LS is a heavy distributor which mainly services other heavy distributors like Ingram. I don’t think they offer any of the services you are inquiring about. The best bet would be to invest in stock yourself and set up your own site and take payment using Paypal. Or have a paypal link on your author blog. Or send people to Amazon. Amazon is still the most trusted source for online book buying and a name that readers recognize.

The perks to LS is it can get your foot in the door of traditional bookstores without you having to do much of the foot work. It also makes your book returnable, which is important to bookstores. They hate to invest in stock that they’d be stuck with if it doesn’t sell.

Keep in mind that using LS is indeed a time and financial investment. Give it serious thought. It may not be right for you.

Thanks,
Shannon
LLBR

Thank you for your comments. The extended distribution CS now offers came available after we posted this original post in 2009. I have to admit I have not investigated, nor heard from any authors, how it is working out or if it works at all.

It is practically impossible to get any POD book into a library unless you work with your own local branch, possibly set up a signing there, and/or donate copies of your book to them.

-Shannon
LLBR

LULU
Retail Print Your Revenue $5.36 (cost 40.13) Price $45.49
Print Your Revenue 17.27 (cost 28.22) Price $45.49
For quantity order of 50 books 8 – 15% discount currently

CS $13.27
CS Pro $7.57 pirce same $45.49
selling through amazon total cost 31.47/ pro 25.77
CS E-store total cost 22.37/ pro 16.67
Hope this is helpful

I dont know how to get into libraries, as I own my isbn- it is not possible in cs pro

But if you do pro fee transaction separately first
Then your proof copy would be $5.72 and not 9.57

There is a cover generator with the ISBN number where they ask for the price.. how do I determine the price. I didn’t see a price calculator (for my fee, Lightning sources fee and retail mark up) on the website so how do I know what to put on it? Do they have a price calculator or list?
When you have a price for your ISBN bar code (however I get that? see above…) do you put the price for that you pay on it, and then amazon will add their price to it, or do I put the total retail markup on it?
Can they put a barcode on with the price for you?

And, I can’t figure out the PDF submissions. I have a color cover and all color insides, do I make one PDF that has the front and back called cvr,pdf? And then what is the middle called?

I also don’t know what to pick for retail discount, I read if you go to low they won’t pick you up. How do I choose and when does Lightning source ask for this.

P.S. if my book is 7×10 and it’s a graphic novel that I want to print all the way to the edge, what information do I put in for trim etc.? It is exactly how I want it right now at 7×10…

P.P.S. if I want to sell through Ingram, amazon all retailers, library exposure and individual sales do I pick this one? http://www.lightningsource.com/print_to_publisher.aspx

Thank you! Gina

This is information cross-posted from the post from Penumbra Publishing in June. Follow the link in the article to be redirected or contact Penumbra Publishing directly.

Thanks,
Shannon
LLBR

When I got my ISBN I was also surprised to get a bar code included in the price …again FOR FREE! My buddy who bought his bar code privately paid over $40 for it.

Love it when I see my tax dollars working for me!

Gwen McCauley
http://www.ouicoach.com
Follow me on http://www.twitter.com/gwenmccauley and http://www.linkedin.com/in/gwenmccauley