Print revised book *after* purchase, order status: fulfilling? Please help soon..

[ajs123321]

Hello people,

I've placed myself in a bit of a pickle and I'm not sure what to do. I will explain my problem here. If anyone can help, it would be greatly appreciated.

I've published my first book here yesterday (Feb. 27th). Although I proof-read the entire thing on my original document uploaded AND on the PDF file, I found one error.

First let me say that I had bought 5 copies of my book with my credit card prior to noticing the error. My cost was over $100.

Anyway, the error was on my credits and acknowledgements page. I was giving credit to a church who gave me permission to use a picture from their website, alter it, and use it on my book cover. The church's name was Lighthouse Baptist Chapel. When typing, I wrote 'church' instead of 'chapel'. I even typed out their website address with the same mistake.

As soon as I realized my mistake, which shows my edit was just 3 hours ago on the 28th, I revised my original file, re-uploaded the corrected document and even changed the title of the document so I could remind myself that it was revised. Then I deleted the original upload, which has now been replaced with the revision. (I think it was a wrong move, but I hope it isn't!).

I was wondering - does anyone know if lulu will publish my revised document, or will they still print the original mistake? I viewed the status of my book project and it says "fulfilling".

Can lulu still print the revision, after I corrected it and IF they can, will it cost me extra for the change I made?

I understand that I was quite ignorant about not making sure of the correct words in the first place.

Can anyone who works for lulu (moderator or anyone else) reply and clue me in on this?

Thank you,

Alex

[Ken Anderson · Accepted solution]

Printing after purchase is automated and normally within a few minutes. You will most likely get the pre revision content. You will now have to buy new copies. The moral of the story is to buy one proof at a time - you will find more errors - you may need to make several revisions before you get it right.

[ajs123321]

Oh okay. I understand. Well, since I just bought 5 books to pass out to family and a couple of friends, they will have a unique copy I guess. I'll defintely take your advice and get myself a copy and look it over very well before I order anymore.

Thanks so much for your help, I appreciate it :-)

[wpmproductions]

As one in the same boat...I assume this is a function of the software process as it sends out an order, perhaps including the file as it exists at that moment in time.  How difficult would it be for the recipient (system) of the order to cross-check before printing that it has the absolute latest and greatest source file?  Just wondering out loud, I suppose.  The current procedure of not allowing any last-second changes seems a bit inflexible. Fulfillment and shipment is not warp speed. Seems we (Lulu authors and goods providers) could get cut a break.

[morelandjoe]

And then someone comes along and says, "but I WANTED the original file used to print my order...that's why I ordered the book when I did...now look what you've done...you arbitrarily replaced my file with an new version that I was planning to use for a totally different purpose!!!"  Buyer beware.  You get what you order.

[ajs123321]

I had never really thought about that but yes you are correct. Your reply here is quite understandable. I want to thank everyone here who has replied; even the member in the same boat. I, too, understand what you were saying but it's very true that maybe one person in 100 (just an example) could come along with the quote and attitude that user 'morelandjoe' gave. I understand now why lulu.com does this. Personally, now, I think it's for the best. This gives me a better insight and has educated me about definitely checking and re-checking my work before I publish and order. Everyone reading this who may also be in the same boat, REMEMBER: Check, double check, triple check, make sure your work is exactly as you want it before you purchase. Thank you :-)

[morelandjoe]

Glad you took my comment in the vein it was intended.  I'll wager that I've bought more "proof" books than most people.  I am forever finding "one last" error to fix...usually the day before I really need to order several hundred dollars worth of books.  It is agonizing to wait a week or two to see if I correctly fixed an error before placing a large order but I'll be darned if I'm going to spend a huge chunk of change and have an unacceptable book delivered because I accidently screwed something up.  Accidents happen.  As long as I have a "proof" in hand that I can wave in Lulu's face, I don't have to worry about whether the error occurred at the print shop or it was caused by something I did inadvertently when I "fixed" something.  If you can clearly show that the printer screwed up the order, Lulu will very likely stand behind you.  But don't expect them to feel sorry for you if you didn't follow the guidelines.

[ajs123321]

Exactly! I totally understand about the mistakes of our own or by the printer. I'd never go back to lulu and tell them they made a mistake, personally, because as I've noticed in my own proof copies I bought, I noticed many errors and also noticed that I was far too quick to glance over the PDF file I downloaded from lulu and missed those errors myself. I mean, I totally understand if it 'was' the printer's fault and one going to lulu with that - no problem. But with my own experience here, I made the mistakes due to not taking my time to look it all over well. I was too much in a hurry. Mental note taken now to do this process more slowly. Also, I wanted to comment on your words about finding one last error to fix. Gosh I must have revised at least 5 times. Everytime I'd publish, I'd read over the final PDF product again and find things to change. My last revision to my document, I added new stuff in my book. I had to change the page numbers and all but it was totally worth it. I added one poem in my book that I thought I had lost forever but finally found it and added it in. It was a continued (part 2) to another poem I had already written. SOOO glad I found it!! Part 2 was the best part lol I guess we've all got so much more to learn - especially like me and patience with proof-reading! Thank you for your reply, it was much appreciated! Also, thank you for the Kudos. I've never been Kudos anywhere online lol This was my first :-)