Lu Lu Losers. Amazon enters print on demand market
Amazon has entered the print on demand market with the opening of their new service called CreateSpace. Books are produced when customers order so there is no inventory - just like www.Lulu.com.
So now you can sell your own book on Amazon.com, CreateSpace, and your own website - you set your price and earn monthly royalties.
Books can be printed in colour or balck/white with full-colour paperback covers. CreateSpace also offer dvd, cd and audio book options.
Key Features
- No setup fees, no minimums, no inventory
- You set your price and earn monthly royalties
- Non-exclusive agreement preserves your rights
- One of the easiest ways to sell on Amazon.com
- Order bulk units at volume discounts
How to Get Started
Visit CreateSpace and get started by creating a member account. This account allows you to create and update your products, choose your sales channels, and view your sales reports. Also use your account to order copies of your own products at volume discounts.
During the setup process, you enter information about your product, such as title name, description, list price, etc. and upload your artwork. Book files are uploaded online through your account. For DVD or CD, mail us a copy of your master disc and we'll load it.
As part of the setup process, vendors will order a proof copy. Once reviewed and approved your proof, the title will become immediately available on the vendors CreateSpace eStore and the CreateSpace Shop, and an Amazon.com listing will usually go live within fifteen business days.
When customers order, CreateSpace manufacture and ship directly to them. The vendor earns royalties based on the list price of the product. When vendors royalties exceed $20, get paid monthly by direct deposit or by physical check or by wire transfer.
Why is this good for AIS'ers?
Because it gives us the ability to have our PDF eBooks shipped as a tangible item! And we get to tap into the enormous marketplace that is Amazon.
Got to be worth looking into, eh?
Comment by Paul — August 13, 2007 @ 4:48 pm
The only problem I see with this is that you have to wait for payment, also I wonder what happens with regards to refunds?
I do sell a physical product and I have to say it has had 0 refunds in the last 6 months so maybe refunds just isn't something to worry about.
It is also not anything to do with IM so maybe that affects it as well.
Comment by Gary — August 14, 2007 @ 10:47 am
I suspect it will be something like how Clickbank works with regards to release of money and refunds. It's only IM products that suffer with refund requests and we all know the reason why
Comment by Metaprinter — August 14, 2007 @ 10:48 pm
Go visit my blog if you are interested in reading an interview with Rob Katz, Vice President of Business Development with Lulu.com. Ge writes about the business model and how they will position themselves against Amazon.
cheers,
Robert
Comment by Pat B. Doyle — August 15, 2007 @ 6:16 pm
Thanks for the great info! It sounds like a great service, and I will check it out. I am sure there is a market for physical products from people who would never buy an ebook.
Comment by Gary — August 17, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Yeah, should be really good for Lulu to have some proper competition.