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Post by JesusNinja on Mar 15, 2021 18:30:07 GMT
Since this update I've lost a lot of money. Much needed money. My missing books are still not online and I can't make it on $15 a month from Lulu. I'm used to making an average of $120 to $240 a month. My reports for the last three months have been $15, $34, and today's $17. This has gotten ridiculous. During the updates I've lost many of my reviews and ranking killing my search results. And people can't buy what they can't see. Lulu promised to get my books back up. It's been five months now. I cannot afford this. Adding to this the new tax changes in the Stimulus package I'm thinking of just giving up. I might make my books private and just finish my dad's bio and be done with it. Some might ask how do you know you lost money? Because I can show you my reports and how they average up. My tax returns from Lulu are almost the same each year. Since the update it's dropped down to nothing. Not to mention that looking at today's report it doesn't really match up to Amazon's report. Not sure if I trust it or not. Others have contacted me on Facebook expressing concerns as well. So I know it's not just me.
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Mar 15, 2021 19:16:28 GMT
Before you quit you might want to talk with someone who does taxes about the change PayPal reported 2022, because it may not impact you the way you think it will.
The change also sounds like it's tied to the Tax Reform Act of 2017, since tax reductions for the wealthy and corporations were permanent while reductions for the rest of us were temporary with our taxes starting to go back up now.
You might also want to think about migrating you work to other platforms because a stable platform will lead to consistent sales again.
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Post by JesusNinja on Mar 15, 2021 19:25:13 GMT
I'm debating on it Cameron. Just upset with today's report. Too many problems still with Lulu. I like them but I've about had enough I think.
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Mar 15, 2021 21:27:52 GMT
I'm debating on it Cameron. Just upset with today's report. Too many problems still with Lulu. I like them but I've about had enough I think. Then find another platform. While I haven't made anywhere near as much [my earnings through Lulu Press haven't been more than $100 total as in cumulatively since 2013], so I can understand why you'd be unhappy with the upgrade that was only supposed to take two days but is still ongoing a year later.
Business relationships are like familial relationships, as in once they become toxic it's time to walk away from the toxicity and find something better.
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Post by JesusNinja on Mar 15, 2021 21:31:11 GMT
Very true. My first book took me one year to write. It sells only one copy maybe every three months. I wrote a second book only 32 pages long. It had been on my pc for three years. It took me two hours to write. I published it and two months later it was selling ten copies per day during December. I made $260 that month. It only sells 20 to 30 per month now. But I decided to start a series with it and now there are five under that title and pen name. I have around twenty five written books and the rest are journals. The five martial arts books are what sell each month. Four of them disappeared from four websites and only one replaced so far. My latest book was on all sites three months ago then it disappeared. I wasn't told why. Two months to figure out what happened. Then couldn't revise it because of a bug. Had to redo it with another ISBN then Lulu sent it out but it's still not on Amazon after five weeks. Nor Apple. So months of potential sales gone again. Another book just disappeared off Amazon. The wizard won't let me revise it. Same bug and still no response from Lulu after one month. So that's why I get upset at the reports. Sorry for venting. I know it is not the place. But yes maybe it's time to move on.
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Mar 15, 2021 22:56:44 GMT
Master Wilcox,
Venting, or explaining a frustration that's been building for over a year? It doesn't matter which because it's understandable. At least you're talking about self-publishing.
I've been helping my spouse deal with what caused her to be medically and permanently retired from her last job two years ago this month, so if you need to express it and let it go I get it. It's better than getting stuck on a mental hamster wheel and never getting anywhere.
At any rate don't let it stress you out.
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Post by JesusNinja on Mar 16, 2021 1:36:57 GMT
Yes Sir, you're right. Between the shutdown and economy it's been frustrating.
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Post by benziger on Mar 16, 2021 6:32:12 GMT
You might also want to think about migrating you work to other platforms because a stable platform will lead to consistent sales again. That is what tasmanianartist did, what larika did at least partially, what I am doing little by little. I do it slowly, as IngramSpark is not as easy as Lulu was, but I think (no guarantee), that it is more long-term to be directly with the producer like IngramSpark or Amazon than to have another intermediate platform. Start with your most selling book and than one by one. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2021 7:24:35 GMT
Yes benziger I did try Draft2Digital for my ebook. However if I was going to take all of them away from Lulu I think I would take your advice and go with Amazon. Most of my sales and downloads (before the update) came from Amazon. I think I was the only one who bought my books from Lulu. I'd be sad to go I've been with them for so long.  |
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Post by thunderguy on Mar 16, 2021 14:10:59 GMT
These are frustrating times, for sure. When things that were either essential or important to me became difficult or impossible to find about this time a year ago, I promised myself I would take care of my wife and myself, and my friends if I could. I didn't want to give in to panic or frustration. I don't know if there is a higher power, but being blessed does not require a deity, sometimes it's good luck or just keeping your head up. So I was able to find what was needed, and even discovered new outlets for my sales. I am dependent on Lulu, and the stories I could tell you about how some associates and I have been jerked around by them. The hardest one was where I was selling zipped JPEGS back in their multi-media days, and find out I have to convert everything - over 200 items - to PDF format. That made even more frustrating by the fact all the images had to be the same size or Lulu wouldn't take the PDF! Fortunately I was able to overcome that hurdle by finding the free PDFill Tools program. Again, the blessings of luck or determination. All this to say that I have tried to live my life by a wonderful saying - "It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness." I sell a few items digital books directly on Amazon, without going through Lulu. I'm sure everyone knows Amazon offers free ebook creation programs. All of this is to say it's okay to be discouraged. The occasional pity party is something we're entitled to. I have at least two a year. Tea and cookies are recommended, and invite a friend. But when the tea is gone, the party is over, and it's time to get back to work. Find new outlets. Promote yourself. Nothing happens by quitting. But if you feel like you've hit a brick wall, then maybe it's time to try a new direction. I wish you the best. Hang in there!
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Post by markcbrown on Mar 16, 2021 15:47:14 GMT
They certainly haven't made it easy for those who have been with lulu 10y + (like myself). I lost too many things to count. But hey, in for a penny, in for a pound. I took all my books off global as I lost too much. I guess you can always retire current editions/publications and re launch them with fresh covers and isbn's. I know it's a pain. But outside of putting it on Amazon, I think it's still s great option.
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Post by JesusNinja on Mar 16, 2021 21:44:57 GMT
If revenue doesn't improve soon I'm thinking of retiring everything at Lulu. I have maybe 13 books out of 50 that actually sell. So I might take those and redo the covers and head to Amazon.At least there I can add key words and phrases to get them found and change the price of my books on the fly. No waiting six to eight weeks for changes. And Amazon support always gets back to you within 24 hours or less. And I always give thanks to my blessings to a "higher power." 
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