I hardly believed this news, and yet, as incredible as it seems, both Publisher's Weekly and Writer's Weekly have reported that Amazon is bullying Print-On-Demand publishers to use their own Booksurge POD and not Ingram's Lightning Source, which many POD publishers use. If POD presses don't use Amazon, then Amazon will take down the buy buttons on their books on Amazon.
The point is that Amazon, as we all know, is the 1000 pound gorilla in the online booksellers. Authors for some time have used Ingram's Lightning Source because of the Ingram distribution. But now, in order to placate Amazon, authors may have to publish with TWO POD printers and distributors, Booksurge, to keep Amazon happy, and Lightning Source, to keep their Ingram distribution. And who in the heck knows where people are going to get the money for that? See, and the problem is that Amazon double dips if you publish through Booksurge.
I've been a fan of Amazon, but now I'm not so sure. As much as I'm not a fan of POD houses, Amazon has taken away the buy buttons on PublishAmerica, among others. So, now I have to wonder if this -- dare I say this? -- is an attempt at a monopoly? I've always been happy with Amazon, but this current behavior has me worried. What's next, I wonder? While I don't worry about PODs, I worry about small publishers. Where does the line get crossed?
Amazon should do what it does best, and that is sell books. If they want to play with POD, fine. But instead of threats, they should make their printing package far more attractive so POD publishers go to them. After all, that's what they've been good for in the past -- giving a good product at a good price.
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shadowhelm- shadowhelm
- Margaret H. Bonham, Author
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Comments
"Nice book ya got dere. It would be a shame if somethin' was ta happen to it, know what I mean?"
Hugs Lizzy
Stupid people, don't they know almost all writers have done or had weapons experience/research and know all the creative ways to destroy the world? Come on!!!
Edited at 2008-03-28 07:51 pm (UTC)
"Do everything related to communication media here! We'll sell you a book, sell your book, publish your book, proofread your book, and even edit your book! Check out our new online book writing tool! Why worry about losing your file after so many long hours of work when your hard drive crashes? Write and edit your book through our online tool, and have it peer-reviewed and peer-edited as you go! By using our online tool, your book will receive a free one-star rating improvement, and a 25% per-copy savings on printing using our print-on-demand service!"
OK, I have to stop; I'm disgusting myself.
And yes, all of the "buy" buttons are gone for PA books. PA authors are steaming over the situation, and I can't blame 'em. (I don't like PA, but I can imagine how this must feel like a slap in the face to their authors.)
The three problems with using Booksurge are:
i) You have to pay Amazon a rather large chunk of the price. If Amazon let us authors use the same discounts we can get away with elsewise, it would be a big difference.
ii) I think you are at the mercy of Amazon's chosen price [if Amazon discounts your book, YOU get less money]
iii) It appears Booksurge is just an awful service.
I'd agree with you, except that Amazon sells 15% of all books -- including brick and mortar. That's huge, IMO, and a market that simply can't be ignored.
Obviously, if publishers decide to not list with Amazon and authors send people to B&N or some other online seller, then maybe Amazon might feel the pinch as people go other places. But I think that the internet uproar will cause them to reconsider their strategy. At least, I would hope so.
I know very little about Booksurge except that which I've heard over the internet, which is to say, rather unfavorable. I don't use POD, but I have to look at the POD houses and even many of the smaller press and feel badly for them. This is a bookseller telling a publishing business who to use to print. I think there's something wrong with that. I think most people would agree too.