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Amazon is doing something strange with paperbacks
message 51:
by
Amy
(new)
Apr 04, 2017 07:33AM
I was just thinking that I bet children's books are a nightmare of worry when it comes to print quality. (Still undecided about producing a paperback)
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The quality of the three paperback illustrated children's books I published this year with CreateSpace have been superb...both the covers and the interiors. Could not be more pleased.
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I originally only planned paperback, but I have had a lot of requests for hardback. Especially from schools, speech clinics, and people who have younger children. It seems as though the price that people are willing to pay is up to $15 so I would have to find somewhere I could print and sell for around that. It looks like Ingram might be an option (excluding set up fees), but I would have to decrease the wholesale discount to make any royalty which may limit my ability to get into stores. I feel like most people would pick the cheaper route, but I hate not being able to offer hardback to my readers who prefer it over paperback.
One of my daughter's 17th birthday present books was a hardback. Not through choice, it just was the option available and I don't think it had pictures. It cost £13.12. I don't know if it was indie or not. If it hadn't been for her birthday, I wouldn't have bought it at that price. Not only have authors got to make some royalties, parents have to be able to afford them. I just wonder how much of that £13.12 went to the author. It had better be more then 12p!
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To be honest, it is. There is a small amount of color variance that is allowed between printings, and if that variance goes the wrong way, it can result in dull photos. Pale flesh tones are very challenging because a slight increase in yellow or blue saturation can throw a picture off drastically. Luckily for me, Createspace has always been great at making misprints right.
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I definately won't make much off hardcover if I choose that route. But I also understand that for some children, the added book stability is needed to fully participate in the experience of reading. Especially young children and children who may have special needs. Since my new book is for children 12-24 months, I am toying with giving that one a try and seeing how it goes before trying the others. By the age of 2-6, the age range of my other books, most children can handle paperback.
Minefield Erica. Makes me pleased I only need print. I'm not sure I could handle the added stress!
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Erica wrote: "I definately won't make much off hardcover if I choose that route. But I also understand that for some children, the added book stability is needed to fully participate in the experience of reading. Especially young children and children who may have special needs. Since my new book is for children 12-24 months, I am toying with giving that one a try and seeing how it goes before trying the others. By the age of 2-6, the age range of my other books, most children can handle paperback. "At 12-24 months I remember my kids having books that were padded card on the outside. Sort of plastic covered and me going mad every time they ripped a page. (I've mellowed over the years)
It's all wrong, authors should make money from their work.
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I would love to do it in a board book, but I haven't found a printing company that offers it as an option.
You'd probably make 3p or something on it! All that effort.
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No kidding! lol
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Oh Susannah: It's in the Bag (An Oh Susannah Story)Apr 3, 2017
by Carole P. Roman and Mateya Arkova
Paperback
$ 8 99 Prime
Get it by Thursday, Apr 6
More Buying Choices
$8.99(5 used & new offers)
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It does show that you're really in top of things though Carole. Good that you're paying attention and can notice when something is hurting sales
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Carole... I hate to say it, because it's more sad than funny,... but you could write another publishing book on this subject alone. Hugs!
The "used" copies and other prices are from opting for expanded distribution with Createspace. It is the same when doing expanded distribution with Ingram or anyone else. There aren't actually used books a lot of the time. Just a sales tactic to list them that way.
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They seem to have a new program where they are letting small sellers sell the books at deeply discounted prices- the side bar says "only one copy left." After you buy that book, the book shows unavailable- preventing another sale.
I have a meeting with them tomorrow where they say they will have an explanation.
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Cheering you on all the way!
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I just want to share this. This is my note to Createspace. Today I will start moving over to Ingram. I will keep all the old ISBN's for Createspace for Amazon but all mass distribution is being moved to Ingram.
https://www.amazon.com/Stillwell-Haun...
Please note that the book was advertised all last week- costing me a couple of hundred dollars. I usually get a few paperback sales from it.
So, the marketing people at Amazon have put the book in the dreaded book box so a buyer can get it for less than 2 dollars BUT with shipping takes it to over five dollars- It only has Prime if it's new.- WHY should they buy it- so then instead of being available for POD- it then goes to being able to be bought USED. It looks just plain out of print.
This is CRAZY!
I lost any potential sales for the week.
I know I'm nowhere near up to date on these things, but how, just how the hell do they get away with this?Knocking mine out as a paperback is even further behind releasing a second ebook now.
Carole wrote: "The drama continuesI just want to share this. This is my note to Createspace. Today I will start moving over to Ingram. I will keep all the old ISBN's for Createspace for Amazon but all mass distr..."
Is the problem the Expanded Distribution...which allows the resellers to purchase the books at a discount and resell them on the "used" market? If so, the solution may be simply to undo the Expanded Distribution permission (though that doesn't help with schools and libraries, if that is your focus). BTW, it's my understanding that books sold under Expanded Distribution do NOT affect your book's rank. Is that your understanding? Put another way, you could sell a ton to libraries and it wouldn't do a lick for your book's rank (and not much for your pocketbook, either).
Again, perhaps the solution to these problems is simply to undo the Expanded Distribution, something I've been considering.
Thoughts?
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There is something else going on- but I can't figure it out yet. Supposedly many retailers won't buy books that say Creatspace on them and the best chance of getting those kind of sales are with Ingram.
I spoke with Createspace- it's some new program that Amazon has come up with to involve retailers. I believe the retailers don't even have the books. It has taken well over three weeks to get some of the ones I ordered, and I can confirm I didn't get any royalties on those sales.
If the book is bought on Amazon, I believe it affects your rank. It the books are being bought wholesale (libraries and schools, bookstores) it doesn't affect your rank.
I will continue to sell to expanded distribution- all this tells me is that we have to work harder to get out books in as many places as we can. You can't put all your eggs in one basket. If libraries and other institutions stock the books and it is part of a series, perhaps if people enjoy it, they will request or look for more books by you.
I have taken my expanded distribution to Ingram.
I don't understand why libraries and other institutions would have a problem with purchasing books from CS...except for the fact these organizations may prefer hardcover vs. paperback editions, given the wear and tear the latter are unable to sustain. (One library that purchased my books commented on how badly the students abused the books...not mine, in particular, but paperbacks in general). Going to hardcovers, of course, is possible, but the costs of the books increases significantly, and you're still left with the problem of having to foot the bill, one way or another, for returns if you want to get your books into brick and mortar stores. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
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They have a special right now, Alex- It's free you need a code- call them and they'll give you one. You have to get them on before April 30th- I have spent the day putting ISBN's on all the books. Mine are already off mass distribution for CS and tomorrow they go up on Ingram.
Oh, good gosh, Carole, besides being an awful ordeal, it's expensive, too! The only good thing will be that once it's done, it's done, and you'll be an expert at it. Hugs!!
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I believe I read on their site that you can opt out of the return option. If you do, stores may be less likely to chance buying your books, but you won't be stuck with an unforseen expense. I would look into that a little further though incase I misunderstood.
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IngramSpark:How Returns Work
Returns
Historically, publishers grant booksellers the right to return unwanted and/or overstocked copies of books. These books are considered “returnable”. As books are returned, booksellers charge publishers for the cost of any books returned and expect to be reimbursed. The cost of returned books is either deducted or netted against the proceeds of book sales of the publishers’ titles in the month returns are shipped to the publisher.
Typically, brick and mortar stores will not order a book unless it is returnable. IngramSpark supports standard industry conventions by allowing publishers to designate whether or not their titles can be returned.
Publishers are offered three returns options, listed below.
No or Non-Returnable
IngramSpark will not accept returns from booksellers for any title designated as “No” (non-returnable), and the publisher will not receive any return charges.
Yes-Deliver
Choosing “Yes-Deliver” allows titles to be sold on a returnable basis, and the publisher will receive a physical copy of the book returned.
*Please note that IngramSpark does not guarantee the condition of the book being returned.
Yes-Destroy
This option allows titles to be sold on a returnable basis, and the publisher will not receive a physical copy of the book upon its return. The publisher will be charged only for the current wholesale cost of each book returned. No shipping and handling fees will apply as IngramSpark will destroy any returned books if this option is selected.
Shipping Costs for Returned Books
Returns for US Addresses: Publishers will be charged for the current wholesale cost of each book returned, plus a $2.00 per book shipping and handling charge.
Returns to non-US/international addresses: Publishers will be charged for the current wholesale cost of each book returned, plus a $20.00 per book shipping and handling charge.
How much is a publisher charged for returns?
IngramSpark will charge the publisher for the wholesale cost of returns at the wholesale price that is active in our system on the date that the return is processed, plus any applicable shipping and handling fees ($2.00 per book for US addresses, $20.00 per book for non-US/international addresses).
More details follow here:
https://help.ingramspark.com/hc/en-us...
Frankly, these are pretty daunting charges for the indie writer (in my opinion)...certainly not something I'd be willing to shoulder.
Theodore wrote: "Frankly, these are pretty daunting charges for the indie writer (in my opinion)...certainly not something I'd be willing to shoulder. "Yeah...ouch.
I learned long ago that G_d's plan for the Universe did not include making me rich. (;>)
Oh OK, now this is odd. Has this been explained before? I know for a fact I am the only person to buy my book in paperback form. Yet it is being advertised for sale under the other selling options for £19.84 +£2.80 P&P. My paperback is available on Prime for £6.99. Why is some random person in the UK saying they'll sell it for that price?
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I bought one of the books that was for sale from a vendor. It took three weeks to get it and it was one version I had pulled from the market because it had an error.
I found it strange too, I released Oh Susannah on the 3rd of April and an hour after I pressed publish my book, 8 used copies were available. A strange occurrence since I didn't even have a physical copy of the book yet.
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No-one. I repeat no-one is going to buy a copy of Modified for £19.84 plus postage. Not when it's really £6.99. And lol at Turkey the country not the bird. Not bought a turkey farm then Carole?
I can imagine pulling a fast one and claiming to sell it cheaper but why bother with an over inflated price?
And why pick my book? I'm the only one who's bought it. Just as well, found and error on the first damn page and have reissued it again for the zillionth time.
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https://www.amazon.com/You-Were-Lived...
Just for Sh##s and giggles read what they want for a new one underneath.
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I'm wondering how there are people selling used copies of my book on Amazon when it hasn't actually *sold* yet ....
I've seen this on other products. But not noticed on books before. I don't understand the reasoning behind it.
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What I've learned in this debacle is it is better to have your own ISBN's. Now, next month I am beginning the arduous task of turning off all my KDP books and moving them to Ingram.
The biggest hurtle has been that the new books don't have all my reviews. I have kept the Createspace ISBN's for Amazon, Amazon Eu and the Createspace store- When people search they are going to be five full pages of books with varied ISBN numbers. I don't know if this will affect sales, but there will always be a book available on Prime. At least, I hope so...
