Comments on: Can I buy a single ISBN for my book rather than 10? http://www.publishingbasics.com/2006/10/04/can-i-buy-a-single-isbn-for-my-book-rather-than-10/ Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:59:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ray Osborne http://www.publishingbasics.com/2006/10/04/can-i-buy-a-single-isbn-for-my-book-rather-than-10/comment-page-1/#comment-41856 Ray Osborne Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:51:38 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=145#comment-41856 A few questions from a confused buyer who is wondering what to do. 1) Is there a special ISBN for ebooks? 2) Once you assign a ISBN to a book, can you modify and update the book even if it meant a new chapter or new pictures? 3) Can authors get together and buy a batch of ISBN and then reassign them to each other? Say I pay for on half of the 10 batch fee and keep five and the other author buys the other five. Thanks this a good board. Came up in the first batch of URLs on a Google Search. -RKO A few questions from a confused buyer who is wondering what to do.

1) Is there a special ISBN for ebooks?

2) Once you assign a ISBN to a book, can you modify and update the book even
if it meant a new chapter or new pictures?

3) Can authors get together and buy a batch of ISBN and then reassign them
to each other? Say I pay for on half of the 10 batch fee and keep five and the
other author buys the other five.

Thanks this a good board. Came up in the first batch of URLs on a Google Search.

-RKO

]]> By: Peter http://www.publishingbasics.com/2006/10/04/can-i-buy-a-single-isbn-for-my-book-rather-than-10/comment-page-1/#comment-37609 Peter Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:11:02 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=145#comment-37609 Why do you have to pay for ISBN numbers anyway? Isn't this just a big ripoff? In Canada, anyone can register with Collections Canada http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/isn/041011-1000-e.html and get their own range of ISBN numbers and manage it themselves. There is no need for parasites like Bowker. This is great, as long as you live in Canada. A US company can not use a Canadian ISBN, Ron Why do you have to pay for ISBN numbers anyway? Isn’t this just a big ripoff?

In Canada, anyone can register with Collections Canada

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/isn/041011-1000-e.html

and get their own range of ISBN numbers and manage it themselves. There is no need for parasites like Bowker.

This is great, as long as you live in Canada. A US company can not use a Canadian ISBN,
Ron

]]> By: Brian http://www.publishingbasics.com/2006/10/04/can-i-buy-a-single-isbn-for-my-book-rather-than-10/comment-page-1/#comment-27657 Brian Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:54:30 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=145#comment-27657 I've just discovered that in Britain, if you want an ISBN number there's no option but to pay GBP 105.75 (equivalent to over 200 dollars). That's for a block of ten - you can't buy them singly. It's a scam, a racket, a disgrace. A private company with a monopoly vastly overcharging for a "service". People should complain loudly. This is the unacceptable face of the "free market". I’ve just discovered that in Britain, if you want an ISBN number there’s no option but to pay GBP 105.75 (equivalent to over 200 dollars). That’s for a block of ten – you can’t buy them singly.

It’s a scam, a racket, a disgrace. A private company with a monopoly vastly overcharging for a “service”. People should complain loudly. This is the unacceptable face of the “free market”.

]]> By: gg http://www.publishingbasics.com/2006/10/04/can-i-buy-a-single-isbn-for-my-book-rather-than-10/comment-page-1/#comment-27489 gg Tue, 27 May 2008 01:49:07 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=145#comment-27489 so does that mean that this site is a scam?? http://www.isbn-us.com/ so does that mean that this site is a scam?? http://www.isbn-us.com/

]]> By: J. Karl Bogartte http://www.publishingbasics.com/2006/10/04/can-i-buy-a-single-isbn-for-my-book-rather-than-10/comment-page-1/#comment-25359 J. Karl Bogartte Sat, 09 Feb 2008 05:36:21 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=145#comment-25359 Apparently things have changed somewhat, since one can now have Lulu.com (if using lulu for your book/s) supply you with a valid ISBN # for $50.   The author does not own that ISBN that is being sold by Lulu for $50... Lulu does.  The ISBN that you own is $95 plus the cost of your barcode. Ron P Apparently things have changed somewhat, since one can now have Lulu.com (if using lulu for your book/s) supply you with a valid ISBN # for $50.

 

The author does not own that ISBN that is being sold by Lulu for $50… Lulu does.  The ISBN that you own is $95 plus the cost of your barcode.

Ron P

]]> By: J. Karl Bogartte http://www.publishingbasics.com/2006/10/04/can-i-buy-a-single-isbn-for-my-book-rather-than-10/comment-page-1/#comment-25360 J. Karl Bogartte Sat, 09 Feb 2008 05:36:21 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=145#comment-25360 Apparently things have changed somewhat, since one can now have Lulu.com (if using lulu for your book/s) supply you with a valid ISBN # for $50.   The author does not own the ISBN that is being sold by Lulu for $50… Lulu does.  The ISBN that you own is $95 plus the cost of your barcode. Ron P Apparently things have changed somewhat, since one can now have Lulu.com (if using lulu for your book/s) supply you with a valid ISBN # for $50.

 

The author does not own the ISBN that is being sold by Lulu for $50… Lulu does.  The ISBN that you own is $95 plus the cost of your barcode.

Ron P

]]> By: Josephine Quintana http://www.publishingbasics.com/2006/10/04/can-i-buy-a-single-isbn-for-my-book-rather-than-10/comment-page-1/#comment-17302 Josephine Quintana Sat, 01 Sep 2007 04:45:25 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=145#comment-17302 Hi Ron, gee I think you are cute besides giving such great information to us tyros at self-publishing. I also would like to ask like the guy from India about puchasing ISBNs outside of the US. I live in China and I just finished a photography book that I am selling on my own locally but I would like to eventually sell in local Chinese bookstores and eventually maybe online/bookstores. I have not applied for an ISBN yet but can do the insert/paste/ thing later or added when I get more printed from my local printer. I did not go with a traditional publisher. The last one I contacted wanted around $6000 for 1000 copies. Thanks for the information and keep that great smile!!! Josie Hi Ron, gee I think you are cute besides giving such great information to us tyros at self-publishing. I also would like to ask like the guy from India about puchasing ISBNs outside of the US. I live in China and I just finished a photography book that I am selling on my own locally but I would like to eventually sell in local Chinese bookstores and eventually maybe online/bookstores. I have not applied for an ISBN yet but can do the insert/paste/ thing later or added when I get more printed from my local printer. I did not go with a traditional publisher. The last one I contacted wanted around $6000 for 1000 copies. Thanks for the information and keep that great smile!!! Josie

]]> By: Anna http://www.publishingbasics.com/2006/10/04/can-i-buy-a-single-isbn-for-my-book-rather-than-10/comment-page-1/#comment-9191 Anna Sat, 19 May 2007 04:07:23 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=145#comment-9191 Lulu has had a number of pricing problems lately, caused by some mysterious and powerful arm-twister, it seems. In spite of this, I am still considering self-publishing with them. The only way that my books will be affordable is without ISBN. Will libraries purchase books without ISBNs? I write and illustrate children\'s picture books. My market is libraries and schools. If they will reject a book without an ISBN, then I will have to buy them and set up as a publisher, which I would rather not do. Anna What you are saying doesn\'t make sense,  You MUST have an ISBN if you have any hope of your book working out with ANYTHING other than friends and family. Lulu, at best, is a place to start printing a few copies.  You won\'t make any money with their pricing or anyone else\'s POD pricing when it comes to color.  OK for galleys, bad for productikon. Keep in mind, the only place to purchase ISBN\'s is RR Bowker. Ron Pramschufer Lulu has had a number of pricing problems lately, caused by some mysterious and powerful arm-twister, it seems. In spite of this, I am still considering self-publishing with them. The only way that my books will be affordable is without ISBN. Will libraries purchase books without ISBNs?

I write and illustrate children\’s picture books. My market is libraries and schools. If they will reject a book without an ISBN, then I will have to buy them and set up as a publisher, which I would rather not do.
Anna

What you are saying doesn\’t make sense,  You MUST have an ISBN if you have any hope of your book working out with ANYTHING other than friends and family. Lulu, at best, is a place to start printing a few copies.  You won\’t make any money with their pricing or anyone else\’s POD pricing when it comes to color.  OK for galleys, bad for productikon. Keep in mind, the only place to purchase ISBN\’s is RR Bowker.

Ron Pramschufer

]]> By: AURA http://www.publishingbasics.com/2006/10/04/can-i-buy-a-single-isbn-for-my-book-rather-than-10/comment-page-1/#comment-3850 AURA Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:21:41 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=145#comment-3850 I am new to all of this too, and I want to thank you for the clarification on the purchase of the ISBN #'s. If I have my own cover for the book, would I have to purchase the barcode at the same time I purchase the ISBN #'s? Also, does your company also make C/S's to insert on the inside cover of the book, and if so what size or how long does the C/D have to be? Plus, would I need a separate ISBN # for the C/D, and a bookmark that I want to go with the book? I will now proceed to the selfpublishing .com site. Many, many thanks for making the path a bit easier in self-publishing. I am new to all of this too, and I want to thank you for the clarification on the purchase of the ISBN #’s. If I have my own cover for the book, would I have to purchase the barcode at the same time I purchase the ISBN #’s? Also, does your company also make C/S’s to insert on the inside cover of the book, and if so what size or how long does the C/D have to be? Plus, would I need a separate ISBN # for the C/D, and a bookmark that I want to go with the book? I will now proceed to the selfpublishing .com site. Many, many thanks for making the path a bit easier in self-publishing.

]]> By: Sunny Kapoor http://www.publishingbasics.com/2006/10/04/can-i-buy-a-single-isbn-for-my-book-rather-than-10/comment-page-1/#comment-3832 Sunny Kapoor Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:29:06 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=145#comment-3832 Hi Ron I hope I am not late in asking questions here, but can an author who is living outside USA buy Isbn from bowker ? I am from India, and I am having hell of a time finding the place from where I can buy Isbn blocks here, Also if I want to sell it online only through my site will I still need a publisher and isbn number ? I understand that without an isbn number or a recognized publisher, people really don't accept the book as real literal work. i have even heard if we self publish, the chances of it being recognized as a legitimate book is very rare until and unless it is a unique piece of work ? Is that so ? and lastly If I sell one paperback and also as ebook will I need two isbn numbers ? I have just downloaded your e book, will go through it, thanks a lot for all the info. Sunny Hi Ron

I hope I am not late in asking questions here, but can an author who is living outside USA buy Isbn from bowker ?

I am from India, and I am having hell of a time finding the place from where I can buy Isbn blocks here,

Also if I want to sell it online only through my site will I still need a publisher and isbn number ? I understand that without an isbn number or a recognized publisher, people really don’t accept the book as real literal work. i have even heard if we self publish, the chances of it being recognized as a legitimate book is very rare until and unless it is a unique piece of work ? Is that so ?

and lastly If I sell one paperback and also as ebook will I need two isbn numbers ?

I have just downloaded your e book, will go through it, thanks a lot for all the info.

Sunny

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