Comments on: What can you tell us of Amazon’s new direct POD service, CreateSpace.com? http://www.publishingbasics.com/2007/08/22/what-can-you-tell-us-of-amazon%e2%80%99s-new-direct-pod-service-createspacecom/ Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:59:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bridget http://www.publishingbasics.com/2007/08/22/what-can-you-tell-us-of-amazon%e2%80%99s-new-direct-pod-service-createspacecom/comment-page-1/#comment-86011 Bridget Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:32:48 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=210#comment-86011 Any up-to-date information on the viability of using CreateSpace for publishing? We published our first book with Outskirtspress and were not happy with the process. Any up-to-date information on the viability of using CreateSpace for publishing? We published our first book with Outskirtspress and were not happy with the process.

]]> By: Jana Barrett http://www.publishingbasics.com/2007/08/22/what-can-you-tell-us-of-amazon%e2%80%99s-new-direct-pod-service-createspacecom/comment-page-1/#comment-33089 Jana Barrett Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:25:11 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=210#comment-33089 I used Createspace for my first book and am very satisfied with the process. I do not know what the author means by having to pay out $149, but I have paid absolutely nothing out of pocket for anything except the books I am purchasing at a very low price to my way of thinking. My cost for a 172 page 81/2 by 51/2 paperback with full color cover is $2.91 and I have had no problems at all with selling them at $12 each. As for having to return books, I just do not order so many at a time and realize that it takes about two weeks to receive them so that I have a supply coming in regularly. Plus, I have books shipped directly to libraries and bookstores where I will be signing. If I do not have any signing events scheduled, then I don't buy any books. If someone calls me and I have no books, I simply tell them to order them online. I also like the control I get with design work. I am an art teacher and find designing my covers very enjoyable. I plan to use them again. It has been a great experience! I used Createspace for my first book and am very satisfied with the process. I do not know what the author means by having to pay out $149, but I have paid absolutely nothing out of pocket for anything except the books I am purchasing at a very low price to my way of thinking. My cost for a 172 page 81/2 by 51/2 paperback with full color cover is $2.91 and I have had no problems at all with selling them at $12 each.

As for having to return books, I just do not order so many at a time and realize that it takes about two weeks to receive them so that I have a supply coming in regularly. Plus, I have books shipped directly to libraries and bookstores where I will be signing. If I do not have any signing events scheduled, then I don’t buy any books. If someone calls me and I have no books, I simply tell them to order them online.

I also like the control I get with design work. I am an art teacher and find designing my covers very enjoyable.

I plan to use them again. It has been a great experience!

]]> By: Wicked Sunny http://www.publishingbasics.com/2007/08/22/what-can-you-tell-us-of-amazon%e2%80%99s-new-direct-pod-service-createspacecom/comment-page-1/#comment-29560 Wicked Sunny Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:43:57 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=210#comment-29560 I disagree with Stuart, the books are not returnable, unless damaged while shipping. The print quality is superior and their customer support is excellent. I understand Ron's point of view but for someone who has just started writing books, it is a great way to get a finished product in hand for 4 $ + shipping. I disagree with Stuart, the books are not returnable, unless damaged while shipping.

The print quality is superior and their customer support is excellent.

I understand Ron’s point of view but for someone who has just started writing books, it is a great way to get a finished product in hand for 4 $ + shipping.

]]> By: Stuart McCammon http://www.publishingbasics.com/2007/08/22/what-can-you-tell-us-of-amazon%e2%80%99s-new-direct-pod-service-createspacecom/comment-page-1/#comment-24619 Stuart McCammon Sat, 26 Jan 2008 18:33:41 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=210#comment-24619 If you read the Createspace return policy, you will find that only DVDs, and not books, are returnable. Peace. If you read the Createspace return policy, you will find that only DVDs, and not books, are returnable. Peace.

]]> By: Gene Grossman http://www.publishingbasics.com/2007/08/22/what-can-you-tell-us-of-amazon%e2%80%99s-new-direct-pod-service-createspacecom/comment-page-1/#comment-24221 Gene Grossman Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:59:30 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=210#comment-24221 We are very pleased with the CreateSpace system and have just published our 18th book with them. As commented above, it's true that there is no live person to speak to, but if one of their stock emails doesn't answer your question, the matter is turned over to another one of their departments, and you do in fact receive a personal message from someone there. The cost per book is too high for a normal margin in selling wholesale, but it any particular title does take off and "get legs," it's a simple procedure to switch that title over to an offset house (if you own the ISBN) and have them run off in quantity for about a third of what CreateSpace charges per book. All in all, we have found CreateSpace to be a very good service, and intend to continue using them. It is a great way to 'test-publish' a book that you might have some doubts about, and see how it's accepted. Gene Grossman - Magic Lamp Press We are very pleased with the CreateSpace system and have just published our 18th book with them.

As commented above, it’s true that there is no live person to speak to, but if one of their stock emails doesn’t answer your question, the matter is turned over to another one of their departments, and you do in fact receive a personal message from someone there.

The cost per book is too high for a normal margin in selling wholesale, but it any particular title does take off and “get legs,” it’s a simple procedure to switch that title over to an offset house (if you own the ISBN) and have them run off in quantity for about a third of what CreateSpace charges per book.

All in all, we have found CreateSpace to be a very good service, and intend to continue using them. It is a great way to ‘test-publish’ a book that you might have some doubts about, and see how it’s accepted.

Gene Grossman – Magic Lamp Press

]]> By: Patricia Shavers http://www.publishingbasics.com/2007/08/22/what-can-you-tell-us-of-amazon%e2%80%99s-new-direct-pod-service-createspacecom/comment-page-1/#comment-21284 Patricia Shavers Tue, 20 Nov 2007 05:50:28 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=210#comment-21284 I want to know the best place to take my pdf file I have produced a book from and turn into first, a cd by using a reader and secondly, a dvd where as each page is "turned" via the computer or dvd player, it is narrated with sounds, music, singing and narration. Any ideas? I want to know the best place to take my pdf file I have produced a book from and turn into first, a cd by using a reader and secondly, a dvd where as each page is “turned” via the computer or dvd player, it is narrated with sounds, music, singing and narration. Any ideas?

]]> By: Don Brockette http://www.publishingbasics.com/2007/08/22/what-can-you-tell-us-of-amazon%e2%80%99s-new-direct-pod-service-createspacecom/comment-page-1/#comment-19815 Don Brockette Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:53:49 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=210#comment-19815 Thanks for the valuable info. So for a guy like me, who wants to publish a POD hardback and softcover every 9 months, who's the best to use in your opinion? Thanks for the valuable info.
So for a guy like me, who wants to publish a POD hardback and softcover every 9 months, who’s the best to use in your opinion?

]]> By: Shawn Granger http://www.publishingbasics.com/2007/08/22/what-can-you-tell-us-of-amazon%e2%80%99s-new-direct-pod-service-createspacecom/comment-page-1/#comment-17590 Shawn Granger Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:56:51 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=210#comment-17590 One thing though, a 200 page b&w book seems to cost about $2+ more via Createspace.com. So it would appear you'd clear more per sale via Ron's site. One thing though, a 200 page b&w book seems to cost about $2+ more via Createspace.com. So it would appear you’d clear more per sale via Ron’s site.

]]> By: Shawn Granger http://www.publishingbasics.com/2007/08/22/what-can-you-tell-us-of-amazon%e2%80%99s-new-direct-pod-service-createspacecom/comment-page-1/#comment-17587 Shawn Granger Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:47:41 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=210#comment-17587 I'd be very interested in a comparison of the two options. I think you could use both if you wanted, and Amazon will somehow figure out where the book is being shipped from and pay accordingly. Not sure how that would work but there it is. Hopefully it won't take too long to get a good review. I’d be very interested in a comparison of the two options. I think you could use both if you wanted, and Amazon will somehow figure out where the book is being shipped from and pay accordingly. Not sure how that would work but there it is.
Hopefully it won’t take too long to get a good review.

]]> By: Sherry Harrison http://www.publishingbasics.com/2007/08/22/what-can-you-tell-us-of-amazon%e2%80%99s-new-direct-pod-service-createspacecom/comment-page-1/#comment-17128 Sherry Harrison Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:56:54 +0000 http://blog.selfpublishing.com/?p=210#comment-17128 As a new author who is starting to work with BookSurge, I am looking for feedback from others who went this route. Any comments on your actual experiences so far? Thanks. As a new author who is starting to work with BookSurge, I am looking for feedback from others who went this route. Any comments on your actual experiences so far? Thanks.

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