Regarding the new CD manufacturing process, it results in a grossly inferior product that is so trashy I’m ashamed to even give it away, much less sell it to somebody. Like everybody else trying to use LULU as a CD fulfillment operation, I received notice that a new process for making CDs had been adopted with barcodes that add no value to the product yet detract from the overall appearance. So I ordered one to access the damage. The barcode on the CD did in fact screw up the label, which will of course require new artwork, and the label was printed on the disc off center. But those annoyance were far overshadowed by the shoddy printing of the inserts. In fact the tray insert, which includes the labels that are supposed to show on two edges of the jewel case are not visible because the tray insert was cut crooked – it actually looks as if the trimming was subcontracted to a kindergarten class with cheap plastic scissors, no kidding. I print my own inserts and cut them with scissors and hand fold them to fit in the cases, and it looks amateurish. Compared to the product I got from LULU, my arthritic old fingers still do a far superior job. I compare this to a previous CD I ordered from LULU when I finally got my project completed, and the difference is sadly astounding. To misquote a familiar old saying, “Whatever we’re paying these guys … it’s WAY too much!"
Like everybody else trying to create marketable CD products with LULU, I have suffered through wizards that just stop working, uploads that never seem to actually upload anything, limited category selection, and the ever-miserable ISO boondoggle, but at least the product I got at the end looked professional. Nobody was happier than I when LULU finally worked out most of the bugs in building the project, and I was ready, set, go to make 2008 my advertising campaign kickoff. I’m basically a one-man show here, and every dollar I spend comes from giving up something else. Anybody who’s tried to sell ANYTHING in America knows that appearance SELLS! The new CD that LULU is now producing literally screams SECOND RATE JUNK!, in stark contrast to the superior quality books LULU produces (yeah, POD costs a lot, but at least you get a good, solid product). So, it’s back to the drawing board for me. I’m beginning to wish that I had taken the advice way back when from the guy who posted the comment saying that LULU CDs cost too much per unit and there are much less expensive fulfillment operations to be had. Yeah, I’ll have to put money up front to sell my games on Amazon.com, but at least I know my product won’t look like Chinese prison-labor rejects. It looks like LULU is really only interested in downloads and books, I just wish she/he/it would stop pretending otherwise.
Oh, and by the way, did I mention that there are NO FILES on the CD! On the other hand, I got it only a few days after ordering and the jewel case isn’t broken. Wow.
Wallace Williamson
wally@dollardreadfuls.com
