tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post1946146063445887117..comments2023-11-02T02:40:48.410-07:00Comments on Crime Fiction Collective: My Tangle with CreateSpaceL.J. Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-38437211183963663002011-12-22T12:32:35.941-08:002011-12-22T12:32:35.941-08:00UPDATE:
I spoke with Amazon today. They are aware ...UPDATE:<br />I spoke with Amazon today. They are aware of the problem and have informed me that anyone who purchased the PAPERBACK version can contact them and they will ship a new copy free of charge. The e-book version is fine. No problems at all.<br /><br />They claim there is no way to reach customers who bought the book by email to inform them of the problem. Something I have a difficult time believing.ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-64532657411488999802011-12-22T02:45:36.995-08:002011-12-22T02:45:36.995-08:00A hundred copy with formatting issues? That's ...A hundred copy with formatting issues? That's terrible. Didn't you order a proof first? Just one copy to check if everything is okay? I hope CreateSpace would be able to solve this problem right away. Well, they can be trusted.Jenyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00339253174675519257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-48152128120286980182011-12-21T23:36:49.144-08:002011-12-21T23:36:49.144-08:00As it turns out, CreateSpace said they don't w...As it turns out, CreateSpace said they don't want the stinkers either, so more than likely, they'll end up in my garage gathering dust (it's hard for me to throw away books--even the misfits), or perhaps they'd make attractive door stops. <br /><br />Thanks Michelle for the idea about using them as galley prints for reviews. I never thought about that. <br /><br />I guess the one thing I can be grateful for is Amazon's outstanding customer service. I've yet to find anyone as diligent.ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-63155643547970626332011-12-21T23:31:11.918-08:002011-12-21T23:31:11.918-08:00Glad to hear they're going to fix it, Drew. :)...Glad to hear they're going to fix it, Drew. :)Nissiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11043154807861670942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-21539063837423436292011-12-21T22:39:06.352-08:002011-12-21T22:39:06.352-08:00Drew, so sorry you had that problem. Hopefully Ama...Drew, so sorry you had that problem. Hopefully Amazon will send replacements for those copies sold. Send a letter to the top, if they don't. I had a complaint once about an Amazon policy about reviews and I sent a letter to Jeff Bezos himself, and I received an email rsponse from his assistant almost immediately after my letter arrived. <br /><br />I have now published 22 books with Createspace. And to my knowledge everything has been fine. I always order a proof copy. <br /><br />Hopefully if mistakes are made in their printing, readers would make that known. <br /><br />But I understand how you feel about putting out a quality book, all the way around. Buyers expect that.Linda Pendletonhttp://lindapendleton.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-52090866097369445592011-12-21T19:03:20.985-08:002011-12-21T19:03:20.985-08:00I forgot to mention that in the middle of my box o...I forgot to mention that in the middle of my box of books of Dying for Justice was one bright yellow book with a cover for Squirrel Eyes. The interior was my story though. It made me laugh and I kept it for kicks.L.J. Sellershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-89731473059735185202011-12-21T18:36:10.274-08:002011-12-21T18:36:10.274-08:00I have a friend who got her proof from CreateSpace...I have a friend who got her proof from CreateSpace and it had an 88-page book that belonged to someone else printed right inside her book. Big mess. You might consider looking into LSI for printing, instead of CreateSpace. This does seem to be par of the course for them.<br /><br />However, it might not be all bad. Reviews are an amazing way for authors to sell books. I run a book review site and all I ask for is a copy of the book - well, you can take those bad copies (if they allow you to keep them) and call them 'unedited galley copies' and send them out to reviewers for free reviews. This could turn out win/win. Reviewers who regularly get ARCs (advanced reading copies) are used to reading galleys that aren't 100% ready for public, including formatting issues or even some unedited bits. The point is to review the story and plot and characters and get those reviews out quickly. For you, this would be a print book galley you can give away without it costing you, since CS is redoing them for you.<br /><br />good luck with your book sales!Michelle Devon (Michy)http://michysbookreviews.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-65531001242920812232011-12-21T16:34:54.636-08:002011-12-21T16:34:54.636-08:00My book, KILLERWATT, is also Create Space and the ...My book, KILLERWATT, is also Create Space and the print copy is perfect. HOWEVER, I got a proof copy and proofed the entire book before placing my order. I had proofed the upload twice and still found formatting errors in the printed version. Once I corrected the proof copy I ordered a second proof copy. When it was ok, I ordered the books.Sharon Hopkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09250166539820750654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-51356582674374679452011-12-21T16:24:58.763-08:002011-12-21T16:24:58.763-08:00Thanks, everyone. I received word today from Creat...Thanks, everyone. I received word today from CreateSpace that they're going to reprint the new books and send them out to me shortly. No word on what caused the problem. They informed me that they don't have access to Amazon's customer records since they're a separate entity and that I could try to get in touch with them to see if there's anything they can do. I plan to.ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-68587314007237641772011-12-21T14:58:50.321-08:002011-12-21T14:58:50.321-08:00I'm sorry, Andrew. I do know how you feel. I s...I'm sorry, Andrew. I do know how you feel. I separated segments of chapters with four spaces. But Createspace cannot put four spaces at the top of a page, so the reader wonders what? What? when the text jumps to a new character, new scene.<br /><br />I'm reading Lion now in Kindle and please, be consoled. It's perfect and it's a very good book that engages me completely. <br /><br />Jodie had a good suggestion. Think of it like a flaw in a stamp that makes it worth thousands to collectors.Mar Prestonhttp://marpreston.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-85539385334438017062011-12-21T13:53:45.764-08:002011-12-21T13:53:45.764-08:00Drew, how many paperback sales through Amazon are ...Drew, how many paperback sales through Amazon are you talking about? From what I've heard sales are about 100:1 ebooks to DTBs. Maybe you can convince Amazon to make good. If not, maybe you can convince Amazon to either mail the corrected copies and bill you, or, even better, provide you with the mailing information so you can personalize the books and send them directly. (Trying to make some lemonade here.)<br /><br />Speaking of making stuff . . . I made my first ever batch of almond toffee this afternoon. Neet to go make sure it worked!Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-30802744763594757882011-12-21T11:54:19.662-08:002011-12-21T11:54:19.662-08:00I was saddened to hear about your Create Space exp...I was saddened to hear about your Create Space experience (friends of mine have used it and on the whole, they seem to be pretty good). Let's hope it gets resolved. Might I add that your dedication to your readers is super. Keep up the fabulous work Andrew and I'll be buying an e-book version of The Lion, The Lamb & The Hunted in time for Christmas!<br />Best,<br />Ria :-)Ria Amber Tesianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-75072075076887418802011-12-21T11:17:14.686-08:002011-12-21T11:17:14.686-08:00I feel your pain. It's not only Create Space. ...I feel your pain. It's not only Create Space. One of my previous publishers somehow "lost" the three pages of errata I had sent them for one of my books. They said they'd fix it in the e-book version, but until there was a call to print more of the trade paperbacks, the errors would be there. <br /><br />And congrats on having the pre-orders, even if they won't arrive for Christmas. My experience with Create Space has been positive--except for the fact that only my e-books of that title are selling. Maybe by NEXT Christmas I'll have sold enough to recoup the outlay for proofs and the distribution fee.<br /><br /><br />Terry <br /><a href="http://terryodell.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Terry's Place</a><br /><a href="http://www.terryodell.com" rel="nofollow">Romance with a Twist--of Mystery</a>Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-55690227674483710232011-12-21T10:41:44.785-08:002011-12-21T10:41:44.785-08:00Thanks,Gayle, I forgot to add that part. I actuall...Thanks,Gayle, I forgot to add that part. I actually did order a proof to check the cover and be sure the colors were correct, which they were. I used their online Interior Review feature to check the actual text (which showed my corrected file) before ordering my copies. CreateSpace told me that what I saw on the screen would be what my book would look like when it arrived. It wasn't. This only confirms that even though they had the updated file, they printed the original one which was flawed.ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-24598036116723871252011-12-21T09:34:52.912-08:002011-12-21T09:34:52.912-08:00Wow! I'm feeling your frustration, Drew! If it...Wow! I'm feeling your frustration, Drew! If it helps any, many readers don't notice small formatting errors, so why not put a disclaimer sheet inside the front cover and sell the ones you've received at a discount? I think a lot of people would appreciate the reduced price, and very much enjoy the great story within! You could also post the same notice on Amazon and reduce the price there, too, until the "perfect" copies are up.<br /><br />Keep us posted as to how this pans out with CreateSpace. Good luck with this!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-65741485286450562252011-12-21T08:01:33.586-08:002011-12-21T08:01:33.586-08:00I've fortunately(!) had nothing go wrong with ...I've fortunately(!) had nothing go wrong with Createspace, but you are serving as a shining example of what could happen. They've also been nothing but nice answering my questions, etc. <br /><br />One question, just for my curiousity: did you order a proof copy prior to placing your order? I always do and think I can rest easy if the proof is good. If you did and got this mess, I'm feeling a little less secure.Gayle Carlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783449240138097315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-27406255411255264962011-12-21T07:12:56.322-08:002011-12-21T07:12:56.322-08:00Merry Christmas from your friends in the IT depart...Merry Christmas from your friends in the IT department! That really sucks Andrew but I admire your dedication to your fans. Something tells me they'll understand and be happy to open a "late" gift. It's scary to put your career, or parts of it anyway, in others hands but it's the system we have. Please keep up informed on how they respond from here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-90689664782372817502011-12-21T06:43:54.825-08:002011-12-21T06:43:54.825-08:00That must have been heartbreaking to see all those...That must have been heartbreaking to see all those messed-up books! CreateSpace seems to have excellent customer service, and I have to believe they'll correct this. Keep us posted. <br /><br />I'm waiting on a box of books from CreateSpace now and feeling a little nervous.L.J. Sellershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-2923255961815523192011-12-21T01:06:44.853-08:002011-12-21T01:06:44.853-08:00Eek - horrific! Do hope you get it sorted soon. Ke...Eek - horrific! Do hope you get it sorted soon. Keep us updated - as a CreateSpace user I'm worried! And feeling for you - that's awful.Roz Morris aka @Roz_Morris . Blog: Nail Your Novelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088813423467048081noreply@blogger.com