Ria Stone
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Post by Ria Stone on Mar 7, 2019 15:44:06 GMT -8
Well, I found an online POD publisher and of course, it was and will be an ongoing experience.
I tried D2D, Gumroad, Lulu and others and for many reasons, I could not use them.
The Positives are:
With MagCloud, it was fairly easy to upload a normal PDF with images to create a saddle-stitched booklet, Recetas una de Mujer Maya Moderna.
While the cost to the buyer is a bit high, 56 pages, B/W, $ 9.96, not including shipping. Essentially, any royalty is what you choose to add to the cost of printing the item. I am assuming that the cost would be lower if order in quantity but most sales are probably in singles.
So, to my mind, it is a low cost vanity press. Which is fine.
I wanted a place to upload some of my books because people ask for PODs and not all of my books are available as PODs and I am trying to use alternative publishing methods.
MagCloud offers a bookstore and an brief author page. There is a bit more which I will check out later.
Plus, I need to see how they handle things over time.
Plus, on Smashwords, I can add a link to MagCloud.
The Negatives are:
No personal customer service. No address listed. No phone number. No obvious email. Plus, the captca system is so odd, one time I had to look at 15 sets of images, another time it was 5. It is never just one, very frustrating.
Plus, I can not find any independent review of MagCloud or Blurb.
There may be more to add to this column depending on their customer service, quality of products, accounting system, and more.
But, I feel like I completed a task!!!!!
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Post by djmills on Mar 7, 2019 19:36:02 GMT -8
First, congratulations on getting your book into print.
I always upload an interior.pdf and a cover.pdf for POD printing both using Amazon and Createspace.
On Createspace it was calculated that for 0-199 pages extended distribution I priced at US$12.99 cover/sale price. This worked out at US$2.00 for me each POD sale after the cost to print + Createspace/Amazon's costs + the retailer cost to sell are deducted.
I moved my print books over to Amazon when Createspace closed. I left the cover price alone but removed extended distribution, because no brick & mortar book stores ordered from Amazon. I was planning on putting my POD books on Ingram Spark but found out I needed my own ISBNs and there was a cost to upload my pdf files.
So, when D2D finish beta testing and it goes live, I will get all my extended distribution POD books into Ingram Spark via D2D. There is no cost through D2D to use Ingram Spark and all brick & mortar book stores order from Ingram Spark.
I will be happy to let you know if it was easy or not after I upload my pdf files, whenever that will be. :-)
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Ria Stone
SWF Writers
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Joined: Oct 30, 2013 14:12:26 GMT -8
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Post by Ria Stone on Mar 8, 2019 14:59:47 GMT -8
First, congratulations on getting your book into print. I always upload an interior.pdf and a cover.pdf for POD printing both using Amazon and Createspace. On Createspace it was calculated that for 0-199 pages extended distribution I priced at US$12.99 cover/sale price. This worked out at US$2.00 for me each POD sale after the cost to print + Createspace/Amazon's costs + the retailer cost to sell are deducted. I moved my print books over to Amazon when Createspace closed. I left the cover price alone but removed extended distribution, because no brick & mortar book stores ordered from Amazon. I was planning on putting my POD books on Ingram Spark but found out I needed my own ISBNs and there was a cost to upload my pdf files. So, when D2D finish beta testing and it goes live, I will get all my extended distribution POD books into Ingram Spark via D2D. There is no cost through D2D to use Ingram Spark and all brick & mortar book stores order from Ingram Spark. I will be happy to let you know if it was easy or not after I upload my pdf files, whenever that will be. :-) Thanks DJ for sharing your experiences. Always good information.
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Ria Stone
SWF Writers
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Joined: Oct 30, 2013 14:12:26 GMT -8
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Post by Ria Stone on Mar 8, 2019 15:37:15 GMT -8
Hmmm, have found a few reviews of various POD and photobook publishers.
MagCloud got mixed reviews, many like product and service; several had problems with delivery. But, universally, all noted that customer service was poor.
So, far I have made a minor investment into MagCloud.
Just bought two copies of Recetas, one shipped to USA for 13.51 (book 8.96, S/H 4.55 postal service); one shipped to MX for 16.81 (book & digital 8.96, S/H 7.85 postal service). So, we shall see if they deliver as stated and what the quality of the product is.
Thought I would add to this thread, another article re: publishers of photobooks and more. My sister and niece use photobook services and they have created many beautiful photobooks. They gave me several as gifts and they are great. They have used Creative Memories, Snapfish, and Artifact Uprising.
www.safesmartliving.com/entertainment/photography/best-photo-books/
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chelsfield
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Post by chelsfield on Mar 9, 2019 0:55:08 GMT -8
Thanks for sharing the results of your experiment and research!
My first response with all things digital that are free to low cost is suspicion: what's in it for them? What are the doing with my work, my data?
Do they have terms of reference or terms of agreement?
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Ria Stone
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Joined: Oct 30, 2013 14:12:26 GMT -8
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Post by Ria Stone on Mar 9, 2019 11:38:23 GMT -8
Thanks for sharing the results of your experiment and research! My first response with all things digital that are free to low cost is suspicion: what's in it for them? What are the doing with my work, my data? Do they have terms of reference or terms of agreement?
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Basically, MagCloud www.magcloud.com/ is a POD printer not really a digital publisher. While they offer a digital PDF of the publication, I got one for Recetas and it is not a good PDF. So, I am waiting to see the printed product.
MagCloud makes money off the printing and shipping costs. The customer pays for the printing costs, shipping costs and royalty. Plus, when the product is shipped internationally, the recipient pays any custom or other taxes in that country. We shall see what Mexico will charge me.
I am still trying to figure out the Amazon / Mexican OXXO delivery service arrangement. If that works, my books on Amazon can be shipped to a participating OXXO near them.
MagCloud has an online storefront. I don't know who bought who, but Blurb and MagCloud merged a few years ago. I had heard of Blurb and they referred me to MagCloud. Never heard of MagCloud before. MagCloud is/was an HP corporation company. Probably a normal printer who expanded with online services.
I understand your questions about privacy etc. and the TOS.
www.magcloud.com/about/terms
While I downloaded their TOS, I haven't read the fine print, yet :-) I mean you have to accept or you can't go forward.
Just by looking at their "promotional" options tells me they want to gather contacts information from the "author." Like I said, I never heard of MagCloud or any book they have produced. But, I think that is because they are a vanity/business printer.
But, I will continue to explore these issues.
I did email their customer support re: the security of their site and got the usual "We have a secure site" with some details but, I was uncomfortable with the online forms, so, I did not add any tax info. They also claim they will send me a tax form if I make $600 a year, so I am not worried about taxes :-)
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chelsfield
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Post by chelsfield on Mar 10, 2019 1:05:53 GMT -8
Thanks. Even though they are a POD, you still have to give them a digital copy of your work,right? What do they do with that digital copy?
And regarding contacts, is that a condition for printing? I would be careful about giving other people's contacts without consent. I figure with the number of friends and family asking me to join WhatsAp, Facebook already has my details without my even joining as WhatsAp grabs from the contacts of everyone who joins...
Sorry, I know I am being a real downer. My family just ignore me now. I have a real Cassandra complex...
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Post by unclegarf on Mar 11, 2019 8:03:11 GMT -8
According to latest stats, as we suspected, Ebooks are on the wane (Tell me about it!) Paperbacks holding their own and audiobooks continue to rise. Had I the money I would be hiring a pro and a studio and jump on the band wagon. Easier these days to motivate myself in painting rather than writing We do a lot of dreaming we creatives
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Post by jaydax on Mar 11, 2019 14:04:01 GMT -8
According to latest stats … Ebooks are on the wane (Tell me about it!) Sorry - I refuse to believe this. I suspect these 'stats' are from the big five publishers. Their ebook sales are on the wane because they are in many cases charging ridiculous prices for them. It costs a tiny fraction of the price of a paper book to produce ebooks, yet that isn't reflected in the price they charge. Indie authors are still selling but there is a glut of ebooks on the market now and it makes us think fewer ebooks are being sold.
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Post by unclegarf on Mar 12, 2019 1:12:19 GMT -8
I agree there's a glut of ebooks, (most of them mine the way I churn 'em out ) but Audio books have been on the rise. Once the realm of the visually impaired, now more to the liking of the earphone generation. Reflecting on my own modest efforts, the Indie revolution made it possible for me to bypass the gatekeepers of the trad publishers and put my stuff out there in spite of them. I have dipped a toe in just about every genre and actually made a little extra money from them. My intention is now to write less but better. For me it was always about the challenge and the creative process with the hope of success in the background. Recalling Mark Coker's earlier words of wisdom, some ebooks languish in the depths for ages then finds a following. The main thing to remember is ebooks are forever.
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Ria Stone
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Post by Ria Stone on Mar 12, 2019 12:21:50 GMT -8
Thanks. Even though they are a POD, you still have to give them a digital copy of your work,right? What do they do with that digital copy? And regarding contacts, is that a condition for printing? I would be careful about giving other people's contacts without consent. I figure with the number of friends and family asking me to join WhatsAp, Facebook already has my details without my even joining as WhatsAp grabs from the contacts of everyone who joins... Sorry, I know I am being a real downer. My family just ignore me now. I have a real Cassandra complex... Hola Chelsfield, yes, I did provide a PDF according to their parameters. I used their template but made other changes.
Once the PDF is loaded, you get to see an online proof. Looking at the download they offered with the book, it appears it went through a process to produce a file for a copy/print machine, that is a guess on my part.
The email addresses are not a condition for printing. I just experimented with their email "promotion" offering but only added a few names of friends or family who I knew would not mind. It is not a feature I would use. You are not being a downer. My devices work fine. It the software and apps. I fight with my technology everyday.
I have learned to curse like a sailor and I am now suspicious of everything. If only the app developers could hear me or I hope they are "listening", (not really). What is so disgusting is tech/telecom companies treat their customers like a herd of cattle, so what if a "few" get disgruntled. Plus, they are so invasive and aggravating. What I don't understand is why MS or Google or whoever think harassing their customers is a good public relations.
Anyway, I understand your concerns about WhatsApp.
I haven't heard my friends or family complain about a lot of unwanted solicitation emails from my apps but I keep them busy enough with my multiple emails :-)
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chelsfield
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Post by chelsfield on Mar 13, 2019 1:09:09 GMT -8
Once the PDF is loaded, you get to see an online proof. Looking at the download they offered with the book, it appears it went through a process to produce a file for a copy/print machine, that is a guess on my part.
The email addresses are not a condition for printing. I just experimented with their email "promotion" offering but only added a few names of friends or family who I knew would not mind. It is not a feature I would use. You are not being a downer. My devices work fine. It the software and apps. I fight with my technology everyday. I have learned to curse like a sailor and I am now suspicious of everything. If only the app developers could hear me or I hope they are "listening", (not really). What is so disgusting is tech/telecom companies treat their customers like a herd of cattle, so what if a "few" get disgruntled. Plus, they are so invasive and aggravating. What I don't understand is why MS or Google or whoever think harassing their customers is a good public relations.
Anyway, I understand your concerns about WhatsApp.
I haven't heard my friends or family complain about a lot of unwanted solicitation emails from my apps but I keep them busy enough with my multiple emails :-)
Hi Ria, my point about the digital copy is that now they have it, and if they are less than reputable, they can do what they want, sell it on like the would email addresses and other personal info . I hear you about telecoms companies. The one we are with, the main one here in the uk, is a nightmare with customer service. I pretty much have to do a zen retreat to get me in the right frame of mind to call them...
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Ria Stone
SWF Writers
Posts: 1,055
Joined: Oct 30, 2013 14:12:26 GMT -8
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Post by Ria Stone on Mar 13, 2019 9:32:09 GMT -8
Once the PDF is loaded, you get to see an online proof. Looking at the download they offered with the book, it appears it went through a process to produce a file for a copy/print machine, that is a guess on my part.
The email addresses are not a condition for printing. I just experimented with their email "promotion" offering but only added a few names of friends or family who I knew would not mind. It is not a feature I would use. You are not being a downer. My devices work fine. It the software and apps. I fight with my technology everyday. I have learned to curse like a sailor and I am now suspicious of everything. If only the app developers could hear me or I hope they are "listening", (not really). What is so disgusting is tech/telecom companies treat their customers like a herd of cattle, so what if a "few" get disgruntled. Plus, they are so invasive and aggravating. What I don't understand is why MS or Google or whoever think harassing their customers is a good public relations.
Anyway, I understand your concerns about WhatsApp.
I haven't heard my friends or family complain about a lot of unwanted solicitation emails from my apps but I keep them busy enough with my multiple emails :-)
Hi Ria, my point about the digital copy is that now they have it, and if they are less than reputable, they can do what they want, sell it on like the would email addresses and other personal info . I hear you about telecoms companies. The one we are with, the main one here in the uk, is a nightmare with customer service. I pretty much have to do a zen retreat to get me in the right frame of mind to call them...
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chelsfield
SWF Writers
Posts: 700
Joined: Mar 28, 2012 3:07:24 GMT -8
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Post by chelsfield on Mar 14, 2019 0:47:16 GMT -8
Hi Ria, my point about the digital copy is that now they have it, and if they are less than reputable, they can do what they want, sell it on like the would email addresses and other personal info . I hear you about telecoms companies. The one we are with, the main one here in the uk, is a nightmare with customer service. I pretty much have to do a zen retreat to get me in the right frame of mind to call them...
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chelsfield
SWF Writers
Posts: 700
Joined: Mar 28, 2012 3:07:24 GMT -8
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Post by chelsfield on Mar 14, 2019 1:09:30 GMT -8
Hi, sorry about the above, kindle can't quite handle all the nested quotes!
Best not to watch tv here in uk in the afternoon if you are of a certain age, that is unless you have a death wish. All funerals and life insurance!
I think I have properly hijacked this thread on that sad note. Well, if the boys can do it...
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