KDP Vs. CreateSpace

TheJesusNinja · January 8

Since the merge I've noticed that books are taking much longer to appear on Amazon. Also I am having problems with book covers/icons not being updated along with interiors on Amazon. So far I have three books with this problem. Before the merge I have been lucky and most of my paperbacks were added to Amazon within two weeks. I know that the time we're given is six to eight weeks but I have been lucky in that respect so far. But it does seem like KDP is not as sufficient as Create-space once was. Create-space was also very nice to work with me in adding key search tags to my books upon request. KDP has refused my last two requests. I still have books that don't show the look inside feature although it's been many weeks since they were added to Amazon. Not pointing the finger at lulu. They have been very helpful. This is about KDP. Has anyone else notice any problems or changes since this merge?

Just Kevin · January 9

I have not uploaded anything to KDP since it merged with CreateSpace (nothing to upload!) but not long ago I revamped some printed book covers here and even after 8 weeks I noticed one of them did not update on Amazon. I mentioned it to Lulu, nothing happened. I mentioned it to Amazon via Amazon Author Central, and it was fixed the next day.

TheJesusNinja · January 9

I have to contact lulu and they are looking into it. But before the merge this never happened.

Just Kevin · January 9

Software issues no doubt. It seems to be contagious. It's always been the case when completing a Kindle project at Amazon it then offered the option to create a printed book, from the same file. (Huh?! What results would that have?!) It was easy to ignore, but now with the merger CreateSpace is right there in your face. 'Kindle and or Printed?'

HULSEY · January 9

I agree it is taking much longer nowadays for our books to appear on Amazon. Mine too used to appear within a couple of weeks. Amazon no longer seem as capable as old. I sent numerous queries to Amazon Central concerning reviews of two of my books merging. They responded and agreed to rectify the problem, but there is no change. Another moan about Amazon is I used to be able to check my sales on Novelrank, but Amazon shut them down.

Just Kevin · January 9

There seems to also be an issue with things fully updating there. Some Revisions don't seem to totally take effect, just parts.

Just Kevin · January 9

I have not looked on other sites to see if the same problem is also there.

TheJesusNinja · January 10

Right Hulsey. In the past my books would show up on Amazon within two weeks or so. Now it's taken up to six weeks. I still have paperbacks with no look inside features after two months. Some of them do not show the updated covers after all that time. Lulu is looking into so I know it will get fixed sooner or later. But seriously after the merge Amazon is really getting sloppy. And they know longer accept my requests for search tags after 5 years of doing so.

oncewas · January 10

The issues that people have been having only affect affiliates i.e. work submitted through Lulu and others. I have not seen any change between Createspace and KDP when publishing directly with KDP. I upload a book today and tomorrow it is on sales with the cover and look inside correctly displayed.

AuntySocialite · January 15

Since the merger I had to go round in several frustrating circles with the KDP lot. It shouldn't have been such a palaver to get them to delete my account when they lost all my titles in the transition, for which I am eternally grateful, otherwise I wouldn't have found the fabulous Lulu and its polite & patient Community.

TheJesusNinja · January 15

The problems Amazon is having not only affects affiliates but KDP as well. Several people were shorted on their sales reports for Nov-Dec and received emails this week about that. One was shorted 465 print books.There are some that I've spoken to that use KDP that lost books or didn't get them approved for days at a time. One told me that their cover revision has been sitting there for months unchanged. Every paperback cover revision I send have gotten messed up and I've had to contact lulu to fix it, which they did quickly. Before the merge on Amazon I had no problems ever.

Just Kevin · January 15

When we add an ISBN, what, exactly, is Distributed? Is it the Print Ready PDF, or is that streamed over from Lulu when an order is placed? Or do vendors get a complete package using Lulu's Project numbers? (I am meaning only print books BTW.) Or is it all done by wherever the ISBNs come from?
I ask because I wonder why our Lulu content seems to be displayed on Amazon piece-meal with perhaps the small cover image appearing last (if at all) and recently (when a revision is done) some individual aspects of a revision not updating at all, such as covers.
I have also noticed recently that some printed book Previews there say 'Supplied by Lulu.com', when Amazon used to generate them themselves.

I have not looked if the same applies to other vendors, major or otherwise.

KDP Vs. CreateSpace

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