside of the back cover).
P.D.R. wrote: "I think it depends where you are.If you are selling a lot of print books or expect to in the USA then Createsapce is probably best because Amazon make Ingramspark's access to their site a bit diff..."
I haven't noticed any difficulty in my print editions turning up in Amazon's store, even though they're printed by IngramSpark. Maybe because I chose the option that "advertises" by sending the book's metadata through to all the major distributors' databases.
Ramon,That is good information. My question is, what if you're on KDP Select, then I don't think you can use Ingramspark, am I right?
I like KDP Select because it is helping my books, simply because it's such a little book and niche market. I wonder if CreateSpace will ever come out with hard cover books. I'd love that, this way I could just stay with Amazon for a while until I get known.
Your thoughts, please.
Thanks! Christine Calabrese
KDP select is only for digital. You can go anywhere for your print. It won't null your agreement with KDP select.
G.G. wrote: "KDP select is only for digital. You can go anywhere for your print. It won't null your agreement with KDP select."Really? I thought it was for everything. At this point they've made it super easy to use CreateSpace and KDP Select, but I wanted a hard cover book too. So I can use IngramSpark for that? Thanks. :-)
Yes. IS also support a much wider range of print formats than CS - at least, last time I checked. And CS did not have an option to print on the inside of the covers of their paperback editions (IS does). But CS may have changed in 12 months. Of course, you'll need a separate ISBN for the hardback, which you probably knew.
Is that a big deal? Printing on the inside covers? I wonder. It seems like it would just be easier to do CreateSpace for the paperback and then the IS for the hardcover. And IS charges a bit don't they?
It's not a big deal. Check out some traditional paperbacks, though, and see what they do with them. IS also offers about 28 different book sizes, for paperbacks. So... shrug.IS charges $49 to upload your book+cover. So as long as you don't keep making mistakes and re-uploading, that's a one-off cost. IS claim 29,000 distributors, though, around the world. I'm starting to sound like an ad for IS!
I just did a hardback with IS. I chose the laminated cover. I am getting ready to publish my next book and it will a hardback with the dust cover. You will not be able to use the same cover that you used for the paperback. It will need to be redesigned as the cover extends and folds over the edges of the book for a laminate. If you chose the dust cover option, the cover will need to include the flaps that fold over. You will also need to re-position the text and/or images to allow the correct spacing from the spine. As for the pricing, right now the HB costs me $11.02 (page count is 342). My cost will drop to $9.89 on June 5th when Ingram goes to their new prices.
Another point you might want to consider, is the interior format. The page count on the HB is higher than the PB (294). The reason is that I changed to margins to accommodate the hard spine.
Ingram allows for an upload of an interior image that will print on the inside of the cover.
correction: changed the margins, fingers not working right today LOL
HB is? and PB is? Sorry not used to the abbreviations yet. Thanks so much for the information. It doesn't look expensive at all. I just think, and maybe I'm wrong that Amazon with push Createspace books more than IS and since I'm onal on Amazon right now and trying to keep it simple. (LOL) I think for the paperback CS might work best. I will do a hardcover with IS though. I think it makes sense. Thanks so much for all your help!
G.G.--much thanks for clarifying that for me. Christine: Ingram Sparks is a division of Ingram Content Group and as such is considered the world's largest distributor of books. The secondary distribution offered by Createspace (extended distribution channel--EDC) distributes the book to what I refer to as God and the rest of the world. CS does send the book to Ingram and uses their service for distribution, which is why there is such a drop in royalties. There are advantages and disadvantage for both CS and Ingram. Staying with CS is a very viable option and you are right--it certainly does simplify the process.
Has anyone used the Createspace eStore?TIA
Hi Pauline, I don't know much about the Createspace estore but did a google search on it and found this helpful. I guess it's available to anyone who publishes on Createspace. http://www.publishingsolo.com/creates...and this: https://kdp.amazon.com/community/thre...
If anyone else knows anything I hope they add. I want to thank the many who have been generous with their information on this thread. Much Success to ALL of you! All my best! Christine
Thanks Christine. It is a web page you can build. Will try to set it up again today, the article helps, thank you. Pauline
I purchased my own ISBN for my series and found that CS will not allow me to use their service that can list me with libraries. I must use their ISBN. I think its unfair, but that is the way they work.
I have been thinking about Ingram Sparks too. Seems i cannot get my books in brick and motar stores without them. They said i would need to move my books from CS to Ingram Sparks to do so. The problem with doing that would mean no expanded distribution. I would lose the little bit of money i am making. Do i take a chance at possibly getting into brick and motar stores and then hoping someone finds my book among the masses, before being returned to the warehouse. Or, should i stay with Amazon and 12 countries?Need sometime to think this over. Any advice?
Gabriela wrote: "I had positive experience with CreateSpace. their services were prompt and professional; however, they are somewhat pricey. My book is a travel memoir, only 124 pages, in which I wanted to include ..."Wow... it must be the color photos that cause the increase. I've used CS for both of my 350-page novels (B&W only), and I've priced them at $8.99 and $9.99, which is the minimum price level for both.
Hi D, That's a call you have to make. My logic to your question would work like this: FIRST: build up the marketing online, make sure the book is selling well and making money. Do other things to market online. KEEP your costs LOW as this is a HIGH risk business and you don't want to expend too much money.
Finally if the book is not selling well online, chances are that it probably won't do well in stores, so stay focused, learn all you can about marketing and about your book. What attracts people to it and how can you improve it.
That's just me, others may have other insights. This is a lot of work on our parts but it's free labor and we're passionate about it.
When you start adding in your own cash it begins to get a bit addictive and you can easily overspend.
That brings disappointment, discouragement and perhaps even giving up! No, No, NO, we don't want that now do we?
All the best, Christine
V.P. wrote: "I used Ingram but got a designer to do the files, I think it's pdf that you upload on Ingram afterwards.For the book stores : yes Ingram proposes a return option and two discount options...BUT, h..."
You make an excellent point about returns of print books. Our local independent bookstore informed me that they don't accept print books directly from self-published authors. they don't want to have to use labor for invoicing multiple suppliers. They do get self-published books from Ingram Spark.
Pauline wrote: "Hi:I've done several eBooks on Amazon and am proof reading my second book on Createspace.
Does anyone use the eStore? Is it in lieu of Amazon? I believe the royalties are higher.
Thank you to all..."
Creatspace books are available in their store, and you get slightly more of a royalty than Amazon. However, your book is listed on amazon and available there.
Question - Is Ingram Spark just for UK, or is it worldwide?If just UK, where would a US author/indie publisher find Ingram services for POD and e-books, as in Ingram Spark?
Thanks!
http://www.ingramspark.com/Ingram is international. Have you looked into Gatekeeper Press?
www.gatekeeperpress.com. Great for publishing and wide distribution which includes Ingram ...
All the best,
Robin
Thanks Robin, I appreciate your taking the time to share the lead as well - I'll be checking out Gatekeeper press.
Whoa.. just checked out Gatekeeper... significantly more expensive than IngramSpark.
Laurie, thanks for birddogging that. Completely slipped my mind to check them out. Looks like Ingram's the way to go.
I've been wondering if I should use Createspace for my ebook and then IngramSpark for the rest, but it's really the same price on Ingram and I think it's best to have everything in one place. Everything goes up on Amazon and I suppose I can KDP my ebook on Amazon if I like. For my first little ebook I used Createspace and it's been on KDP for a while now (about 3 years) , I guess I've been testing the waters. It sells about 7 per month on KDP, you get 70% royalties which is great! Lately I've been noticing a lot of borrowing of the book (a lot to me is about 5 days - ha!) You get paid on KDP for the borrowing of the book too!Anyway, your thoughts are surely welcome here regarding my choice to go IngramSpark all the way next time.
I've done several eBooks on Amazon and am proof reading my second book on Createspace.
Does anyone use the eStore? Is it in lieu of Amazon? I believe the royalties are higher.
Thank you to all who posted, this discussion is exactly what I was looking for.
Pauline D.