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Post by yaphetkotto on May 7, 2020 11:49:25 GMT
Thanks for the info!
I have looked at a number of alternatives from your list, but none seem to offer what I need.
My modus operandi is different from other authors here, since I do all sales and promotion myself.
People paypal me the money directly and I place an order with their address in the Lulu system.
That's it.
I don't use the Lulu bookstore, Spotlight etc etc.
All my books are set to private so only I can place orders.
I mainly use Lulu because they have outlets (printers) in the US, Europe and Australia.
So people will get the book from whatever is closest to them which saves a TON of postage.
I really haven't seen a good alternative for that, at a comparable price point.
I may stay at Lulu because of that, but it would be nice to know about alternatives.
If someone here could tell me about something else in that vein, I would be eternally grateful (really!).
Thank you!
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Post by tasmanianartist on May 8, 2020 5:04:50 GMT
Yep - that does it ... "Lulu will be unable to print books in some custom sizes or with binding types other than those we will offer after March 28" - which means all the hard work to create my photo books is completely down the drain and wasted - my photo books (and the reference books on birds by my husband) are just simply tossed away. Checked my projects again today - and my photo books are still missing - it means they're gone forever. I created them with the photo book creator - meaning uploading individual pages and photos to the photo book creator - there never was a PDF of the whole book. What a waste of time and effort. I suppose the virus is to blame ...
Add ... and I can't even update the byline under the new title/name in the 'spotlight/shop'. - I'll now go away and check back in 6 months.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2020 11:06:05 GMT
Yep - that does it ... "Lulu will be unable to print books in some custom sizes or with binding types other than those we will offer after March 28" - which means all the hard work to create my photo books is completely down the drain and wasted - my photo books (and the reference books on birds by my husband) are just simply tossed away. Checked my projects again today - and my photo books are still missing - it means they're gone forever. I created them with the photo book creator - meaning uploading individual pages and photos to the photo book creator - there never was a PDF of the whole book. What a waste of time and effort. I suppose the virus is to blame ...
Add ... and I can't even update the byline under the new title/name in the 'spotlight/shop'. - I'll now go away and check back in 6 months.
I learnt many years ago when they suddenly did away with 7x7 (and it really messed me up) to only do standard book sizes: 6x9 and 8.5x11. |
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2020 11:08:42 GMT
Thanks for the info! I have looked at a number of alternatives from your list, but none seem to offer what I need. My modus operandi is different from other authors here, since I do all sales and promotion myself. People paypal me the money directly and I place an order with their address in the Lulu system. That's it. I don't use the Lulu bookstore, Spotlight etc etc. All my books are set to private so only I can place orders. I mainly use Lulu because they have outlets (printers) in the US, Europe and Australia. So people will get the book from whatever is closest to them which saves a TON of postage. I really haven't seen a good alternative for that, at a comparable price point. I may stay at Lulu because of that, but it would be nice to know about alternatives. If someone here could tell me about something else in that vein, I would be eternally grateful (really!). Thank you! Ingram Spark does the exact same thing. You can select no distribution and send to whomever you like. I sent two books to my cousins. Lulu is less expensive for me because they have printers in Canada. But you could look into where IS has printers around the world. |
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Post by yaphetkotto on May 8, 2020 11:12:27 GMT
Ingram Spark does the exact same thing. You can select no distribution and send to whomever you like. I sent two books to my cousins. Lulu is less expensive for me because they have printers in Canada. But you could look into where IS has printers around the world. Thanks a lot!! I will look into that option and report back... |
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Post by yaphetkotto on May 8, 2020 11:52:48 GMT
Thanks a lot!! I will look into that option and report back... Maggie, thank you so much! This tip may have saved my upcoming project! I did a quick comparison. For my needs, I don't even need the IngramSpark publishing program and can skip straight to Lightning Source, their global printing network. Here's the calculators from Lightning Source and Lulu: myaccount.lightningsource.com/Portal/Tools/ShippingCalculatorwww.lulu.com/pricingResult: - Lightning Source is consistently cheaper than Lulu, around 20% - Premium Color books are a LOT cheaper, around 40% - Shipping cost is comparable - Both Lulu and Lightning Source still have good prices even for printing single books (many online printers become very expensive if you only print one) - IngramSpark charges a 49$ setup fee per book but since I usually sell around 1500 copies that's not an issue. I guess I'll give it a try then. I'm very excited about this! Thanks a lot again!!! |
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Post by Loren on May 8, 2020 16:19:59 GMT
Concerning IngramSparks: I, too, have been looking into this option, but I have a question about the process that perhaps someone else would know the answer to.
I own the ISBN to my book and I am acting as my own publisher. In order to change POD services from Lulu to IngramSparks, would I have to assign a new ISBN to my book? Or would it simply be a case of deleting my account with Lulu and opening one up with IngramSparks?
Thanks in advance for any advice. I'm very obviously a newbie in the "publishing" department, so my apologies for what is likely a ridiculous question.
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Post by AD on May 8, 2020 17:47:04 GMT
A question about Ingram Spark: Their web site says they charge $49 per title, but does anyone know if they require that a proof copy be purchased with every subsequent revision? (Every time I find a typo I like to update my book, but it gets to be a drag having to purchase a new proof copy each time for such tiny revisions. My books are expensive.)
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Post by Loren on May 8, 2020 18:15:33 GMT
A question about Ingram Spark: Their web site says they charge $49 per title, but does anyone know if they require that a proof copy be purchased with every subsequent revision? (Every time I find a typo I like to update my book, but it gets to be a drag having to purchase a new proof copy each time for such tiny revisions. My books are expensive.) Their user guide states: "Revisions or resubmissions for completed print and ebook titles are subject to a $25 revision fee. However, you can upload as many revisions as you need at no cost, until you approve the eproof. Once you approve the eproof you will be charged $25 for each revision submitted. See the IngramSpark Price Sheet for pricing information, located under the HELP tab once you’ve logged in to ." (https://www.ingramspark.com/hubfs/downloads/user-guide.pdf) |
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2020 22:41:18 GMT
Thanks a lot!! I will look into that option and report back... Maggie, thank you so much! This tip may have saved my upcoming project! I did a quick comparison. For my needs, I don't even need the IngramSpark publishing program and can skip straight to Lightning Source, their global printing network. Here's the calculators from Lightning Source and Lulu: myaccount.lightningsource.com/Portal/Tools/ShippingCalculatorwww.lulu.com/pricingResult: - Lightning Source is consistently cheaper than Lulu, around 20% - Premium Color books are a LOT cheaper, around 40% - Shipping cost is comparable - Both Lulu and Lightning Source still have good prices even for printing single books (many online printers become very expensive if you only print one) - IngramSpark charges a 49$ setup fee per book but since I usually sell around 1500 copies that's not an issue. I guess I'll give it a try then. I'm very excited about this! Thanks a lot again!!! Coupon code INGRAMSPARK2020
Makes it free indefinitely, for now.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2020 22:44:33 GMT
A question about Ingram Spark: Their web site says they charge $49 per title, but does anyone know if they require that a proof copy be purchased with every subsequent revision? (Every time I find a typo I like to update my book, but it gets to be a drag having to purchase a new proof copy each time for such tiny revisions. My books are expensive.) It's all free now. INGRAMSPARK2020
Lulu is good for me because it prints close to home. For this reason I can't live without them.
However, even after the 55% discount, and destroy option for return, you get a higher payout.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2020 22:45:58 GMT
A question about Ingram Spark: Their web site says they charge $49 per title, but does anyone know if they require that a proof copy be purchased with every subsequent revision? (Every time I find a typo I like to update my book, but it gets to be a drag having to purchase a new proof copy each time for such tiny revisions. My books are expensive.) Their user guide states: "Revisions or resubmissions for completed print and ebook titles are subject to a $25 revision fee. However, you can upload as many revisions as you need at no cost, until you approve the eproof. Once you approve the eproof you will be charged $25 for each revision submitted. See the IngramSpark Price Sheet for pricing information, located under the HELP tab once you’ve logged in to ." (https://www.ingramspark.com/hubfs/downloads/user-guide.pdf) It's also free every year for about 6 months. NANO2021 next year probably starting October. For now all free.
Don't get rid of lulu though. They have a lot of things no one else offers.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2020 22:46:56 GMT
It's good to have backups and learn what each POD offers. Very few online sales at IngramSpark. Tons of bookstore sales.
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Post by benziger on May 8, 2020 23:47:49 GMT
I own the ISBN to my book and I am acting as my own publisher. In order to change POD services from Lulu to IngramSparks, would I have to assign a new ISBN to my book? Or would it simply be a case of deleting my account with Lulu and opening one up with IngramSparks? From my own:
The ISBN belongs to the book. If the book is simply printed on a different printing press with the same plates, you can keep the ISBN (reprint of the same edition). Even changes are allowed, if they do not change the content, e.g. removing a printing error. A redesign, different binding type, different format, etc. are new editions and require a new ISBN.
From the ISBN hand book (translated by me, as I do not have an English one):
6.2 Changes to publications
A new ISBN must be assigned if significant changes are made to one or more parts of a publication or if the physical or digital characteristics of the publication have changed significantly in the new edition. This applies to changes to the elements listed below:
- Title and/or subtitle[5] of a publication
- language
- publisher's name or imprint[6] - author's name
- text content (except for minor corrections or corrections of printing errors)
- product form (e.g. from hardcover to paperback; from audio book on a physical carrier to an audio book for download)
- product shape details (e.g. from .pdf to EPUB; change of book dimensions)
- product shape features (e.g. from a normal font to a reader-friendly font for people with a reading disability; from EPUB version 2 to EPUB version 3)[7] If only the cover is redesigned or the price of a monographic publication is redefined, no new ISBN is assigned, although a separate ISBN can be assigned if required by the exploitation chain (e.g. for media tie-in).
5 Whether a new ISBN must be assigned when a subtitle is changed depends on the relevance of the change. For example, the addition of "A Kurt-Wallander thriller" would not require a new ISBN to be assigned.
6 In some countries, a change of imprint does not automatically require a new ISBN - check with your national ISBN agency.
7 When migrating an existing EPUB version 2 to EPUB version 3, it is not necessary to change the ISBN, as long as the two versions are not offered at the same time and it is not relevant for either the merchant or the customer to differentiate between the two versions of the usage restrictions (e.g. switching from "printing allowed" to "printing not allowed" or from "single user" to "multi-user").
@loren ad: You are always welcome as a guest in this forum. If you register, you have some more functions (e.g. private messages). The forum has been independent from Lulu Inc. since the beginning of this year and as you have probably seen, the focus has broadened. It was outsourced a few days before the in-house forum was locked by forum members. |
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Post by Loren on May 9, 2020 2:09:28 GMT
Don't get rid of lulu though. They have a lot of things no one else offers.
I know you aren't only speaking to me, Maggie  , but in the spirit of having a conversation about the issue at hand, I'll do a basic "copy/paste" from what I previously posted on Lulu's newest update post on Facebook, as of today (an update that will soon be deleted, btw...LOL!): "I'm not loyal to Lulu, I have no reason to be, nor would I be for any company, particularly those who can't seem to handle a website upgrade (and a tech company at that!), and who have awful PR strategies like trying to hide negative comments, as if deleting them makes the problem disappear... 🙄 For some, like myself, migrating away from Lulu may be easier. For others, it may be better to stay. Each one should do as they see best. But Lulu isn't the only company out there." So to summarize: I'm not inclined to "get rid" of Lulu on a whim. But Lulu simply has made it less desirable to do business with them. Yes, other POD companies are likely to do undesirable "upgrades" to their website. I will do like I do with every other online company who does such and "roll with the flow," unless it becomes irksome. Then I will find a new company with which to do business. Yes, other POD companies are likely to rid their websites of features that no longer make them as much money as before, such as different book size options. I will adjust accordingly. That's not a big deal for me as I only plan on writing possibly one more book in addition to the one I already have (with a co-author), although I can see where this would be an ache for others who have many books and who depend upon a printed version to get their message out. If worse comes to worse (relatively speaking), I'll stick with the free e-book option that has currently been, and will continue to be, available on our website. The important thing for me and my co-author is that our info gets out, not that we make money. This puts us in a position to likely be better off than some authors who are depending upon the money or who desire to make a name for themselves as an author. Don't get me wrong, please: I understand and support those desires; but it just isn't our motivation. Regardless... the way Lulu, as a company, has handled this "upgrade" is not professional, and their PR strategy stinks, and this is why I do not want to do business with Lulu any longer. I do not trust them. That's a big issue for me, personally. But this is my opinion. Others may disagree, and that's okay with me. But all that to say this: if someone wants to "get rid" of Lulu, I don't really blame them. It's not always the options that a company has to offer that entices people to stay loyal to, or to not "let go" of. Sometimes it's a trust issue. Anyhoo... not trying to argue the point. I hope this hasn't come across as that, and I sincerely apologize if it is. I'm just sharing my thoughts about the issue at hand. Thanks for allowing it. ...and for not deleting it. LOL  |
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, but in the spirit of having a conversation about the issue at hand, I'll do a basic "copy/paste" from what I previously posted on Lulu's newest update post on Facebook, as of today (an update that will soon be deleted, btw...LOL!): "I'm not loyal to Lulu, I have no reason to be, nor would I be for any company, particularly those who can't seem to handle a website upgrade (and a tech company at that!), and who have awful PR strategies like trying to hide negative comments, as if deleting them makes the problem disappear... 🙄 For some, like myself, migrating away from Lulu may be easier. For others, it may be better to stay. Each one should do as they see best. But Lulu isn't the only company out there."