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Post by benziger on Mar 8, 2020 14:09:23 GMT
As larika told us already, Lulu will launch new services on March 28: "We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause our authors, but Lulu will be unable to print books in some custom sizes or with binding types other than those we will offer after March 28. In order to make our publishing system both affordable and scalable, we have to limit choices about things such as paper and book size." I don't know the user numbers and statistics. That's why, from the point of view of the printing company (Lulu), I can be a little understanding. From the point of view of the business partner/publisher, however, not. Amazing (maybe a bit autocratic) the following final sentence: "There are plenty of companies out there who will provide more options if you give them money. Lulu is the only publisher that offers you all that we do for free."
I answered something like that I know at least three other companies that offers similar services for free. It is easier for me if I can publish all book formats with the same supplier. But the former unique selling point of Lulu is slowly but surely being lost. My suggestion: We collect in this tread services that offer formats other than Lulu for print on demand and which also do not require a listing fee. Preferably each with advantages and disadvantages, experience.[Trim sizes, bindings, minimal and maximal pages, special services, own ISBN, distribution (e.g. Amazon, book shops, etc.), ......]
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Post by benziger on Mar 8, 2020 14:35:08 GMT
I posted this allready in another tread, now updated: Barnes and NoblesAt press.barnesandnoble.com are some sizes more than at Lulu. The interesting point is: All printed books starting from 18 pages only. + own ISBN possible + a lot of trim sizes + all books 18-400 pages + most books 18-800 pages - only selling on BN website or BN bookshop - distribution restricted - landscape and square sizes as poor as at Lulu The Game CrafterThe website is actually to publish a board game or a card game, with a box, little men, dice, etc. But since it is a modular system, you can also publish a game only with the instruction booklet without box, cards, etc. At www.thegamecrafter.com/publish/pricing#booklets are some very small trim sizes. + very small trim sizes - only max. 20 or 40 pages, depending on size - no ISBN (neither yours, neither theirs) EpubliI like best www.epubli.de when it comes to formats. The service also delivers a deposit copy to the National Library in Leipzig. + distribution: Amazon + distribution German book shops + the trim sizes alternative: A4, A5 and A6, both portrait and landscape; two pocket book sizes + 3 exactly or nearly square sizes: ca. 15x15, 20x20, 30x30 cm + books with little colour: only pay for individual colour pages as such - only with epubli-ISBN, not your own (gosh!) - website in German only KDP AmazonA wide range at kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834180#trim but very few landscape and squares as well. Draft 2 Digital
That is an existing e-book service that is just now introducing print on demand books (as Lulu). It is still beta. I do not know more details for the moment. - If you are outside the US, they keep 30% of your earnings, if you do not send the IRS W8 tax form to them, promising that you pay your taxes in your country and your governement has signed some FACTA or double tax papers with the Americans.
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paul
Junior Reader
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Post by paul on Mar 11, 2020 17:37:11 GMT
Can you send me the source for the quotes? Neither of these look familiar to me (assuming I would know, as I write most everything we send out).
Also, I know I have no say in how this site is run, but threads listing competitors in the way you're discussing would likely be an issue for us. If the plan here is to open this forum up to more general self-publishing conversations, I strongly encourage removing the Lulu specifics (such as the board header image and header/footer copy).
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2020 21:27:29 GMT
As larika told us already, Lulu will launch new services on March 28: "We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause our authors, but Lulu will be unable to print books in some custom sizes or with binding types other than those we will offer after March 28. In order to make our publishing system both affordable and scalable, we have to limit choices about things such as paper and book size." I don't know the user numbers and statistics. That's why, from the point of view of the printing company (Lulu), I can be a little understanding. From the point of view of the business partner/publisher, however, not. Amazing (maybe a bit autocratic) the following final sentence: "There are plenty of companies out there who will provide more options if you give them money. Lulu is the only publisher that offers you all that we do for free."
I answered something like that I know at least three other companies that offers similar services for free. It is easier for me if I can publish all book formats with the same supplier. But the former unique selling point of Lulu is slowly but surely being lost. My suggestion: We collect in this tread services that offer formats other than Lulu for print on demand and which also do not require a listing fee. Preferably each with advantages and disadvantages, experience.[Trim sizes, bindings, minimal and maximal pages, special services, own ISBN, distribution (e.g. Amazon, book shops, etc.), ......]Kindle Direct Publishing for print is completely free, and until March 21st Ingram Spark is completely free with the coupon code NANO2020. This code has been active for many months; I believe since October.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2020 21:29:01 GMT
Can you send me the source for the quotes? Neither of these look familiar to me (assuming I would know, as I write most everything we send out). Also, I know I have no say in how this site is run, but threads listing competitors in the way you're discussing would likely be an issue for us. If the plan here is to open this forum up to more general self-publishing conversations, I strongly encourage removing the Lulu specifics (such as the board header image and header/footer copy). That's a good idea. I think the Lulu header and logo should be removed. We are not catering to lulu clientele since no one is coming here.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2020 21:32:42 GMT
I posted this allready in another tread, now updated: Barnes and NoblesAt press.barnesandnoble.com are some sizes more than at Lulu. The interesting point is: All printed books starting from 18 pages only. + own ISBN possible + a lot of trim sizes + all books 18-400 pages + most books 18-800 pages - only selling on BN website or BN bookshop - distribution restricted - landscape and square sizes as poor as at Lulu The Game CrafterThe website is actually to publish a board game or a card game, with a box, little men, dice, etc. But since it is a modular system, you can also publish a game only with the instruction booklet without box, cards, etc. At www.thegamecrafter.com/publish/pricing#booklets are some very small trim sizes. + very small trim sizes - only max. 20 or 40 pages, depending on size - no ISBN (neither yours, neither theirs) EpubliI like best www.epubli.de when it comes to formats. The service also delivers a deposit copy to the National Library in Leipzig. + distribution: Amazon + distribution German book shops + the trim sizes alternative: A4, A5 and A6, both portrait and landscape; two pocket book sizes + 3 exactly or nearly square sizes: ca. 15x15, 20x20, 30x30 cm + books with little colour: only pay for individual colour pages as such - only with epubli-ISBN, not your own (gosh!) - website in German only KDP AmazonA wide range at kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834180#trim but very few landscape and squares as well. Draft 2 Digital
That is an existing e-book service that is just now introducing print on demand books (as Lulu). It is still beta. I do not know more details for the moment. - If you are outside the US, they keep 30% of your earnings, if you do not send the IRS W8 tax form to them, promising that you pay your taxes in your country and your governement has signed some FACTA or double tax papers with the Americans. Benziger, Streetlib.com is completely free as well. They do both print and ebooks. They are even targeting African and South American markets and have a platform for every language in the world.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2020 21:35:35 GMT
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Post by benziger on Mar 11, 2020 23:17:49 GMT
Can you send me the source for the quotes? Neither of these look familiar to me (assuming I would know, as I write most everything we send out). Hello Paul I had two contacts with the Support. One was in the way was I (and probabely you too) excepted. The other one not. The citations are from the second one. II was surprised and it pushed me to look around - before I could check the new options from Lulu (as I am not a beta tester) and also to write more offensive as in the past. For me, the best case is to have all books at the same service and as I have allready published some twenty books at Lulu, to stay with Lulu. I will send you a copy of both mails, the good one and the other one, as private mail. Best regards Benziger
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Post by benziger on Mar 12, 2020 14:23:35 GMT
Benziger, Streetlib.com is completely free as well. They do both print and ebooks. They are even targeting African and South American markets and have a platform for every language in the world. Thank you Maggie. I never heard about them, even I live just some hundreds kilometers away from them ;-) But if I read the fine print, this is primarily for e-books.
Printed books are distributed through Amazon.com and two or three Italian intermediary. That's not really interesting for most of us. They also do the same thing as Lulu: a redesign. Only they've taken the print section completely offline for the next few months - whatever that means. Personally, I think this is much worse than Lulu who is replacing two of x formats with probabely similar ones.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2020 14:35:29 GMT
Benziger, Streetlib.com is completely free as well. They do both print and ebooks. They are even targeting African and South American markets and have a platform for every language in the world. Thank you Maggie. I never heard about them, even I live just some hundreds kilometers away from them ;-) But if I read the fine print, this is primarily for e-books.
Printed books are distributed through Amazon.com and two or three Italian intermediary. That's not really interesting for most of us. They also do the same thing as Lulu: a redesign. Only they've taken the print section completely offline for the next few months - whatever that means. Personally, I think this is much worse than Lulu who is replacing two of x formats with probabely similar ones.
Hmm, ok, I thought they did audiobooks and actual bookshop distribution.
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Post by And still Kevin 2024 on Mar 13, 2020 16:58:01 GMT
"Also, I know I have no say in how this site is run, but threads listing competitors in the way you're discussing would likely be an issue for us. If the plan here is to open this forum up to more general self-publishing conversations, I strongly encourage removing the Lulu specifics (such as the board header image and header/footer copy)." It is the same old names here who used to use the late Lulu forums, no new input, so it would be a good idea to open it up to a wider user base. The first thing to do is what you suggested, Paul, change the banner, then change the address to something not so specific. BTW, there's also Blurb. www.blurb.co.uk/ they have an interesting downloadable book creating application, but it is locked in to only uploading to them.
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Post by And still Kevin 2024 on Mar 13, 2020 17:00:24 GMT
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2020 18:19:16 GMT
"Also, I know I have no say in how this site is run, but threads listing competitors in the way you're discussing would likely be an issue for us. If the plan here is to open this forum up to more general self-publishing conversations, I strongly encourage removing the Lulu specifics (such as the board header image and header/footer copy)." It is the same old names here who used to use the late Lulu forums, no new input, so it would be a good idea to open it up to a wider user base. The first thing to do is what you suggested, Paul, change the banner, then change the address to something not so specific. BTW, there's also Blurb. www.blurb.co.uk/ they have an interesting downloadable book creating application, but it is locked in to only uploading to them. I used blurb once. Not bad.
Totally agree with wider user base.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2020 18:20:22 GMT
There will be many more in a couple of years with more options, more ease. The world is changing. Bob young started it all and now it's taking a life of its own.
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Post by Winteriscoming on May 7, 2020 2:21:24 GMT
I posted this allready in another tread, now updated: Barnes and NoblesAt press.barnesandnoble.com are some sizes more than at Lulu. The interesting point is: All printed books starting from 18 pages only. + own ISBN possible + a lot of trim sizes + all books 18-400 pages + most books 18-800 pages - only selling on BN website or BN bookshop - distribution restricted - landscape and square sizes as poor as at Lulu The Game CrafterThe website is actually to publish a board game or a card game, with a box, little men, dice, etc. But since it is a modular system, you can also publish a game only with the instruction booklet without box, cards, etc. At www.thegamecrafter.com/publish/pricing#booklets are some very small trim sizes. + very small trim sizes - only max. 20 or 40 pages, depending on size - no ISBN (neither yours, neither theirs) EpubliI like best www.epubli.de when it comes to formats. The service also delivers a deposit copy to the National Library in Leipzig. + distribution: Amazon + distribution German book shops + the trim sizes alternative: A4, A5 and A6, both portrait and landscape; two pocket book sizes + 3 exactly or nearly square sizes: ca. 15x15, 20x20, 30x30 cm + books with little colour: only pay for individual colour pages as such - only with epubli-ISBN, not your own (gosh!) - website in German only KDP AmazonA wide range at kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834180#trim but very few landscape and squares as well. Draft 2 Digital
That is an existing e-book service that is just now introducing print on demand books (as Lulu). It is still beta. I do not know more details for the moment. - If you are outside the US, they keep 30% of your earnings, if you do not send the IRS W8 tax form to them, promising that you pay your taxes in your country and your governement has signed some FACTA or double tax papers with the Americans. Benziger, Streetlib.com is completely free as well. They do both print and ebooks. They are even targeting African and South American markets and have a platform for every language in the world.
No one comes here because no one knows it's here. There is no link at Lulu to tell new people they used to have a forum but closed it down. But people are here to help.
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