Best options for selling via Amazon.co.uk ?

[andyatartsagencydotcodotuk]

Thank you to forum members for these forums who do a great deal to fill in gaps in lulu info  -  I have learnt a lot here.  But I am, alas, more than a little confused about what is the best way to sell particularly on amazon.co.uk ( as well as amazon.com) via lulu

As I understand it, perhaps totally wrongly, there are four different ways of doing it?  I would be grateful for advice if I have got this right or totally wrong.  

(1) Sending books to amazon which they then sell and you then replenish them.  (Time consuming and not very profitable)  

(2) One of lulu's distribution packages (although bizarrely enough the globalreach ones says it doesn't do amazon.co.uk on lulu's comparison - Can this be true?)

Also if I purchase one of their distribution packages, then presumably I don't need to register the book myself with Nielsen which is free of charge and does a lot of what lulu say they do in their packages.  Is the advantage of spending $75 dollars on lulu package that they can get amazon to print the book for the customer directly.
If so it is worth it. Or should I register with Nielsen anyway.  And on their registration form question Main UK Distributor Details, should I answer lulu, or amazon? Are lulu acceptable, and if so what do people put as lulu contact details?

 (3) Selling yourself via amazon, so amazon contact you with customer details and you post out to customer.
( I presume I would be the distributor for Nielsen if this is the case)

(4)  Selling yourself as a merchant via amazon, so amazon contact you with customer details and you can get lulu to post out directly to customer, saving you having to do it. ( is this actually possible - this sounds like the best way at first glance)

Anyway your hard won expert advice would be really very much appreciated.  Have I understood things correctly, and secondly what do you advise the pros and cons of these options?    Many many thanks Andy

[Peter May]

If you want your book listed on Amazon.co.uk (as well as all the other amazon sites) all you need do is take the free Lulu ISBN, make sure the book meets the rules and approve and select free Extended Distribution.

After around 8 weeks your book will be on Amazon. When someone buys it your Lulu account will be credited.

Your only problem will be getting people to buy it.

[ARIYA]

"... Or should I register with Nielsen anyway.  And on their registration form question Main UK Distributor Details, should I answer lulu, or amazon? Are lulu acceptable, and if so what do people put as lulu contact details?"

Hi Andy,

This is not an answer to any of your questions but a repeat of your last question!

We are trying out Nielsen ISBNs on a couple of books because our Lulu ISBN books can no longer be ordered (or stocked) through UK bookshops like Blackwell - even with GlobalReach. The titles aren't listed on Gardners data - a main UK Distributor (which they will be with a Nielsen ISBN).

Intending to buy GlobalReach Distribution and using own ISBN bought through Nielsen, we came across the same problem - who to put down as Distributor on Nielsen data form. An email question to Lulu about this was acknowledged, but no answer was received.

We ask the same question: What do Lulu UK Authors with Nielsen ISBNs (+ GlobalReach) put as Distributor on Nielsen registration form? 

[Ken Anderson]

Why not do it yourself?

[andyatartsagencydotcodotuk]

Thank you to everyone who commented

Peter, I appreciate your advice. What you have said is very good advice and is undoubtedly the easiest way to do it.  

However I want to use my own ISBN numbers for various reasons (which i stupidly didn't mention), so hence my enquiries as to the pros and cons of the four particular options I listed. 

Even more so, because I am also grateful to Ariya for telling us that Lulu ISBN books can no longer be ordered or stocked through various shops. (Not that I think that many shops will want to order them but I have promised somebody they will be available to order through shops). 

Ken, as I am doing this for someone else, I would prefer not do be personally involved in posting off books myself, particularly if there is a simple and easy way to avoid it.  But maybe there is no way to avoid it.......? 

Anyway, if anyone has any thoughts on the four amzon options and on distribution for Nielsen I would be grateful to hear them. But if not, thank you for your help and advice.  Andy

[Peter May]

---

andyatartsagencydotcodotuk wrote:
 

However I want to use my own ISBN numbers for various reasons (which i stupidly didn't mention), so hence my enquiries as to the pros and cons of the four particular options I listed.

---

You can use your own ISBN and buy Global Distribution for which Lulu will register it on the ISBN databases showing you as the publisher and Lulu as the distributer.Your book will appear on all amazon sites.

Bookshops can order it -- but the inhibitors are the they are loath to because they don't get sale or return neither do they get the massive discount they get from commercially published books and when Lulu comes up on the computer as the distributer they tend to tell the customer they can't order the book or that it is not available.

If you have a good relationship with the shop manager they might get it as a favour to you. If you want to deal with waterstones thats another series of hoops (search the forum) .

Its nice to see your book on a bookshop shelves -- not so nice if it's is still there unsold months later. But if you want actual sales rather than just the thrill of seeing your book on a shelf then Amazon is where you want to be.

Another advantage of using your own ISBN and global is that 30% USA tax isn't deducted from your revenue for sales to the USA.

[Glenn_H]

I followed up with our distribution group to find an answer to your question: What do Lulu UK Authors with Nielsen ISBNs (+ GlobalReach) put as Distributor on Nielsen registration form?

Lulu should be listed as the distributor.

Best Regards and Good Luck!

[ARIYA]

Thank you Glenn. 

Nielsen ask for name and address of Distributor.  Is this the correct address to use?

LULU
3101 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh
NC 27607
USA 

[andyatartsagencydotcodotuk]

HI Ariya

Did Lulu ever bother replying to this question? Did they reply directly to you, or just not reply at all?

I would be grateful if you could let me know the answer if you do.

Many thanks

Andy

[Ken Anderson]

That address should be okay, but use Lulu Enterprises Inc. not just Lulu.