1. cutecat22

    cutecat22 The Strange One Contributor

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    Createspace Closing?

    Discussion in 'Print on Demand' started by cutecat22, Aug 16, 2018.

    I keep hearing along the grapevine that Createspace will be closing soon and that we need to move POD books over to the new KDP POD paperback giant.

    I had a quick look at the KDP Version when they first released it, and unless they are in the middle of making significant changes to the process, I really don't want to use them.

    That said, if Createspace are going to close (yes, I know Amazon own both Createspace and KDP, and why have two legs of your comapany doing the same job ...) then shouldn't their first port of call be an email to everyone who uses their service, to inform them of the changes coming their way rather than waiting for the grapevile to spill the beans?
     
  2. MikeyC

    MikeyC Active Member

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    I've used the new amazon print and it works just fine. In fact, I found it easier than createspace, as it is mostly exactly like the e version.

    Yes, if true, they should warn people. I am sure they will.

    Rgds
     
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  3. BayView

    BayView Huh. Interesting. Contributor

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    Last I heard Createspace was shutting down its design/editing/extras, but was still going to be doing the basic up-load/distribute stuff. Has that changed?
     
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  4. big soft moose

    big soft moose An Admoostrator Admin Staff Supporter Contributor Community Volunteer

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    Last edited: Aug 16, 2018
    cutecat22 and Carly Berg like this.
  5. cutecat22

    cutecat22 The Strange One Contributor

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    I keep hearing whispers that they are shutting down now that Amazon has started the KDP Print option to their publishing platform. I can understand why they would close it, why have two parts of the same business doing the same thing?

    I'm just not sure why they are doing it this way rather than just re-branding Createspace - they took it over 2005 so I guess it's taken a long time coming.
     
  6. cutecat22

    cutecat22 The Strange One Contributor

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    That's an interesting report - and I may have misunderstood it, but do they use the ebook files to create paperbacks because if they do, I'm screwed. My current PDFs for the paperback version are different to my DOCXs that I use for ebooks.
     
  7. Kristin James

    Kristin James Banned

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    Apparently there is no difference between the services, but a lot of big names in indie publishing are having problems with it. One of my Facebook friends made the switch last month, and her books arrived from KDP with print errors, books crumpled, pages torn, and nothing at the bottom of the box for support. I really don't want to make the transition to KDP either, but if Createspace really is closing, I doubt I have a choice. Though they look pretty similar as far as our end goes, but I'd hate for people to be getting ruined books, and I'd hate to make a big order for an event and have my books all smushed up...
     
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  8. cutecat22

    cutecat22 The Strange One Contributor

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    I have had a few ruined books from Createspace, although they have always replaced them free of charge.

    For us in the UK, it means we will be able to buy author copies at a reduced rate printed in the UK. Createspace only prints in the UK if it's for an amazon customer order. Yes, we can buy reduced rates author copies from Createspace but CS author copies are only produced in the US which means you either pay a hefty delivery charge or you wait months for them to arrive.

    According to Createspace, they WILL be merging with Kindle Print, so I do plan to swap one book over in the next few month and see how it goes.
     
  9. Edward M. Grant

    Edward M. Grant Contributor Contributor

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    Just got an email saying Createspace is going away in a few weeks, but will move books over to KDP Print.
     
  10. BayView

    BayView Huh. Interesting. Contributor

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    Did you get the one telling you to go to CreateSpace and select extended distribution before the move? I couldn't figure out what they meant - my books are already in extended distribution...
     
  11. Edward M. Grant

    Edward M. Grant Contributor Contributor

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    I've forgotten the exact wording, but I'll check. I did get a second one saying that the cost of books under 110 pages was going to increase, so I may have to increase my prices.
     
  12. Lew

    Lew Contributor Contributor

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    Clarification. The two are merging, and the very good news is that the Createspace tech support team remains part of the action... they are very good. I did the transition myself, and ran into a few issues, like having to go through the process of approving my books, before I could get to the pricing part. Along the way, I had major problems with the KDP viewer. It took about 15 minutes to load each of my books, with the spinner just spinning. though one was 550 pages and the other just 47. Then it took about tne minutes to turn each page. I am using Mozilla, so it either doesn't like that browser, or I have some settings causing issues. Trouble call in, but KDP tech support has to handle this one and they are not 24/7 like CS. I hope they combine the two s for one stop shopping for all problems.

    Book costs are calculated a bit differently than under CS, and there is some sort of extended distro that is apparently wider than CS. I opted out of CS XD due to the cost it added to my paperbacks, but they don't sell any way, so why not? Will advise.

    There are supposed to be incompatibility issues between CS cover design templates and KDP's but I don't know if that applies to covers already complete. A .PDF is, after all, a .PDF, no matter where it came from.

    Over all a fairly trouble-free cut-over with no major gotchas.

    Reports on daily sales will now be combined on the KDP dashboard, with paperbacks showing up as a gray bar, kindles is the familiar orange.

    Will keep yuou all posted on issues as they develop, but thus far, going well.
     
  13. cutecat22

    cutecat22 The Strange One Contributor

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    I really need to get on with this, but after hearing that people are having teething problems, I'm waiting until the last minute. I've yet to receive emails from either KDP or Createspace telling me what to do.
     
  14. GingerCoffee

    GingerCoffee Web Surfer Girl Contributor

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    Amazon owns Createspace. They are merging the two POD services into one. I'm surprised they didn't do it sooner.

    Amazon is Merging Createspace Into KDP Print
    KDP FAQ page
     
  15. Lew

    Lew Contributor Contributor

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    Eventually got a reply from KDP. They are having problems with their book previewer, their software people were working on it, don't know if it is fixed. Anyone try using it lately, in the past week or so?
     

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