no casewrap U.S. Letter or A4 for distribution [ Edited ]

[potetjp]

Someone advised me to opt for the U.S. Letter format instead of  A4 to have my book printed with a hardbound cover and distributed because A4 is only distributed softbound (Perfect Bound).

I have just downloaded the list of formats and bindings for Extended Reach and Global Reach. U.S. Letter is only distributed as "perfect bound" or "saddle stitch".

It is obvious Lulu has no U.S. Letter or A4 hardbound option.

Only one format has the three binding options: U.S. Trade (Perfect Bound, Case Wrap, Dust Jacket.)

Why do some participants give wrong answers when then should know better?  

[Ken Anderson · Accepted solution]

Most folk here try their best.

Unfortunately Lulu offer so many options and provide at times a bewildering array of information that is not always easy to find or sift through so you must forgive them if they don't always provide an exact or correct piece of information.

I've been using Lulu and contributing to its Forums at various levels including moderator since Pontius was a Pilot but even I with all those years of experience cannot guarantee to keep up with every aspect of Lulu or changes they make.

The good news here is that you've actually found your way around the information yourself - you may not like the answers you've found but at least now you are better educated.

Much of my time and that of other old hands here is that quite often we are answering questions where the information is readily available to people if they would only take the time to find it for themselves. Unfortunately those folk live in a world where they expect instant answers without effort and of course for free.

You are now in a position to join our happy band who help others - welcome aboard.

 

[potetjp]

Thanks a lot, Ken, for your kind words.

I have nothing to forgive LULU. I think their production is great, and all the people I showed my books to said their job was quite professional.

 When I started my first book, I first had a look at all the formats available, and those accepted for distribution. I didn't see any hardbound version for A4 or any other big-size book, so I opted for A4 softbound. 

I was surprised when someone today suggested I opted for the U.S. Letter format to have a "casewrap" book distributed. I thought I had missed it when I examined the list. This can happen, can't it? So I returned to the LULU list in the Publish folder, and saw that the person who had suggested that was wrong. No hard feeling.

[kevinlomas]

Lulu do have a habit of updating and even removing options, but not telling anyone!

[kevinlomas]

US Letter   8.5 x 11 in./21.59 x 27.94 cm

	Binding Fee	B & W - Page Cost Color - Page Cost	Cover	Page Count
Perfect Bound Publisher Grade*	$3.50	50# white text - $.015/page No color available	100# laminated cover	80-740
Perfect Bound Lulu Standard	$5.50	60# white text - $.025/page 80# white text - $.20/page	100# laminated cover	32-740
Saddle Stitch Lulu Standard	$5.50	70# white text - $.025/page 80# white text - $.20/page	100# laminated cover	4-88
Coil Bound Lulu Standard	$7.00	60# white text - $.025/page 80# white text - $.20/page	100# laminated cover	4-470
Casewrap Lulu Standard 8.25 x 10.75 in. 20.95 x 27.31 cm	$15.00	50# white text - $.025/page 70# white text - $.20/page	80# laminated cover   stock over a .088"   binder's board	24-800

*These books are only printed in the US at this time and may incur higher shipping costs.

[kevinlomas]

I did suggest to Lulu that they should put the above details along with the http://connect.lulu.com/t5/ISBN-Distribution/What-Products-are-Eligible-for-Retail-Distribution/ta-p... all on the same page.

So far it has not happened, or been replied to!

[potetjp]

Thanks a lot, Kevin.

If the option Casewrap US Letter is not offered to Europeans, I'd better not try and use it. Too bad.

Yes it's obvious with postage a book thus bound would cost three times as much as the softbound one directly printed here.

[kevinlomas]

Seems so, and it's a mystery why some books can be printed in one place but not another, and why some cannot have a Lulu ISBN, and not others, or some can have a paid for Lulu ISBN, but not a free one. It would be good if someone told us why!
So, really, the thing to do is compromise, or not bother.

[Ken Anderson]

It's not the printing. It's the binding. Different processes.

[Ken Anderson]

I've had hard cover books (not POD) with loose covers printed in England and bound into the covers in Scotland.