An INGRAMSPARK RANT *ahem* Update on this Self-Publishing Print on Demand Company
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- Опубликовано: 4 сен 2023
- So many indie authors are upset over this latest Ingramspark update of changing the wholesale discount from 30% minimum to 40% minimum (which drastically cuts into our author royalties, AKA the money we make per book). Here are my thoughts on that change, as well as another (slightly more positive) recent update, plus the pros and cons of Ingramspark overall to help you decide if this is the right print on demand company for your self-publishing needs.
MENTIONED IN VIDEO:
◦ Where I Self-Publish (most recent video): • Where I Self-Publish M...
◦ Ingramspark Versus Barnes & Noble: • Ingramspark versus Bar...
◦ Ingramspark Versus KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing): • KDP (Kindle Direct Pub...
◦ Print Book Preorders: • Print Book Preorders: ...
◦ Ingramspark Misprint of The Jinni Key: • Ingramspark's misprint...
◦ Ingramspark Upload Tutorial: • INGRAMSPARK TUTORIAL: ...
◦ KDP has hardcovers (video 1 in series): • KDP HARDCOVER is now a...
◦ KDP hardcover quality review (video 2 in series): • My KDP HARDCOVER Proof...
◦ Published my Collectors Edition hardcover on KDP (video 3 in series): • Self-Published my KDP ...
◦ Unboxing the Collectors Edition hardcover (video 4 in series): • UNBOXING my first hard...
PUBLISHING COMPANIES MENTIONED:
Kindle Direct Publishing, Ingramspark, Barnes & Noble Press, Lulu, Draft2Digital, Book Vault, Book Baby,
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As a newbie indie author, I've thought about using Ingramspark, but after seeing all the headaches and frustration they've caused I'm scared to use them. I have used KDP and I'm currently looking into B&N. Thank you for putting out videos like this to help me as I figure things out. ❤
Ingram is the absolute worst. We lost so much money using them as the charged use for supposed returns.
Take a look into Draft 2 Digital.....very good platform and easy to use
I also have to say that I love your balanced perspective, which you always seem to do. Well done!
I appreciate that, thank you so much!
As someone who used to work as an editor in traditional publishing, we were practically forced by companies to offer 50-55% off, and often times stores would send back unsold books. Which mean our books didn't have royalties for authors (as our press didn't do an advance) until almost 6 months after publication as we didn't get paid until after they send returns and then they only paid for the books they sold. Some stores would even drop their books price to below the wholesale price, and then not pay for the books. So many lawsuits have happened with BNN and the Zon over that.
Oh my goodness!! I had no idea, that's wild!!
Thank you for this video. It's refreshing to have a candid look at what others are experiencing and to actually see your "backend" on IS and compare it to what I was filling out just last night. My first book went through a small publisher who basically did all the IS and KDP stuff for me. I wasn't happy with having a middleman so this time I'm doing it myself. I, too, was cowed by their rhetoric to consider offering the 55% discount to book retailers. I was wondering if you could comment on the risks of offering to take delivery of returned books. How much does this happen? Was it ever a disaster for you? Thanks for sharing your experience.
Yeah, I was super bummed by this. I'm publishing my first book at the end of the month, and I had JUST enabled everything for distribution, then had to go back in raise the prices. Ended up raising my hardcover price, but decided to leave my paperback at a more comparable price, even though I will be making pennies. I seriously considered whether I should just try and pull it and forget Ingramspark entirely, but decided not to for that number one reason you mentioned - distribution. As a first-time publishing author, my guiding marketing principle has been to prioritize exposure, even if that sometimes means prioritizing it over making money. But maybe if I'm somewhat successful in the long run, I can eventually look at other options. (Or maybe IS will get better, but I'm not holding my breath!)
So sorry to hear that :( You can always start with the lower pricing and raise it later in the future after you've debuted too, or change it periodically to be on sale and then change back - you get to decide, so never feel like you're locked in! :)
First! I looked and I had my discounts higher than 40% so I changed them to 40% and lowered my retail prices. I had already been hurting myself lol. Their change actually made me look and adjust better for me and worse for them. I am sure I am the exception.
That's a good thing that it brought the prices to your attention then, so glad you were able to switch it and make more per book!
I'm writing my first book (at least I'm trying...). Looking at all that you are passing through I start to feel a bit discouraged. I hope I can finish my first book and then decide what to do with it. By the way, your videos are really useful as you are helping me a lot to understand the current situation of the publishing market.
Alberto I'm also currently writing my first book and I say don't be discouraged. If you're really confident about your book I say keep going! While IngramSpark's distribution saturation is enticing I absolutely positively require customer service. I've read so many horror stories about poor service, their sneaky fees and now they're cutting author commissions down to almost nothing--at this point why bother with this company. I'm going the Amazon+B&N route (and buying my own ISBNs) then will later consider Ingram if they get their service act together. Good luck my man!
I'm a first-time indie author. I'm working on my second book. Thank you for this video. I will not use Ingram Sparks. I need simplicity in publishing, the more, the better. It seems like KDP and, maybe, B&N will be my choices.
I use lulu and Barnes and noble and KDP. But I make the most from my own website.
Glad it was helpful! Those two companies (mainly KDP) have worked well for me!
First of all, I love you. You are so cute even at the height of your frustration. I am a new author with a work of fiction to be published by the end of this year. Thank you for your advice. I am soaking up any information I can glean at the moment and yours appears to be very genuine.
I was just trying to upload to Ingram right now and started looking up videos and came across your video. KDP was so easy and intuitive and I wrested with avoiding Ingram altogether but I wanted to have my book in bookstores at some point…but I might just leave well enough alone. The royalties (or lack of) make it seem like it’s more effort than it’s worth.
Try draft 2 Digital or blurb
I love your balanced perspective and the way you analyzed this. I also understand the frustration. I tend to avoid Ingramspark since I've dealt with so many noncommunicative people in the past. I still want to get my books out once I have more completed, so I'm waiting until I have the first three books done before I start putting them up. I could change my mind but that's my plan as of now.
Thank you! Glad it was helpful. And the past experiences have really shaped how I feel about them as well. Wishing you the best!
Hello and thank you for the video.
Based on your experience, which books sell the most on Ingramspark?
I just finished up the back end of my first kids book with Ingram about a week and a half ago (waiting for my proof copy) and they really do take as much as they can. I settled on a 35% wholesale price... guess I'll need to change that. The one thing I couldn't quite get a real answer to was whether Ingram refers to Amazon as a seller. Guessing they do? I'm not aiming to get into physical stores, but was wondering if the wholesale matters for Amazon? Anywho, thank you for the video update. Really hoping KDP figures out how to do hardback editions with less than 75 pages in the future :)
So sorry they're so slow, it drives me crazy too!!!
Funny enough, you make a really good point - Amazon shouldn't be given a "wholesale discount" because that's where readers buy directly, and they definitely don't get that discount. BUT the wholesale discount is applied on the backend to ALL books, so that makes me think the extra profit from all those Amazon sales goes straight into the Ingramspark pocket :(
Has anyone actually confirmed if the 40% cost is true? That some retailers are requiring this? Or is it possible I gram is just saying this to have a reason to raise prices?
I honestly have wondered this myself. I used to work at B&N, for 10 years, and I don't think the wholesale discount affected much our ordering books. Granted I was never a manager and not in charge of ordering, but I did run the stockroom for a bit so I knew a little about the process. We didn't like to order books that were non-returnable, but I never heard anything about the discount.
I did hear an indie bookseller on Instagram talking about how they were losing money because authors were setting their discounts to, like, 5%. I absolutely don't think she was lying, but I was confused by that comment. One, because we can't set our discounts that low on Ingramspark, and two, because, I assume even indie booksellers have a choice over book ordering - like, if an author is setting a discount that low, then just don't order that book? But I am definitely no expert and may be missing details here.
My library in a small town in 😢 Ohio orders books from Amazon all the time. They have both of my books (paperback) on their shelf because someone requested them.
Being Minnesotan, I greatly appreciate you thinking your Minnesota Nice to IngramSpark wasn't really that nice at all. It was! Your return messages were very politely pointed and I think this was appropriate given their lack of professionalism in return. I decided many years ago that I wouldn't be allowing IngramSpark to distribute my books. Although I understand that they offer pros to indie book authors, my scale tips them far more toward the cons. And, anything I've learned about them since this initial decision hasn't changed the scale for me. I'm not bothered one way or the other about being in bookstores, or paperback pre-sales and I'm happy to donate a paperback copy of my book to the NY and Brooklyn public library systems here in NYC so they don't have to buy it from Ingram. (They could pony-up for the ebook through Draft2Digital, though!) So, for me, IngramSpark's pros aren't enough of a selling feature to deal with their cons. But, that's just my math. Other authors have to make their own calculations.
Thanks for the info. I just recently published my children’s book with kdp and was considering Ingramspark for the hardcover but I might hold off for now.
Absolutely! I can see how Ingramspark might be a better fit for hardcover + children's book needs specifically, so don't let this fully turn you off if you want to experiment with them (you can always remove your books for distribution or just ignore them and publish on another vendor if it doesn't feel like a good fit)... But that said, for hardcovers, I've enjoyed KDP's options and I think Barnes & Noble (and maybe LuLu) might also have good options worth checking out?
Thank you for this informative video! I do think it is worth mentioning that this is a change that bookstores and the US market is making. It isn't solely the fault of Ingram Spark. (You might have mentioned this, but I watched this video in parts.) While it is frustrating for many Indie authors, they also have to abide by the market rules.
Yes I did mention that and tried to have a balanced perspective that they may have their hand forced as well. It’s hard to know if that’s true though, since there are rumors that booksellers actually only get 30% discounts most of the time and Ingram pockets the rest :(
I wasn't going to go on this website originally because I've researched your videos and others on how bad it is. Now I'm definitely glad I thought about because that's just a devastation. Honestly I feel bad for other authors and you for going through this. Absolutely insane.
Yeah, it truly sucks, I actually saw it while uploading the files for my current release and was like whoa. Because I had all my books at 35% and was only getting a little over $2. Now, that's slashed in half but because I want the wide distro for my paperback and actual jackets I just switched it and sighed. But it does indeed suck for the little man.
I agree, such a bummer!
First, im so jealous that you can snap your fingers with such definition 😄. Second, thank you for your perspective. The more we, as indieauthor know, the better.
Haha thank you! Glad it was helpful!
Very informative. Lots of questions answered. Great personality too. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful! :)
I have finally finished editing my book. I am now to the formatting stage and an in search of tips and tricks..... I saw this video is formatting Part 7... I went to your channel to look for the rest of the formatting videos (parts 1 - 6) .... I did not see a playlist....
Great information ❤ Why did you wanted the books to be removed?
A lot of bookworms I know abandoned Amazon due to saturation of poor quality AI books....and things like a 5 in 1 book....really. thought we were talking about books and not chapters.....and as far as audiobooks go authors republic and gumroad are exponentially easier and friendlier that audible/ACX. Amazon is my favorite for paperbacks and hardcovers D2D for ebooks, authors republic for audiobooks, blurb for specialty books(and magazines), Bentbox for my adult content books, and I am currently working on my own online library( uploading. 10000 books)....when my library opens others can upload to the library too if they wish too....I encourage you to start your own......and that's just my books....busy busy
The way I laughed at part 16:50...
Oof. I love how you always break this stuff down for us.
Hahaha thank you!!
Just published my first novel under a penname yesterday through IngramSpark. Definitely agree that customer service and the system training could be improved. I started the process in February, thinking "How hard could it be?" I attended 20 Books to 50k in Vegas in November and met people who publish a dozen novels a year. But ... at 64, I now realize exactly how naive/ignorant I am when it comes to publishing and printing. However ... I probably will stick with IS over the long haul, to keep that wide distribution network. I'm awaiting the first shipment of books to my home now for a book launch party, and I want to find out how fast the book gets delivered to friends who have ordered it through IngramSpark. I've ordered it through Amazon (which says it's out of stock, of course), and I'll see how long that takes. Long story short (TOO LATE!), I'm working on the prequel now, hoping to finish and get published by the end of summer. The second book should be a lot easier to navigate toward publishing, once the novel is written and polished.
From working retail, I understand about the copy/paste message they sent. Depending on if they outsource it or not there are trackers and goals with requests. If a message is opened but the case is not "closed" then they have X amount of time to insert a solution. That default message would satisfy their quota systems. "I have done all I can, send it up the chain." and that may be to a new outsourced firm or to ISs direct customer service.
My TV service is like that, you have to go through 2 layers of "other" CS reps before you get an actual company rep. I could hear the other reps in the background introducing as other company names. It is also why they sometimes sound like they are reading off checklists for solutions, because they probably do have a binder of checklists for that level.
Yes that's exactly what it is, I agree... It's just so frustrating because even if the goal is to be helpful, it just comes across so incredibly unhelpful and uncaring. They'd do so much better to devote more time to their customer service and resolve things immediately instead of putting them off over and over again for a month :(
@@BethanyAtazadeh Yeah, it is a hassle. Companies figure why staff expensive people when they can just get sheet readers. No offense to the readers, sometimes all a customer needs is to be told to hit the power button for 3 seconds.
We were calling IT so much when the phone picked up I answered them with "Hello, this is blank with blank. I did steps 1-22, send me to level 2." "Hello, this is blank with blank. I did steps 23-30, send me to level 3." "Level 3? Yeah, my PC is making smores, again." They liked it because it improved their call quotas.
My only question about Ingram is if readers can buy from them or is it basically libraries, etc?
I had a problem I needed help with and Ingram surprisingly got back to me quickly. I was shocked because of your videos. 😂😂 They really do need the chat option that so many companies are doing these days to help customers.
Thank you for your guidance and insight!!
That's a great question! So they're like a "middle man" who sells your books for you to other companies that actually sell books. That whole list I shared in the video is both for those companies purchasing but also for readers purchasing from those companies - example: as a reader, if you purchase my book from Target or Walmart online, that came from Ingramspark. Does that make sense? It's a little confusing haha! But yeah they need to get their customer service act together, because you're extremely lucky, most authors I've spoken with have had experiences as bad or worse than mine.
It’s not fun being a person who is ‘on it’ as far as getting things done and having to work with people or companies who aren’t.
Thanks for the explanation! I thought that was the case but have kind of wondered if someone could purchase from them directly. 😀
Totally with you, you're so right!
You are the nicest fruestrated person ever! 😄 thank for the info!
Haha! You are so welcome!
I'm glad I caught your video today as I never received any type of email notification from Ingram regarding this change. When I signed into my account today I found the alert. Did you receive email notification? Also, what would be the pros or cons of waiting until closer to October 30th to make the change to 40%? Lastly, is it best to set up my book through Barnes & Noble before I approach the store for book signing? Thanks again for another great video.
Glad it was helpful! I think I got the email notification because I'd signed up for emails from them at some point (I don't actually remember when though haha)... For me, I changed the print books already because I didn't really think about waiting, but when I got to my hardcovers and saw the drastic increase in price I'd need to do, I decided to wait until early October. It blew my mind that I'd have to raise the price by $5 or more just to get close to my current royalties so I decided to hold off on that change for as long as I could.
As far as using B&N, if you want to ask for a signing, they buy through Ingram or through B&N press, either works. (p.s. They will not buy from Amazon just FYI)
I plan on using them in the future. Glad to know about the cost of setting up preorders, because I plan to link each book at the end of the previous one so that will be a downfall that I will have to budget for.
Glad it helps! Oh - I didn't think to mention this in the video BUT there are a few workarounds that could save you from needing to pay the uploading fee! (1) if you set up a "Universal Book Link" through Draft2Digital (definitely google these, they're so helpful!) then you can potentially include that link in the back of the book before you actually have it OR (2) you can link to your website page where the books will be listed so that the link is always there but you update your website to go directly to the sales page once the new book is live. We can find creative ways to avoid the fee haha!
There’s also the fact that a simple website link (or even a QR code) is much easier than typing out a long Amazon link :)
There is so much anxiety and stress for me around dealing with and learning these vendor platforms. I just want to write books! This anxiety is a part of the reason I decided to query agents with the hope of traditional publishing.
I do wonder, since IS the printer for tred pub books is there incentive for them to make it more difficult for self published authors. Is it possible they're in the pockets if the tred pub houses and being encouraged to not make it easy. Just a thought as I am up late stressing and waiting. 😂
Yeah this sucks. I am working on my debut novel and do want to use Ingramspark in the future because of their distribution network. I have this dream of seeing my book in a bookstore someday. (being located in Dublin I don't know if that's even possible) but more importantly I don't want to exclude anyone from being able to read my work and I still think that if you want to go wide they are the best option even though I heard lots of negative things about them.
Thats totally understandable, and bookstores are becoming more possible for indie authors so it’s always a possibility!
Interesting. I am learning soooo much.
Glad to hear it!
I used to use LS in 2009 for my first nonfiction book and had a bad experience and swore i would never go back. Seems nothing has changed.
IngramSpark printed my kids' books properly for the first few orders, then started sending me books with white lines at the bottoms of the pages without inspecting the printed books, and when I inquired multiple times as to why without an answer, they finally answered that our bleed dimensions were off, even though they had been printing them properly before (?)
this book was professionally illustrated and designed - the bleed is not the problem.
yr right . everything you say. Authors should be valued. Sounds like their too big to bother about that , cant think that way
Love your personality ! Thx!
Oh thank you!
@@BethanyAtazadeh I inboxed you on IG with a question. Is that an okay point of contact for you?
I haven't used Ingram because of all the fees. 😅 I only have three books out now, so I'm still learning and building my audience. But I'm looking to go wide with print soon. At the end of the day, publishing is a business and we need to price our books to benefit us as the author.
I stopped using them because of those fees too, so glad they got rid of them! Publishing is definitely a business though, I agree 100%.
This type of videos y should watch. BECAUSE IT won't uplit you just the oposite. REMENBER EACH EXPERIENCE IS DIFERENT. HERS IS HERS AND YOURS PROBABLY WOULD BE DIFFERENT
My favorite part of their website is when they ask you how likely I am to recommend them to other authors. Zero. Definitely zero.
Every time 😂😂😂
Same!
Self-publish with Dale did a whole break down on KDP, Barnes and Noble, Ingram, Lulu and the newest Draft to Digital (which is branching out into hard copy now)
That’s awesome!
Right now I have my book priced for much higher because of that... but I'm heavily considering stopping the distribution and just setting up my book under Barnes and Noble and under KDP instead then testing out Lulu or keeping Ingramsparks for orders that come from my own site. The 40% was just insane considering how much we already don't make from POD lol.
I was going to but I may not or I may wait because doing all these revisions would delay my release date and that’s more important than everything else so I think I’ll just wait till I can and just publish my work with the better publishers
Why do people *want* jackets for their books? Personally I'll always prefer a nice cover on the book itself, and if it being protected from damage is the issue I'll always take a slip case over a jacket.
I know they're more expensive to make so they're saved for special editions, but it's going to do the most for protecting the book without going full-box.
Jackets are just an annoying waste of paper to me that makes the final thing feel and look less quality.
I have a very STRONG feeling, as someone who works in class action and see verbiage issues like this often, they intended to make people think they have 1 day. They have to give a certain amount of time based on what states they sell in for that change to take place, but if you do it sooner rather than later it will make them more sales.
Wow, I think you're probably right! I am really grossed out by the fact that they probably did it on purpose, but that makes a lot of sense :(
Any new updates on the Ingram Sparks front? Or are they holding strong?
I plan on using them because they are the only way I can get my books in the local libraries
Totally fair.
So for a paperback version, which is the best distribution site for self-publishers?
Amazon hands down then draft 2 Digital
This is why I buy my own books and mail them out I find I make more money this way and it’s more personal for me to mail out.
Here's what I earn from IngramSpark after working on a book on and off for 10 years, hiring a line editor and illustrator, purchasing an ISBN number and hiring a book formatter. $ 8.24 55% $ 0.17
That's right; 17 cents per book. I would have to sell more than 6500 copies to break even. Good thing I am a working writer because I will always be in the hole as a book author. I have 4 more titles in the pipeline with one schedule for upload to IS in less than a week. I have already spent $650 on that one.
Thanks Bethany. I’m on Ingram & need to update my file. I’m thinking do I bother paying the update fee & rising the discount of my books & pricing, or… do I go somewhere else. Good to know I got until Oct to figure it out. X
So sorry you have to update too, but yes thank goodness there's some time to think it over!
@@BethanyAtazadeh I found out my book cover needs to be amended for D2D, as the Ingram version has something in the way of where the barcode goes. I’ve benched it as I have a book fest this weekend I need to prep for.
Hello, I read your bio it says you have an English degree with an emphasis on creative writing. It intrigued me to look into school to write better, I have published my first book, I love writing, but if I wanted to get better is that a good route, if I can afford it. I don’t know if you have a video about that already lol thanks
I don't believe you need a degree to write books at all, and in fact, I don't think it contributed hardly anything to my skillset or what I know about writing books. I share more in this video here if you're interested: ruclips.net/video/2KYP_gA8ugQ/видео.html
@@BethanyAtazadehthanks for the honesty i appreciate it, bouta check it out now 💯
Have you seen the cost to do a book with colors on KDP lately....omg....no wonder everyone is doing black and whites or going eleswhere
Also, even at the 55% off, the store actually only receives a 40% discount and the rest goes to Ingram as a distribution fee.
And sometimes the stores seem to get even less of a discount from what I’ve heard, or when readers buy direct I don’t think there’s any discount, so Ingram pockets the difference in those cases too. :(
Well I was doubting to use them for a while, because of the uploading fee. Now I am saying nope, not going to do that. I will stick with the POD company that I am currently using.
Totally fair!
I am based in the UK, so my only options available to me are KDP and IngramSpark. So I feel like I won't have much choice in the matter. (In early days of my novel as I've changed genres, I'm currently focussing on characters, then I'll start world building etc.)
That’s tough! I hope there might be a competitor rising up in your area soon as well though!
Bookvault is becoming a realm competitor, just someone to keep eyes on as they're a UK based company and have only expanded to US distribution in the last couple of months
So, would you advise one to go with Ingram Sparks or it just depends?
Like I said in the video, I'd be super careful and see if you can find other companies that fit your needs first.
@@BethanyAtazadeh OK, thank you!
Anyone have a problem where the discount pricing percentages will not change even when you DID change it in all the effective dates?
It takes up to a week to adjust the price/discounts.
Do you need to have an LLC to profit from IS?
I use D2D Print. Book quality is great & MUCH better customer service.
They use the same printers and distribution channels as IS too 🥰
I had no idea they might be using the same printer but either way if the customer service is better that might be worth it to switch to them!!
How can you put the books in the stores? Will your books be in other countries too? Like the UK for example?
That’s the decision of each individual store. Ingramspark is just one of the companies that makes the option to buy available to the store.
@@BethanyAtazadeh oh wow, I had no idea! Thanks for the info :)
Raising the prices and still charging a fee. So frustrating.
I agree :(
Try book vault now in USA
why my books are not getting enabled for distribution i appealed in Category integrity appeal but they give no specific reason and simply says violation of policy. i have my own content good cover and valid isbn bought from bowker. am us based in june 2023 they used to take my books but after that something changed. kindly help. i price my book 30 usd for 200 pages black and white 6x9 size paperback. no opensource content. copyrighted and build as per ingrams file creation guidelines.
You gotta ask IngramSpark, I don’t work for them so I don’t know the answer, sorry!
What changed with the new 2024 user agreement???
Umm. I just ordered a preorder paperback from Amazon today. Does the not being able to have preorders for print copies only apply to indie ?
Yes, it’s different for traditional publishers. Amazon sells print preorders, but you can’t publish them via KDP.
Just to clarify, Amazon is both a vendor AND a print on demand company. They as a print on demand company don’t offer preorders on print. But Ingramspark will do print preorders to Amazon the vendor. So I’ve had my print books on preorder on Amazon by going through Ingramspark to do so. Make sense?
@@BethanyAtazadeh yes, thank you!
is it true that unless you do at least 45% discount or amazon will show your book as unavailable
No that’s false.
Haven’t found any good print on demand companies. I have a link on the bottom of the page which most POD don’t allow…😊
So frustrating! I do think that the obstructive and misleading wording is actually a strategy employed by many large companies that are trying to "encourage" a change in behavior -- and it works!
Also of note: IS claims that bookstores require a 55% discount, but ask any bookseller and they'll say the discount they can actually get is a LOT closer to 35%. Guess who keeps the remainder? Ugh. I know it's a cutthroat business, but still.
I feel like I'm over a barrel with ISpark, so I am using them for my first novel coming out (wheeeeeee!) in October.
I think you’re probably right and that’s so sad! Oh my gosh, I totally forgot reading an article about that where they actually kept most of the discount supposedly going to booksellers-they’re so shady!!! I wish there was a way to expose this :(
I think we just did! @@BethanyAtazadeh 😉
My small-scale plan is to ask at each bookstore I visit, to see whether my theory/data holds up.
PS Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your experiences in such an engaging and honest way. It's been really really helpful as I navigate this first novel.
I know libraries in Colorado can't get books from Amazon either
Thank you for confirming that! That makes me think it has to do with our US taxes and is all states
My hunt continues to find where to publish my book when I'm ready, and so far, I am NOT using IngramSpark. For all the RUclips author's pros and cons, there are a lot more cons. I'm not sure I'd use Barnes and Noble since they use Ingram for printing, which the reviews are bad too. KDP is the #1 company, but I'm already selling low contents books. Sooo, I have to obtain an LLC to open another account with KDP. LLC would be my shield from copyright trolls and personal property.
If it helps, you can publish under the same KDP account and just change the author and publisher name when publishing the book. In fact, I think you have to because KDP doesn’t allow multiple accounts:(
@@BethanyAtazadeh I read/heard as long as you have an LLC it's okay and I don't think you can change the author's name, mine is a pen name. I'll be filing for an LLC for safety reasons anyway. Yeh, I'll be researching when the time comes. Thanks.
Question is it true that you have to be a publishing company to upload books to Ingram?
It used to be, but as far as I can tell, it doesn’t seem to be required anymore.
It's actually even worse. If you raise your book prices, and an outlet returns them (they have 90 days to return) they receive back the CURRENT return value based on the higher price, so you actually lose money on the return. So, it is possible that stores pay a lower price and return them for a higher price, making money on the return and the author seriously loses.
Oh my gosh yes! I’ve had returns happen and they’re wildly expensive, so frustrating!!
How do I delete my IngramSpark account? But if I do, will it truly take my book/title off the market? I need to get my book off the market, but since I cannot delete the title, I want to delete it all together.
You’d have to talk to their customer service, I don’t know the answer to that.
I am just using them to print my books and get them shipped directly to me then selling on my website. Far more profitable.
They don't let you upload dummy files any more. If you dig in to there policies they say that what you upload needs ready for print beouse they 'might' start printing them as soon as an order comes in even if they are not shipping them out yet.... So pre orders are no longer worth it with them.
I've heard that as well, that they may start printing literally as soon as they have files -but unfortunately the way my author friend found out was because she actually did upload a dummy file, and that's what they started printing :( I didn't notice any language when I uploaded saying dummy files weren't allowed but I also wasn't looking for that at the time either... They should definitely make that clearer either way though for sure!
I'm releasing my debut novel on Oct 7th and I have never been so frustrated with such poor customer service! I'm using D2D atm to order some books in for my book launch party, and it has been a breeze using them. I just wish they didn't have a $30USD proof copy price (I ended up not paying that!) and better print distribution... it's tough starting off indie!
So sorry to bear bad news, but that’s really encouraging to hear D2D has been so good! That makes me wanna try them and maybe they’ll grow as competition asap!
I haven’t used them because of the horror stories I have heard and now I’m not sure I will jump in until maybe my series is completed and I feel “safe” with the content not changing
That sounds like a wise game plan!
I have never worked with Ingram, nor do I plan to in the future. I've been totally happy with KDP printed books. I have noticed the MSRP for books overall has been increasing--maybe this is Ingram's misguided attempt to encourage indie authors to charge more for their books.
Yeah KDP is awesome!
I like lulu. Especially for print books. And I use global distribution for my ebooks.
But I was interested in Ingrahamspark. Now, I'm not sure. 🤔
Good to know you like Lulu! I’ve been curious about them!
@BethanyAtazadeh the global distribution is slow, but I've gotten used to it. LoI I do like the author's page they give you. It makes sharing my "online bookstore" easier. I do want to really give the other platforms a chance though.
Try Vervante
I haven’t heard of them, but will check them out!
This also affects authors who don't have a large platform. Who don't have that large following ans are just starting out.
It affects everyone on Ingramspark across the board regardless of following or anything else.
Wait. I’m confused. Maybe I’m missing the point. Is Ingram making that much money from indie authors? More than Amazon? If authors are making WAY MORE sales on Amazon than Ingram then why does it matter if they’re raising the wholesale discount percentage? Amazon can make things a whole lot cheaper because they don’t even need to make a sizable profit from books. They sell anything and everything on Amazon. Book stores and companies like Ingram make money predominantly from books. If Ingram made things a whole lot cheaper to appease authors, they would still lose because readers are so used to buying everything from Amazon. The more power given to Amazon, the more Ingram, Draft2Digital, Barnes and Noble etc suffer.
It’s like Apple doesn’t force you to buy Apple products. They encourage you to. You can buy PCs. You can use Android phones. Amazon pretty much says distribute through us or you won’t make any sales. They even have a stronghold on book review sites via Goodreads or streaming via Twitch. Companies can’t even compete with Amazon’s speedy shipping.
So what are they, and all these bookstores supposed to do? Make it cheaper to use them so that…..most readers still buy through Amazon anyway?
But, yes, Ingram needs to improve their site and their customer service.
I'm not sure I followed everything, but yes Ingram needs to improve for sure!
The first publishing company I accidentally came across was lulu, but I only thought it was a printing company at first and not a publishing one lol
Then when I was getting into the indie author community, I heard a lot about kdp and I've now only published through them, I was considering switching for one book series to Barnes and Noble, cause I heard about them afterwards, but I thought it would be best to stick with kdp for now since I already have my progress on the book series there
That's awesome, I really enjoy KDP
Are there any publishers in which the author makes most of the money? I feel like the author should make at least 50%, preferably more, because it's the author that did most of the work.... 🤷♀
It depends on a lot of things. For ebooks definitely bc there’s almost no cost to send the book to readers so on KDP for example the cost is split 70% to authors and 30% to KDP. With print they take the printing and shipping costs out of the payment before splitting it, and then KDP does 60/40, so that’s prob the best author royalties I’ve seen.
However, when you price your ebook more than 9.99 on kdp the royalty changes. So for me, they still end up making more, so I've taken my books down.
As a debut author I am not using IS basically because they require cmyk covers. For my cover design it muted the colors a lot. But I am not quick to make a new cover because of all the bs I hear about this company. I guess I am waiting for a competitor to pop out of the woods. 🤣
Gosh I hope more competition happens asap too!!
KDP hardbacks . . . no problem creating one in the UK.
No option yet to print them in the UK.
You're directed to Amazons in France, Germany etc. . . . . weird.
Hmm that is weird!
I will never use Ingramspark, and my money is on a big lawsuit in their future. The difficult to understand wording is by design. It's not a mistake or an oversight. It's a future lawsuit.
I never thought of it that way, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you were right!
I have to ask, because you've mentioned it in all of the videos I've watched so far... why do you care so much about pre-orders? If ppl love your books and are going to buy the next one, why is it necessary to have it set up for pre-orders 4 months in advance? It just seems like you spend so much stress worrying about these pre-orders and I don't get it. Please explain?
That's a valid question! I wouldn't say I stress about it, so much as I highly value preorders, for a lot of reasons. (1) The average person needs to hear about a book (or any product) 7 times before buying, so this gives a lot of opportunities to encourage sales. (2) sales BEFORE the release date help the actual LAUNCH be 100x's more effective in multiple ways (more reviews faster, bulk sales gives the book a higher ranking in store, etc). Those are just the top two reasons, there are so many more in this video if you're curious: ruclips.net/video/Q63vRihfhWY/видео.html
@@BethanyAtazadeh thanks! I'll check out that video.
I use only Amazon. Self-publishing is complicated, and I have enough to do. When I have unpublished in the past on Amazon, it immediately took effect.
Totally understandable! (And yes when I unpublished on Amazon it was also immediate!)
LuLu is a rip off
IngramSpark absolutely blows.
Yeah :(
They are criminals.