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Post by JesusNinja on May 15, 2020 17:17:24 GMT
May 15th Update:
We’ve been encouraged by the number of users who have successfully used the new website over the last few weeks and will continue to iron out any kinks that some users are still experiencing. But we also understand that for some of you it has been a long and frustrating time since the launch of our updated site and we apologize for this. We’re devoted to resolving the issues you’ve experienced immediately following our launch and have some updates to share...
We know the biggest issue you’ve expressed right now is missing revenue/sales data and this is our top priority at the moment. We can assure you that we are making revenue payments on schedule and we are working toward populating your account with payment history and pending revenue information. This is a complex process since earnings are changing by the minute as books are purchased, which is why we are working as thoroughly and diligently as possible.
We have never intended to leave you in the dark, nor have we left your questions and support requests unanswered. Our small support team has been working hard to get through all of the questions and cases we’ve received. Many of you have commented about our phones and live chat features being off right now. We have made the decision to concentrate 100% of our efforts on email support for now so our team can offer the most thorough assistance possible. We will be turning live chat and phones back on soon.
Several of you have suggested that we roll the site back to the outdated version until we can resolve the current issues - this is not an option. While it may not seem this way, the overwhelming majority of our users are not experiencing issues and are enjoying the new site. And yes, the update from the old site was absolutely necessary due to the outdated technology it was built on.
The internal processes that are being run in order to resolve these few remaining issues are constantly evolving and the timeline will continue to change as a reflection of that. We will continue to post updates as frequently as we have them.
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Post by markcbrown on May 15, 2020 20:23:43 GMT
Hmmm. First who are the people we have a flawless change over and why are they not commenting their happiness. Second I have had no reply to any ticket other than the automated 'we got it' message.
Even though my covers (except one) has ported over I cannot do anything with them to edit or even preview it like before. If I click on my book I get the customer price not the author price, however if I put my book in the cart the reduced price is there.
Here's to waiting to get their act together.
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Post by benziger on May 15, 2020 20:44:29 GMT
I'm not going there now and search all the posts here and well over 2000 deleted Facebook messages. But: There is indeed a positive message here and there. Maybe 1%?
But to be honest, they are only positive in relation to the rest. Compared to all that is not working, someone is happy that some detail works for him. A detail notabene, that used to work without comment before.
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on May 15, 2020 21:20:53 GMT
Herr Benziger,
The simple read of the latest Lulu Press "Update", from the perspective of what I used to do is simple: It's nothing but fluff and CYA [Cover Your Asterisk] designed to convince people everything is all hunkey dorey, it's all under control, and at some unspecified point in the future every issue will be resolved, because nothing has really gone wrong.
It's the same kind of spin you could see in reports where someone in the field really screwed-the-pooch, but it's being reported in the most favorable light possible meaning short on actual details and fact and long on hyperbole.
It's like some Lulu Press end-users getting apology emails and others getting nothing, another a hasty haphazard response to a situation beyond any control of those in charge.
If this were any enemy opponent I was facing in-country and in the field I would say what I was smelling is the rank fear of someone who is about to lose a contest. But since I've never been anywhere or done anything worthy of note, let's call that last update tainted with the scent of desperation.
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Post by mickmercer on May 15, 2020 22:59:54 GMT
Herr Benziger, The simple read of the latest Lulu Press "Update", from the perspective of what I used to do is simple: It's nothing but fluff and CYA [Cover Your Asterisk] designed to convince people everything is all hunkey dorey, it's all under control, and at some unspecified point in the future every issue will be resolved, because nothing has really gone wrong. It's the same kind of spin you could see in reports where someone in the field really screwed-the-pooch, but it's being reported in the most favorable light possible meaning short on actual details and fact and long on hyperbole. It's like some Lulu Press end-users getting apology emails and others getting nothing, another a hasty haphazard response to a situation beyond any control of those in charge. If this were any enemy opponent I was facing in-country and in the field I would say what I was smelling is the rank fear of someone who is about to lose a contest. But since I've never been anywhere or done anything worthy of note, let's call that last update tainted with the scent of desperation. Hopefully part of that will mean they pay attention to the central complaints people have had, and benevolently introduce several exciting new features (same as the old features), because they won't be wanting a second wave of ridicule and resentment. |
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on May 15, 2020 23:14:49 GMT
Herr Benziger, The simple read of the latest Lulu Press "Update", from the perspective of what I used to do is simple: It's nothing but fluff and CYA [Cover Your Asterisk] designed to convince people everything is all hunkey dorey, it's all under control, and at some unspecified point in the future every issue will be resolved, because nothing has really gone wrong. It's the same kind of spin you could see in reports where someone in the field really screwed-the-pooch, but it's being reported in the most favorable light possible meaning short on actual details and fact and long on hyperbole. It's like some Lulu Press end-users getting apology emails and others getting nothing, another a hasty haphazard response to a situation beyond any control of those in charge. If this were any enemy opponent I was facing in-country and in the field I would say what I was smelling is the rank fear of someone who is about to lose a contest. But since I've never been anywhere or done anything worthy of note, let's call that last update tainted with the scent of desperation. Hopefully part of that will mean they pay attention to the central complaints people have had, and benevolently introduce several exciting new features (same as the old features), because they won't be wanting a second wave of ridicule and resentment. The last time I told someone to be very very careful before they proceeded with doing something they shouldn't have attempted in the first place, the person in question blew me off and proceeded, and the end result was pretty predictable. A career ended, and an easy target having to take the blame for numerous individuals.
Perhaps what you hope for will happen, but I tend to doubt it. Too often people who do something foolish hope a miracle will occur only to find out praying for a miracle is no replacement for critical thinking and good planning. Then again, I'm considered cynical at times.
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waiting for Amazon takeover
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Post by waiting for Amazon takeover on May 17, 2020 6:05:49 GMT
last time things went pear shaped and my books were in it, it was with old BookSurge - just before Amazon took over. Lemme see ... 2005? My NWO and conspriracy theoretician's notion would be ... they're trying to 'Amazon-streamline' the darn thing before Amazon incorporates the 'venture', else they'll not net as much ... let's blame a virus ...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2020 7:04:33 GMT
I saw that update on my Facebook---- and the comments that were made. People are not happy with Lulu. I hope Lulu can get it right!
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Post by reinholdbehringer on May 17, 2020 21:30:24 GMT
Just an update of my experience with the new Lulu site:
- the "My project" page has now all the covers OK.
- eBooks were not "in Distribution", but in "General Access" - even though I did see two of them on Amazon and on Barnes&Noble.
- so I did go through these ebooks: not revising them, but just clicking on the title link, then going through all settings on these projects. Did add category (which was not there anymore) and selecting the audience. Then selecting the payee. I appeared there now twice, after I had added myself again as payee 2 weeks ago, because my previous payee info seemed to have gotten lost (no tax form). So I had this new payee set up with the new tax form, and I selected this one for each of these ebook.
- At the final step when confirming all the data, a message showed up telling that "it takes longer to publish your projects". But when I then looked again at "My projects", these ebooks were now in global distribution OK, with green border.
So I am now just waiting, if the global distribution indeed will work.
Anyone with similar experiences?
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Post by JesusNinja on May 17, 2020 21:57:35 GMT
I just revised a lot of my eBooks that were saying General instead of Global. Had the same experience as you. Added all the new info and received the message at the end about taking longer. In my experience I came back to projects in around five minutes and the books had finished publishing then said pending or in distribution. I still have maybe five books that are saying general instead of Global. I've contacted support but they haven't been changed yet. I have one cover still corrupted and it says pending. Still no report showing but did get paid very early this morning. Slow month sadly. But the report banner did just show a new box to check that says show only unpaid sales. I did that and my proof I bought today showed up. I've published a paperback today with the one piece cover template. No problems except for size which I fixed. All looked well in preview so I purchased a proof. Someone on facebook got over $100 in proofs and each one has a light blue border around the edges of the cover. You can the cover image showing through this. I thought it might be he forgot to hide the template but he said no he deleted the layer after setting his images in place as did I. So hoping my proof won't have this border as well. I've heard of no one else having this problem. Just printing and shipping taking longer than usual. But Lulu did warn about that because of the virus. I do still have one new book still not on any site but Itunes and Lulu after one month. And the other one is only on Barnes and Itunes. Still not on Amazon after one month. Other than these things the site seems much better. The spotlight is showing more book at one time but still has no way to add about author text. And still no delete/retire button in projects. But the site is usable to me, and other than the above problems I have no more complaints. Just to add I do like the new book creator. It does add some new options that I'd complained about for years. And I really like the new cover previewer that lets you see the interior before you buy a proof. Over all I think Lulu did good but bad timing and testing. They lost a lot of people sadly.
Edit: Just so you know if a book says in general, look carefully at it's copyright info in the wizard, usually over the ISBN info it will say General/Global Dist. But will just say General on the projects list. Be careful though and don't start a revision.
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on May 17, 2020 22:17:18 GMT
My account is still fouled up, and while I don't have tons of sales I also have no great appreciation or patience for the continuing issues Lulu Press inflicted upon itself.
I'd planned a while back to buy a block of ISBNs next year, since on Amazon Lulu[dot]com shows for the publisher of the paperback and hardcover versions of the books I've released [my little press shows on the Kindle versions since I did the KDP thing myself]. If I have to go through headaches to get the print versions on Lulu Press straightened out while waiting who knows how many months, it's time for me to migrate my print versions to a better platform.
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