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Post by BlueAndGold on Jun 14, 2020 20:37:26 GMT
Judging by the traffic volume here, I would guess that the Desperation and Anger Phases have morphed into the Resignation and Apathy Phases.
Fascinating, Captain. [One eyebrow goes up.]
Life is interesting, isn't it?
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Jun 14, 2020 20:46:26 GMT
Watching how various individuals react differently to the same stimuli is always fascinating. Much like stages of life or stages of grief.
Life usually tends to be interesting.
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Post by Rob on Jun 15, 2020 12:01:29 GMT
My initial reaction was confusion and suspicion, my Lulu bookmark was dead so I did a search for Lulu.com, when the site opened I thought it was spammed as it was so different. After the best part of an hour chasing different links to make sure the site was genuine, I tried to log in only to find I couldn`t. I reset my password to the same password I had before and could then log in. The whole experience was bizarre to say the least.
I wasn`t into the desperation phase as I didn`t have a project ready to go and only had a few books on there which are more of a hobby than income. Compared to one chap on FB who reckoned his 84 books had disappeared completely, or several whose books are their main income, or the poor lady whose calendars had disappeared simply because Lulu aren`t doing calendars for the foreseeable future but failed to notify users before the upgrade.... I figured I got off lightly.
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Post by benziger on Jun 15, 2020 14:02:11 GMT
I didn't count the number of different participants on Facebook and didn't notice the first weeks there. Emotionally, however, I would say that it is getting less every week. There are two kinds of people: Warners, who want to warn others and have already moved on. People who persevere, beg, plead.
What has happened to those who no longer respond? Again, there are two possibilities: They wait in the closet. Or they have moved on.
As long as you can't delete projects, Lulu will continue to have good income - even from those who have moved on. But this will not continue forever.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2020 14:48:02 GMT
I didn't count the number of different participants on Facebook and didn't notice the first weeks there. Emotionally, however, I would say that it is getting less every week. There are two kinds of people: Warners, who want to warn others and have already moved on. People who persevere, beg, plead. What has happened to those who no longer respond? Again, there are two possibilities: They wait in the closet. Or they have moved on. As long as you can't delete projects, Lulu will continue to have good income - even from those who have moved on. But this will not continue forever. I think many are warners. The rest are waiting and praying because they have no other option. Imagine 84 books needing redoing, with new ISBNs. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2020 14:50:14 GMT
Judging by the traffic volume here, I would guess that the Desperation and Anger Phases have morphed into the Resignation and Apathy Phases.
Fascinating, Captain. [One eyebrow goes up.]
Life is interesting, isn't it?
I think it's post traumatic stress. Everyone is recovering from the shock and will start actively helping themselves in a month. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2020 14:54:50 GMT
My initial reaction was confusion and suspicion, my Lulu bookmark was dead so I did a search for Lulu.com, when the site opened I thought it was spammed as it was so different. After the best part of an hour chasing different links to make sure the site was genuine, I tried to log in only to find I couldn`t. I reset my password to the same password I had before and could then log in. The whole experience was bizarre to say the least. I wasn`t into the desperation phase as I didn`t have a project ready to go and only had a few books on there which are more of a hobby than income. Compared to one chap on FB who reckoned his 84 books had disappeared completely, or several whose books are their main income, or the poor lady whose calendars had disappeared simply because Lulu aren`t doing calendars for the foreseeable future but failed to notify users before the upgrade.... I figured I got off lightly. Last time they made huge changes, and removed book sizes and bindings they gave a year warning. And they kept sending emails periodically reminding people. |
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Post by if only on Jun 16, 2020 5:43:38 GMT
... one day you see it, the next you don't. Last week I downloaded all print ready files, and switched most to 'private', and made use of mybestseller dot co dot uk, sweek dot com, and bookmundo dot de. Had I had a mybestseller account before I ordered the very last of my Lulu books, I would have saved $20 in the whole package including shipping. Today, I want to switch to 'private' the rest of the books (I'll leave a few free download PDFs, and forcibly the files, since no one can delete anything), but I cannot switch any more books to 'private', and an attempt at downloading the 'print ready' files crashed my firefox. Doh ... Luckily I'm retired and have a life after Indie, the last books are now merely mementoes and of 'historic value'. I feel for all those who relied on Lulu for an income by selling books. What a disaster. I have de-linked any Lulu books or links to the lulu spotlight - the ill-fitting 'old' files will print pearshaped on the 'new' upgraded templates.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2020 8:37:36 GMT
... one day you see it, the next you don't. Last week I downloaded all print ready files, and switched most to 'private', and made use of mybestseller dot co dot uk, sweek dot com, and bookmundo dot de. Had I had a mybestseller account before I ordered the very last of my Lulu books, I would have saved $20 in the whole package including shipping. Today, I want to switch to 'private' the rest of the books (I'll leave a few free download PDFs, and forcibly the files, since no one can delete anything), but I cannot switch any more books to 'private', and an attempt at downloading the 'print ready' files crashed my firefox. Doh ... Luckily I'm retired and have a life after Indie, the last books are now merely mementoes and of 'historic value'. I feel for all those who relied on Lulu for an income by selling books. What a disaster. I have de-linked any Lulu books or links to the lulu spotlight - the ill-fitting 'old' files will print pearshaped on the 'new' upgraded templates. Could you tell us a bit more about mybestseller? Is there a dot com? Do they have printers only in the Netherlands? How much percentage do they keep? What is the downside? |
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Post by aacain on Jun 16, 2020 8:46:56 GMT
My little bookshelf is slowly moving to the point where it looks "about right." I can change prices on some pod books but not others. A pdf version has disappeared completely from my ebook listing for one title but I have a pdf version of a Lulu only book but no print copy. So it's all a bit random and on face value a step backwards.
Since it only ever earned me a coffee or so in any one month, I'm one of the patient ones.
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Post by benziger on Jun 16, 2020 12:33:56 GMT
mybestseller dot co dot uk, sweek dot com, and bookmundo dot de Could you tell us a bit more about mybestseller? Is there a dot com? Do they have printers only in the Netherlands? How much percentage do they keep? What is the downside? is one of the leading global parties in self-publishing ( Mybestseller.co.uk), direct selling ( Booklink.io) and mobile publishing ( Sweek.com). Mybestseller has 40 brands in various countries. It offers third parties a white label publishing platform, modified according to their own look, feel and brand. Sweek is all about mobile writing and reading, enabling everyone to write, share and publish their story globally – for free. Readers can also like, follow, comment on and share stories in the app. Sweek organizes writing competitions with traditional publishers, as well as other parties to discover the newest writing talent. Booklink is the solution for selling books directly to customers, using social media, websites and affiliate websites. Booklink aims at partnering with publishers, educational parties, b2b players and top authors.
The group's site is www.mybestseller.com (english, spanish, german, french, dutch). The company's name is Mybestseller BV and is based at Delftsestraat 33, 3013 AE Rotterdam in the Netherlands. They offers Major sales channels like the iBookstore, Amazon and Google Play; Relevant national online retailers in various countries (6000 brick and mortar bookshops in Germany/Austria/Switzerland/Liechtenstein; ++?); Integrated webshop including all major payment methods; Author can buy their own book at attractive rates; Up to date sales overview for authors, monthly royalty payments. They do printed and e-books and promises to answer 95% of all inquiries in 24h. (above copy-pasted from them) How much mybestseller earns is not transparently shown. There is the net price (print/packaging/delivery note/bank charges/my bestseller/ VAT), the margin and the sales price. Printing is done by partners in Europe. If the prices are reasonable or not, you would have to compare them with other providers and enter the same book in the price calculator. What stands out quickly are the very understandable step-by-step instructions through the whole process and the logical structure of the site.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2020 15:43:40 GMT
Ok, so they are a serious contender for the global market. This is an amazing thing and will encourage other companies to step up their game. Thank you for all that clear information, Benziger.
I would never have known about them were it not for this website. Thank you again for creating it; just in the nick of time. Seesh, imagine we didn't have one another. The support and information have been incredible.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2020 15:45:05 GMT
... one day you see it, the next you don't. Last week I downloaded all print ready files, and switched most to 'private', and made use of mybestseller dot co dot uk, sweek dot com, and bookmundo dot de. Had I had a mybestseller account before I ordered the very last of my Lulu books, I would have saved $20 in the whole package including shipping. Today, I want to switch to 'private' the rest of the books (I'll leave a few free download PDFs, and forcibly the files, since no one can delete anything), but I cannot switch any more books to 'private', and an attempt at downloading the 'print ready' files crashed my firefox. Doh ... Luckily I'm retired and have a life after Indie, the last books are now merely mementoes and of 'historic value'. I feel for all those who relied on Lulu for an income by selling books. What a disaster. I have de-linked any Lulu books or links to the lulu spotlight - the ill-fitting 'old' files will print pearshaped on the 'new' upgraded templates. , thank you for coming back and posting all that. My mind is racing with possibilities. I hope others are seeing them too. |
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Post by JesusNinja on Jun 30, 2020 2:59:08 GMT
I have just given up totally. I unsubbed from Lulu's Facebook, Paul's blog, etc. The updates never happen. As in tonight still no revenue migration. It was the 29th right? Anyway with their distribution stream screwed up, my books still not out after almost three months, etc. They said they weren't going to start re-streaming till the last of this month. Of course that's if it's fixed. So maybe five months total getting my books listed. All that money lost. No compensation from Lulu at all. With job hours cut, I was relying on this to help pay bills. Still getting paid but who knows if it's right.
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sirram
Senior Printer
No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money
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Post by sirram on Jun 30, 2020 9:25:27 GMT
Judging by the traffic volume here, I would guess that the Desperation and Anger Phases have morphed into the Resignation and Apathy Phases.
Fascinating, Captain. [One eyebrow goes up.] "It's Lulu, Jim, but not as we know it!" |
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