Wing Tang Wong

What Does Amazon's Current Initiative Mean To Independant POD Authors?

That is the question I've been asking myself.. and of Lulu.com's live chat support folks. When asked directly, whether Amazon/BookSurge will be printing my book, I received a very round about answer, essentially stating that books sold through Lulu.com will be printed by Lulu's printers, while books ordered through the distribution chain will be handled by the distribution chain printers, which Lulu has partnered with.

After some 15-20 minutes of chatting with a service rep, I could not get them to mention or answer anything directly, about Amazon. Which... is what one would expect, when you consider that it seems the contractual agreements between Amazon and any POD that has signed n with them states they are essentially prevented from talking about the relationship, either directly or indirectly.

Yes, as a customer and as a writer, I'm certainly feeling the warm fuzzies...

Why... Why Would Amazon Do This?

The horribly simple truth: profits.

The financial markets does not care for what is happening with the economics, in general. At least, so long as it doesn't directly interfere or impact itself. So, companies need to shine just as brightly, whether times are good or bad. And right now, times aren't so good.

What would you do, if you want to make your numbers look better? You see all of this money that POD publishers are making. You realize that they make monies via sales on Amazon. You also realize that many of these POD publishers promise their author/customers, that they can get onto Amazon if they pay a distribution fee.

Wow... talk about having a whole bunch of folks bent over the railing...

Still, when you look at the public backlash from the writing and publishing organizations, you have to wonder, wouldn't this be problematic for Amazon in the long run?

Amazon's plan to bring the fulfillment of the book creation phase in-house is a short sighted goal for increase in profits. Of course, there are issues with doing this, issues, which Amazon seems happy to foist onto the publishers they are already giving the short end of the stick to: Quality issues, Conversion issues, and capacity issues.

Amazon is claiming that they are bringing better quality to the people. However, recent books acquired by at least one author indicates that the historically bad press, please excuse the pun, that BookSurge has been getting, is still quite well founded.

There are reports that books are being listed as "out of stock", a state that Amazon's own statements indicated, was the reason why they went in-house, so that they can do it faster and better. Currently, it is neither.

- Paraphrased from reference links from Writers Weekly's Amazon Page

I'm Feeling Pretty Mixed Up About It...


Right now, I'm publishing my book through Lulu.com. I like their interfaces, I like their publishing process. I'm awaiting a physical copy of my book, printed from their in-house presses. However, to see what the book will look and feel like, when printed through the distribution network, I would need to buy the distribution package/service, and I'm not sure I'm ready to earn less per book, possibly be exposing myself to bad quality work, and/or being stuck in a position of arguing with a group of people in a "it's not my fault, blame them" discussion. I just want to write and see people reading my book.


As an author, I don't think that is an unreasonable request: low complexity, low hassle, low stress, and low worries publishing.


Amazon has made the process more stressful.


Basically, from where I stand, until everything works itself out, why shuold I go with the distribution chain? What if Amazon and Lulu have a falling out and all of a sudden, the monies I paid, with expectations of Amazon distribution, disappears?


Here's the rub. While one might think that I'd be inclined to jump ship to Amazon/Booksurge/CreateSpace directly, I have no desire to. It is the PODs who signed on with the Amazon agreement, who are getting their reputations hurt by association with Amazon/BookSurge.


Depending on the authors... this could end up costing PODs like Lulu.com customers and respect. But that loss isn't Amazon's gain. It just means that authors will migrate to PODs that haven't signed on with Amazon/Booksurge.


For me, in terms of publishing, I'd more likely leave Lulu.com for a POD publisher who didn't sign up with Amazon/BookSurge, if I were to leave. This translates into several things:

• Loss of business for PODs who signed on with Amazon/BookSurge.
• Loss of product and business for Amazon.com
• Possible loss of customer base, as customers learn that their favorite author has moved to XYZ POD and it distributes through say.. Barns and Noble at bn.com....


If Amazon/BookSurge was the leader in the industry for quality of products produced, top of the line in customer service and business transparency, and great at earning the trust of customers, partners, and sellers alike... then this wouldn't have created the PR backlash that it did. But Amazon doesn't have that kind of respect credit under its belt. It doesn't have a top notch printing service free from prior criticisms.


So, if things continue the way they do... one might make the observation that a certain corporate entity has shot itself in the foot.

Egads... Are You Serving Amazon Ads?


Yes, yes I am. Though I am, once again, starting to place Adsense advertisements on my site. Gotta pay for hosting somehow. :/ In terms of selling, Amazon works.


I can't agree with their current policies regarding PODs, Authors, and customers. Hopefully, the cries of the people, their business partners, and perhaps the government will awaken them from the reverie they are in and bring some much needed sense back to the world of POD.



What About Next Time?


The thing that has me scratching my head is this: Amazon has now done this once. If they are ruled to be legally able to do such a thing, what keeps them from further mucking with publisher and authors alike, so that they can make a few more bucks?


On one hand, I'm annoyed that this is happening. However, on the other hand, I'm feeling relieved. It could have been much worse. I could be an author whose works, which they depend on for their livelihood, suddenly can't be bought via Amazon. Or whose books arrive poorly manufactured. Or who is told that they would get reduced royalties, since the fees have essentially gone way up, and if you want to have your book print properly on the new backend printers... you need to reformat your manuscript. Yes, that costs money. Hundreds to thousands of dollars. Money that most authors may find to be financially impossible.

In The End... Ethical Case...? Short Sighted Business Case...?


Alot of writers, publishers, and group organizations are pissed about this. Amazon's desire for greater profits overshadowed common sense. The course of action they have taken is disgusting and is a slap in the face to the authors, whose books have helped to build the online sales empire that Amazon is today.


Alot of people are looking at this and wondering... if you don't have to take on the burdens and hassles of printing, manufacturing, and packaging the book, why would you? Especially if the one printing company you acquired had such a poor track record!?


At moments like this, I vividly remember a scene from "The Simpsons", where Homer is trying to tell Moe that he has lost a customer, but Moe can't hear him, because of the load ringing of the till, from all of the money Moe is making.





Cool side note: My posting about the Amazon/Booksurge issue, on this site, got listed at Writers Weekly's Amazon Page. Very cool.

References and Resources


Some links from afar, which may be of some help!

• Writers Weekly's Amazon Reporting Page
• Writers Weekly's Original Amazon Posting
• Small Publishers of North America's Official Statement Denouncing Amazon's Actions
• Ethical Issues in Business: A Philosophical Approach (8th Edition)
• Ethical Theory and Business (8th Edition)
• Ethical Issues in Business: A Philosophical Approach (7th Edition)
• Guiding Growth: How Vision Keeps Companies on Course
• Tyranny of the Bottom Line: Why Corporations Make Good People Do Bad Things (BK Currents)
• The Cheating Culture: Why More Americans Are Doing Wrong to Get Ahead
• The Post-Truth Era: Dishonesty and Deception in Contemporary Life




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