I'm not going to explain anything. Just read the email I sent Createspace this morning and you'll get the picture. I. AM. FURIOUS!!!
Hello,
When I order my books directly from you, they are printed with really lovely cream paper, which I have obviously specified my books be printed with. But I ordered from Book Depository recently, and the paper is WHITE and feels like photocopying paper I stick in my home printer, and the ink is smudged in various places.
Is this what you are sending out to the public? Making authors think that the books are a really nice quality when you send direct to them, and then you cut corners when you print them off for everyday customers?
I really truly hope this is a ONE-OFF error on your end, because I would be extremely disappointed if my books were being sold to the public like this. For a company that "strive to produce quality products for our members and their potential customers", this is unacceptable, and I would like an explanation.
I would also like to know that this won't happen again. And I will check that it doesn't. Believe me. Purchasing my own books from other retailers is the least trouble I can go to, to make sure my readers get what they are paying for.
Best wishes,
Jessica Bell
THIS. STINKS.
Spread the word. Get other authors to check out their own titles. This has got to be stopped.
FRIDAY UPDATE: To see results, WITH PHOTOS, click here.
I'm not self-publishing right now, but this is good to know. You'll have to keep us updated.
ReplyDeleteLet us know if or what they respond back to you. This would indeed be a disgrace.
ReplyDeleteI believe CreateSpace use a number of printers. In this case, it seems like the local printer from whom the work was sourced either messed up or skimped on materials. Hopefully CreateSpace will keep a closer watch in future on the products that are being shipped under their aegis.
ReplyDeleteWow, I am really surprised. I hope it was a one-time mistake. Yes, keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteI believe CreateSpace use a number of printers. In this case, it seems like the local printer from whom the work was sourced either messed up or skimped on materials. Hopefully CreateSpace will keep a closer watch in future on the products that are being shipped under their aegis.
ReplyDeleteJust so you know, I got my copy of STRING BRIDGE from Book Depository back in Nov '11 and it's on the nice cream paper, and looks all fancy. Not sure which book you are talking about in this post, but I can at least say I got a nice copy back in 2011.
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope this was a bad batch or something and not the new norm! And that they compensate you or anyone who gets a dodgy copy.
Trish, that wasn't self-published. It was with Lucky Press, so it's different. Unfortunately.
DeleteYep, I'll def keep you all updated.
ReplyDeleteAs a reader, I appreciate the concern for quality control. It's not JUST the words when you're an indie ...
ReplyDeleteLet us know the company's reply, Jessica. Be interesting to read :-) x
ReplyDeleteHard to imagine how that could happen. I mean, someone must physically handle the book in the shipping process, and would notice the mistake, if it was a mistake. Hopefully, it was. I'll be interested in the reply you get from CS.
ReplyDeleteWoah. Hopefully this is just an isolated mishap on their part. I'd be interested to know if they respond and how they explain the discrepancy. Hope it doesn't happen again.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for calling them out on this. I have many writer friends who self publish. I will share. Did you facebook this?
ReplyDeleteYep, it's on FB and Twitter. Please share!
DeleteYikes, good to know. Thanks for sharing that with the rest of us. Hopefully they take care of it. I wonder if Lightening Source does a better job.
ReplyDeleteI will share this. Hopefully, this was a one-time mishap.
ReplyDeleteBest to you, Jessica!
Ah, capitalism! Gotta love the bottom line.
ReplyDeleteI do hope it's a one-time event. So far I've ordered Createspace book from Amazon and Createspace, and the quality was wonderful, although I have heard of people having various problems in the past.
ReplyDeleteThat's low. Hope it was just a fluke.
ReplyDeleteWhere money is concerned, a business, even Amazon, is not above yielding to temptation -- especially if they feel the chances are good they will never be discovered. Sad really, Roland
ReplyDeleteLike I said, thanks for being so proactive on this, Jess! I don't use Book Depository, so from what I've seen, everyone who's ordered my print copies through Amazon has gotten what I'd expect (good quality, etc.). I'll be interested to hear their response! <3
ReplyDeleteThat does stink. Presentation matters. I'm glad you wrote them and posted your letter here. That gets things done!
ReplyDeletethanks for the heads up. i plan to check this out with my own book. i have a couple friends who bought copies through createspace and have copies i sent them from my batch to compare. i will let you all know what i find.
ReplyDeletePlease keep us updated! I hope they respond and that it was just a fluke. :(
ReplyDeleteI know someone this happened to, but she got the idea it was a fluke. It doesn't sound like a fluke anymore. :(
ReplyDeleteI received a book from them with the center of it being someone else's book crammed inside of mine, a soccer book. I do not use them any longer.
ReplyDeleteHow much of it is them cutting corners and how much just the fact that POD printers in general are sometimes inferior?
ReplyDeleteDuly noted! That is why CreateSpace would NOT be my first choice.
Wow thanks for the heads up. Hope it gets fixed!
ReplyDeleteHi Jess .. The Book from Book Depository is on good quality cream paper; Vine Leaves is on good quality slightly whiter paper (perhaps because of the colour photos); String Bridge is on good quality cream paper (the earlier version) ...
ReplyDelete... I'm waiting for a new copy of String Bridge - I'll check when it turns up .. any variation I'll let you know ... Cheers Hilary
Createspace didn't print the copy you ordered, Book Depository did. When you set up your publishing preferences, if you allow the book to be distributed by third parties, this gives them permission to print and sell your book. That is why you will see "new" copies offered on Amazon by other outlets at cheaper prices. The third party publishers will cut corners wherever they can in order to offer your book for less. You are still supposed to collect royalties on the purchase, but it can result in an inferior product being sold to the reading public. You can go back through your set up and change it so that you don't allow third party distribution, but it will cut down on the availability of your book. I wish Createspace and other publishing services would distinguish between distribution and third party publishing.
ReplyDeletePD, do you know that Amazon OWN Book Depository? Not REALLY third party, is it.
Deleteso far, reports about my book are that both versions are the same quality...
ReplyDeleteI'm fairly certain that there's a disclaimer when you upload your books to CS that books ordered through other companies (B&N, The Book Depo, etc) may differ in quality...
ReplyDelete