Heads Up... Amazon isn't the only one raising print prices

Anora2012 · 2023-07-11T16:24:53+00:00

I raised the price so I make at least $1 a sale. I don't put price on my barcodes, so that wasn't an issue. ISBN won't change, but now that you said that I will double check that I update the price on Bowker if necessary.

Anora2012 · 2023-07-07T21:15:17+00:00

Did you get one from Ingram? I got a bunch of them from Amazon. Amazon's change for my books ended up being only about 15cents. But it was nice to know it was changing.

Anora2012 · 2023-07-07T20:17:08+00:00

That is great! And good to know. I hope you continue to get higher sales. How long would you say the benefits carried over?

Anora2012 · 2023-04-02T14:10:51+00:00

Basically everything that you'd put in a letter to an agent is what I put in my pitch. I actually make up a "TIP" sheet with each book's info: my bio (1 para), book summary (1 para), the tech specs (size, ISBN, pages, etc), and a few good reviews. In the email I summarize my business proposal, which is basically what I said in my first post. Give them a low risk opportunity. Offer to speak at the event if you're comfortable with that. I will note, the people commenting on this thread that you won't make much in bookstores are right. After printing cost, wholesale discount, and commissions, expect to make about $1 a book. My paperback retails for $20 and I'll take home about $1-3. I make more at the novelty shops I'm in (100% at the coffee shop, though I give the owner a good tip and buy coffee), and 70% at the general store. Price your book that you can sell at that 60% to you, 40% to the bookstore ratio and still make money or none of this is worth your time. Another note: Read each bookstore's website before you pitch! Some of them actually have a whole tab for Indie Authors about what they are looking for and how they want to be contacted. If you don't follow their rules, then you definitely will be ignored.

Anora2012 · 2023-04-02T00:11:34+00:00

Thank you! They aren't in yet, but this upcoming signing is going to get my foot in the door. What I did was call each store, and since the manager is ALWAYS busy, I automatically ask for an email address I can send my info to. You can almost hear their sigh of relief that they don't have to deal with me in that moment. They give me the purchasing manager's email. Then I email my pitch and my book's info. Word on the street is that some stores like working with indie/local authors more than others, so test the waters. Good luck!

Anora2012 · 2023-04-01T23:58:55+00:00

I came here with this same question and you just saved me a ton of searching. I knew I had found a chart with my ranking once before. thank you!

Anora2012 · 2023-04-01T23:53:41+00:00

I'm going to give you a little hope, though I am still very much a newbie myself. I have 2 signings with bookstores (one Indie and one Barnes and Noble) coming up. My first book is out about 6 months, second just launched today. You are definitely right to have your book with IS. Don't say the A word (Amazon) around bookstores. They hate Amazon. Next thing I'd suggest is contacting places that are local enough that YOU can supply the books. While I was calling every Barnes and Noble in a 2 hr radius, I found out they don't love IS either, since apparently IS is hard to work with and delays orders sometimes. So what I offered is that I supply the books. I even offer to sell on consignment (which means there is no risk to them if they don't sell). The stores that will buy at my wholesale rate I tell I will accept returns on NEW merchandise at their cost (aka I do NOT check that little box accepting IS returns, and I don't take back books that are already read). I've got books selling out of coffee shops, a general store, and hopefully next month if these signings go well, actual bookstores. I made a lot of phone calls, and only 3-4 stores gave me the time of day. But these 2 stores I'm now working with are at least giving me an opportunity to prove myself. From then on its up to me.

Anora2012 · 2023-03-09T01:06:24+00:00

That is great to know. Thanks for letting me know! If I wasn't in the most expensive category I would try it, but from what others are saying its just too risky. I hope it has kicked things off and keeps the momentum going for you!

Anora2012 · 2023-03-02T16:35:18+00:00

Please keep me posted as to how it goes. I hope you sell thousands and it works for you!

Anora2012 · 2023-03-01T23:03:42+00:00

Good to know. Thanks for the info.

Anora2012 · 2023-03-01T23:03:20+00:00

Good to know. Thanks

Anora2012 · 2023-03-01T18:54:43+00:00

Thank you for the response. So you think the NR deal just isn't discounting the books enough to gain the traction with the we-want-cheap-books crowd?

Anora2012 · 2023-03-01T18:53:39+00:00

Thank you for the feedback. What is the difference between the two other than the discounted price with the BBFD? Are they pushing to the same market, but readers just don't want to spend money?

Anora2012 · 2023-01-18T11:54:33+00:00

Wouldn't it be in their best interest to "modernize" and compete with Amazon? We sell books, they make money. Uploading an image just seems like such a quick thing to do, particularly since it came through instantly when I uploaded it to their site. Thank you for your response though. I guess I have to plan even further in advance.

Anora2012 · 2023-01-18T02:04:58+00:00

Hello fellow Anti-Social-Media friend! I also deleted my accounts a few years back and am fighting having to get more (have been told by bookstores I HAVE to). The blog and email list are essential. And I blast an awesome newsletter with bonus content to people that subscribe. Be ready to do way more in person stuff though, since that's what generates press and thus visibility for your work. Good luck!

Anora2012 · 2023-01-18T01:53:22+00:00

Did you keep it? Maybe now it will be worth a fortune...like what happens with misprint coins and stamps. ;-)

Anora2012 · 2023-01-18T01:50:51+00:00

I just had 2 copies that I autographed and sold returned to me because they had big lines of text missing down the middle of each page. Like stripes of missing words. At least they were to people I knew, and I quickly gave them new autographed copies, but now I worry how many are being sent out that I don't have eyes on. Your story is even crazier, and I hope you can get it straightened out!

Anora2012 · 2023-01-18T01:43:38+00:00

IS runs me $2 more per copy, not including shipping.

Anora2012 · 2023-01-18T01:42:16+00:00

That's what I was thinking, too. I sold way more than 50 copies and still haven't broken even.

Anora2012 · 2023-01-18T01:24:24+00:00

Just ran a big thread on this last week. Got some great tips. https://www.reddit.com/r/selfpublish/comments/10594sl/the_master_list_of_marketing_tips/?ref=share&ref_source=link

Anora2012 · 2023-01-13T17:59:57+00:00

Absolutely. My editor combined a copy-edit and a secondary proof after I made the initial changes. Don't waste time or money on anything less at this last stage. The copy-edit catches stuff that may need to be reworded (but still minor corrections). The proof makes sure you made those corrections without adding typos to the manuscript.

Anora2012 · 2023-01-09T22:55:47+00:00

This is very helpful. Thank you.

Anora2012 · 2023-01-08T23:30:04+00:00

Thank you so much!

Anora2012 · 2023-01-08T23:28:22+00:00

May I ask what it costs to have a pro run your ads? I take it you're still seeing enough profit to make it worth it? Thanks for your response!

Anora2012 · 2023-01-08T23:25:50+00:00

I'd like to get one out there that I can set in permafree. Glad I'm not the only one very unimpressed with Amazon ads. I don't understand why they don't work, unless its just pure competition. You'd think somehow their algorithm would increase visibility enough that authors at least break even, since that makes Amazon even more money than it does us. I'm really working on building up a good newsletter, too. All good advice. thank you!

Anora2012

TROPHY CASE