Writer Sanctum
Writer's Haven => Quill and Feather Pub [Public] => Topic started by: anpacker on September 20, 2018, 08:01:02 PM
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Someone had to start this thread. grint
I'm interested to hear about experiences with IngramSpark's Victorian-based print operations. You don't have to look hard to find some desperately unhappy customers out there. Am I right in assuming that isn't the norm?
Allan
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Ugh, I still have to work out Ingram...
not enough time
not enough spoons
not enough...energy :icon_cry:
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I've never used Spark but I was a Lightning Source customer for several years. I only cancelled my account there in Jan or Feb, I think.
Downsides:
High cost of making changes to covers and interiors
Annual cost of having books in their system .. per book.
Upside:
They actually ship to aussie addresses.
I was happy with the quality and service, and I believe that by springing $150+ per annum for an indie author organisation I can get a code to cut fees, but honestly, I just don't need author copies badly enough to go through reworking 20-25 cover files, doing all the titles and descriptions again, plus allocating 25 of my precious 100 ISBNs because I already got them to move the last lot to KDP print in Feb.
Too much effort. Easier to stick with KDP and wait until they sort something out for aussies. My bet is they'll print here, but we'll see.
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Thanks, Simon. Great to hear that the quality and service was up to scratch.
So you're not providing the ISBN for your KDP print editions? (I gather you can use the same ISBN for IS and KDP as long as it's your own.)
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Thanks, Simon. Great to hear that the quality and service was up to scratch.
So you're not providing the ISBN for your KDP print editions? (I gather you can use the same ISBN for IS and KDP as long as it's your own.)
I used to use the same ISBN for both. On KDP, distribution was Amazon only, and on LSI distribution was everywhere except the USA. (Something like that, it's a long time ago now. There was a book out which explained how to set it up.)
Anyway, when I wanted to update the covers and interiors for my 12 novels, I had to choose between paying LSI $1200 or dumping them and transferring to Createspace for everything. To be fair, LSI offered to move me to Spark, but it meant filling out all my account details again, and I'd had enough by then. If they'd been able to move it all across I'd have stayed with them.
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Just wanted to come in and say hi to all the Aussies who have migrated here. Really excited for this new board and hopefully we can build a "local" community in this thread too :icon_mrgreen:
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I've put a small guide to Australian Authors Tax here: https://writersanctum.com/index.php?topic=136.new#new
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I'm in the process of setting up a vendor account to publish direct with B&N, and I duly submitted my W8BEN, all filled out correctly as per every other US entity I've had to deal with.
They just wrote back and told me I hadn't filled out the section under line 10.
I wrote back and explained that the section under line 10 is used when you're applying for a rate *other than* the one specified in the treaty between the US and the nation mentioned in line 9. In other words, 5% is the rate, and I'm applying for that rate, so we're good. Line 10 remains blank.
From the IRS website:
Line 10 must be used only if you are claiming treaty benefits that require that you meet conditions not covered by the representations you make on line 9 and Part III.
I mean, I'll happily write numbers in the boxes for them, but I'm 100% certain they've got it wrong. In Line 10 you even have to explain why you qualify for the specific rate you're asking for. (ie. why you're not settling for the 5%)
Maybe I should put 0% and say taxes suck. That would be a really nifty idea.
I know they only just opened the doors to Australians, but weren't UK people already dealing with them? Is this one staffer who thought 'oh look, empty boxes', or do they get everyone to fill out a section of the form which is supposed to be left blank?
I'm sure I won't be hearing the last of this, so I'll post here in case anyone else is thinking of going direct, or has already dealt with this. There is no way a big company like B&N is going to take the word of an author on a tax matter.
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Too much effort. Easier to stick with KDP and wait until they sort something out for aussies. My bet is they'll print here, but we'll see.
I would do the same but for one factor...my only paperback sales come from locally sold books. Without the ability to receive author copies at a reasonable cost, I am stuffed. No one is going to spend the $30 + for a paperback through the expanded distribution option, the only option available for Australian purchasers. I definitely have no choice than to go through IS if I want stocks of my books to sell. Lulu, besides being a tad expensive, does not offer the 6 x 9 option for a paperback, so I do not want to go back in and redo my MSs for different sizes. So, while I am also waiting for KDP to get real for Aussies, I am not holding my breath. I will eventually move everything over to IS during a promotion period and after I have purchased my own ISBNs.
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I'm not Australian. I've never even been to Australia. But some of my interwebz friends are Aussies, including our esteemed host, so consider me a fan of the continent and its folks. :kiss: :grouphug:
Also, Slim Dusty was a cool dude. :icon_mrgreen:
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*sticks head in*
:mhk9U91:
I lurked a lot at the other forum and am using the creation of this lovely shiny new forum to push myself out of my shell and actually post. Hi! Grin
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*WAVES* Hi guys
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To keep B&N happy I had to specify the following in Line 10 of the W8BEN:
Article and Paragraph of the treaty: 12.2 (Australia only. Other countries vary!)
Withholding rate: 5%
Type of income: Royalty
Reason: 'Australian Citizen and Resident' is what I put.
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*sticks head in*
:mhk9U91:
I lurked a lot at the other forum and am using the creation of this lovely shiny new forum to push myself out of my shell and actually post. Hi! Grin
Ditto. Hi. Grin
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:mhk9U91:
I was another lurker at the other forum, but thought I'd say hi here.
I've been stubbornly avoiding print publishing of any kind. I'm still a fledgling when it comes to publishing and I don't think I'd sell enough at the moment to justify the hassle of getting over the learning hump.
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To keep B&N happy I had to specify the following in Line 10 of the W8BEN:
12.2 is the relevant para/line of the tax treaty
5% is the rate
'Australian Citizen and Resident' is what I put under the 'why'.
Thanks for sharing that. A vendor account with B&N is on my to do list.
(A bookmark thingy would be so handy so I can come back to this when I'm ready.)
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:mhk9U91: hi and welcome to all our newbie Aussie members. I'm in Canberra, it's just starting to warm up here. One would think that with all the bs in Canberra we'd have had an early Spring but sadly our politicians are just p_ss and wind.
On the IngramSparks front, I've had an account with them for a year and am extremely satisfied with their product and service. If you are a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) you can upload and change your inner and outer for free. I highly recommend them.
Maybe we should ask them to provide members here with the same free service? I might ask and get back to you guys on that front.
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:mhk9U91: hi and welcome to all our newbie Aussie members. I'm in Canberra, it's just starting to warm up here. One would think that with all the bs in Canberra we'd have had an early Spring but sadly our politicians are just p_ss and wind.
On the IngramSparks front, I've had an account with them for a year and am extremely satisfied with their product and service. If you are a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) you can upload and change your inner and outer for free. I highly recommend them.
Maybe we should ask them to provide members here with the same free service? I might ask and get back to you guys on that front.
Thanks for the feedback, Leo. Good to hear that it's working with IngramSpark.
I checked out both ALLi and Independent Book Publishers Association, who apparently have the same arrangement (https://www.ingramspark.com/lp/ibpa (https://www.ingramspark.com/lp/ibpa)). Not sure which is better (the latter seems slightly cheaper based on the current exchange rate). It's definitely worth asking what it would take for members here as well.
I'm in Adelaide. Haven't published yet. My first book (epic fantasy) is currently undergoing final proofreading.
Allan
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Hi again - I'm just doing a quick introduction post [same one as I recently did at KB] :)
I'm Ashley (from Victoria) and I'm writing and publishing spec fic and poetry. I'm also hoping to post a call for entries soon - it's a promo called OZtober aimed at showcasing Australian writers of speculative fiction.
But more on that later, just wanted to say 'hi' and looking forward to spending time here!
Ashley
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Thanks for the feedback, Leo. Good to hear that it's working with IngramSpark.
I checked out both ALLi and Independent Book Publishers Association, who apparently have the same arrangement (https://www.ingramspark.com/lp/ibpa (https://www.ingramspark.com/lp/ibpa)). Not sure which is better (the latter seems slightly cheaper based on the current exchange rate). It's definitely worth asking what it would take for members here as well.
I'm in Adelaide. Haven't published yet. My first book (epic fantasy) is currently undergoing final proofreading.
Allan
Good luck with your book, Allan, you're in good company with epic fantasy. I'll email them tomorrow, Monday, and keep everyone informed.
Hi Ashley, don't forget to post your promo's here too, we've a small but growing bunch of Aussie authors.
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Hi Ashley, don't forget to post your promo's here too, we've a small but growing bunch of Aussie authors.
Hi Leo!
Great idea, will do that ASAP :)
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Hi all, I'm new 'round these parts, but thought I'd pop in and say hi.
I'm in Brisbane, and I'm writing epic fantasy. :)
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To keep B&N happy I had to specify the following in Line 10 of the W8BEN:
12.2 is the relevant para/line of the tax treaty
5% is the rate
'Australian Citizen and Resident' is what I put under the 'why'.
Thanks for sharing that. A vendor account with B&N is on my to do list.
(A bookmark thingy would be so handy so I can come back to this when I'm ready.)
I just updated the post I made, and it now includes the 'reason' field too (which is 'Royalty')
To get a bookmark to a post, just click the thread title for that post, then bookmark the subsequent browser page.
e.g. mine is
https://writersanctum.com/index.php?topic=124.msg2328#msg2328
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I just updated the post I made, and it now includes the 'reason' field too (which is 'Royalty')
To get a bookmark to a post, just click the thread title for that post, then bookmark the subsequent browser page.
e.g. mine is
https://writersanctum.com/index.php?topic=124.msg2328#msg2328
Cool. Thank you for the info and for the tip on how to bookmark!
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I'm interested to hear about experiences with IngramSpark's Victorian-based print operations. You don't have to look hard to find some desperately unhappy customers out there. Am I right in assuming that isn't the norm?
Allan
Hi Allan,
I've been using IngramSpark for about 4 years and have been very happy thus far, top notch customer service and high quality printing. I have noticed a few price raises recently, which is a shame, but as I'm in Vic myself, it makes shipping and printing about 1000% cheaper than using CS etc
Lulu are supposed to be pretty good too but I've never used them personally.
(Of course, I'm only 1 chap - those bad reviews must be bad for a reason, I've just never had any trouble)
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Hi all, I'm new 'round these parts, but thought I'd pop in and say hi.
I'm in Brisbane, and I'm writing epic fantasy. :)
Same. New, Brisbane, epic fantasy :)
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To keep B&N happy I had to specify the following in Line 10 of the W8BEN:
Article and Paragraph of the treaty: 12.2 (Australia only. Other countries vary!)
Withholding rate: 5%
Type of income: Royalty
Reason: 'Australian Citizen and Resident' is what I put.
Aww man. I did mine earlier this week, I put 10% (I thought it was 10, but you're right it's 5). I doubt they'd actually collect 10%, but I think I'll send them an updated form all the same.
Thanks, Simon!
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To keep B&N happy I had to specify the following in Line 10 of the W8BEN:
Article and Paragraph of the treaty: 12.2 (Australia only. Other countries vary!)
Withholding rate: 5%
Type of income: Royalty
Reason: 'Australian Citizen and Resident' is what I put.
Aww man. I did mine earlier this week, I put 10% (I thought it was 10, but you're right it's 5). I doubt they'd actually collect 10%, but I think I'll send them an updated form all the same.
Thanks, Simon!
Good to see you here!
If you manage to sort out my Apple GST issue, that's more than thanks enough!
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Hi all, I'm new 'round these parts, but thought I'd pop in and say hi.
I'm in Brisbane, and I'm writing epic fantasy. :)
Welcome from another new member!
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Think my earlier post went MIA, so here it is again:
Hi, I am another Aussie, living in Melbourne. I write fantasy and have written poetry in the past. I have my first novel in what I would like to think is the final stages prior to publication. I also lurked on the other forum, and was about to post when everything went pear-shaped. I will try to be more active here, although it's debatable what I can add, given the experience of others.
Erron
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Think my earlier post went MIA, so here it is again:
Hi, I am another Aussie, living in Melbourne. I write fantasy and have written poetry in the past. I have my first novel in what I would like to think is the final stages prior to publication. I also lurked on the other forum, and was about to post when everything went pear-shaped. I will try to be more active here, although it's debatable what I can add, given the experience of others.
Erron
Hi Erron, I was like you on KB, I lurked because I had little to say. But it's a new board and new people even though they are mostly KB refugees. I think you and I may feel more comfortable on Tim's forum so please, post away. Make sure you check the forum's regarding your launch, going wide and managing things, ask lots of questions because publishing a fantasy novel is going to be both challenging and a real pleasure. Good luck and stick around.
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Think my earlier post went MIA, so here it is again:
Hi, I am another Aussie, living in Melbourne. I write fantasy and have written poetry in the past. I have my first novel in what I would like to think is the final stages prior to publication. I also lurked on the other forum, and was about to post when everything went pear-shaped. I will try to be more active here, although it's debatable what I can add, given the experience of others.
Erron
Thanks Leo, will do...
Hi Erron, I was like you on KB, I lurked because I had little to say. But it's a new board and new people even though they are mostly KB refugees. I think you and I may feel more comfortable on Tim's forum so please, post away. Make sure you check the forum's regarding your launch, going wide and managing things, ask lots of questions because publishing a fantasy novel is going to be both challenging and a real pleasure. Good luck and stick around.
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I'm interested to hear about experiences with IngramSpark's Victorian-based print operations. You don't have to look hard to find some desperately unhappy customers out there. Am I right in assuming that isn't the norm?
Allan
Hi Allan,
I've been using IngramSpark for about 4 years and have been very happy thus far, top notch customer service and high quality printing. I have noticed a few price raises recently, which is a shame, but as I'm in Vic myself, it makes shipping and printing about 1000% cheaper than using CS etc
Lulu are supposed to be pretty good too but I've never used them personally.
(Of course, I'm only 1 chap - those bad reviews must be bad for a reason, I've just never had any trouble)
Thanks, Ashley. It seems like most people have had good experiences. Hopefully I will, too. Grin
Allan
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Hey everyone, I've been self-publishing about six years now following a mid-list trad' publishing career of horror and crime through the likes of Pan Macmillan and such. I use an anonymous user name and avatar only because I do a lot of freelance editing these days and I'd never, ever want one of my clients to mistakenly think that any forum post by me refers to their MS ... I'd never do that. But the avatar adds that further layer of distance.
As for Slim Dusty, I was a performing arts technician for twenty years and worked with him several times. He was indeed a very cool dude. But I'll never forget a time he was studying merchandise backstage, looking to sign stuff, and he took off his hat ... and turned into a wizened, 75 year old man in that instant. Don't get me started on Billy Thorpe...
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Hey everyone, I've been self-publishing about six years now following a mid-list trad' publishing career of horror and crime through the likes of Pan Macmillan and such. I use an anonymous user name and avatar only because I do a lot of freelance editing these days and I'd never, ever want one of my clients to mistakenly think that any forum post by me refers to their MS ... I'd never do that. But the avatar adds that further layer of distance.
As for Slim Dusty, I was a performing arts technician for twenty years and worked with him several times. He was indeed a very cool dude. But I'll never forget a time he was studying merchandise backstage, looking to sign stuff, and he took off his hat ... and turned into a wizened, 75 year old man in that instant. Don't get me started on Billy Thorpe...
Hey Bass, I saw your other posts and am glad you are here on the new forum. Did you see my thread on audiobooks? It's in the audio forum, I'm not sure if you've posted there yet. Take care, mate.
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As for Slim Dusty, I was a performing arts technician for twenty years and worked with him several times.
That's pretty cool. :icon_cool:
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Hello everyone,
Yet another refugee from the place that shall not be named.
I'm Carleton from Brisbane and I write hard near-future science fiction.
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Just popping my head in as another one of those trying to come out of their shell a little. I haven't published quite yet but I'm Australian and a writer so.... :Tup3a:
I'm in NSW, and I'm writing supernatural suspense and urban fantasy. I have some sci-fi planned further down the track too. grint
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Welcome all!
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Meant to do this a few days ago but I've been swamped, but there's a thread for a promo that I wanted to share, aimed at Australian writers if anyone wanted to check it out:
https://writersanctum.com/index.php?topic=264.msg3038#msg3038
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*sticks head in*
:mhk9U91:
I lurked a lot at the other forum and am using the creation of this lovely shiny new forum to push myself out of my shell and actually post. Hi! Grin
Ditto. Hi. Grin
Great to meet you, and all the other fine folks in this thread too.
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I apparently forgot to introduce myself! But I am here, and Australian. :icon_lol: Hi all!
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Hey!
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I apparently forgot to introduce myself! But I am here, and Australian. :icon_lol: Hi all!
Hello everyone,
Yet another refugee from the place that shall not be named.
I'm Carleton from Brisbane and I write hard near-future science fiction.
from Brisbane and I write hard near-future science fiction.
[/quote]
Welcome to our new abode :)
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Just got back from Conflux in Canberra and it was fabulous. I can highly recommend this convention for writers of spec fic.
I'm so pumped up to write better pieces and be more productive.
There were any number of amazing talks on craft in the formal sessions, but the highlight for me was the social get-togethers. I met some of Australia's great horror and scifi writers who were unbelievably friendly and accommodating to a complete unknown like me.
And then there was having my own work on a table with all the big names.
(http://carletonchinner.com/images/ConfluxTable2018.jpg)
(https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156353560092199)
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Hi everyone!!! I'm not a writer, but I AM Australian, so hopefully that counts!
:banana-riding-llama-smiley-em
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Hi everyone!!! I'm not a writer, but I AM Australian, so hopefully that counts!
:banana-riding-llama-smiley-em
Hi Angela, you are most welcome to join us :)
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Hi everyone. Great to see the Aussie thread is alive and kicking over here.
I'm looking for feedback from others who have published paperbacks with KDP and/or transferred books from Createspace.
I've been told by KDP that it 'typically' takes 30 days for the paperback edition to be available on the Australian Global store "but additionally there are a few criteria that come into picture that decide whether or not a book should be made available in the Australian site. That being said, because there are many things that come into the criteria we can't exactly specify what they are." Excuse me! :help
Anyone else been told this?
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Hi everyone. Great to see the Aussie thread is alive and kicking over here.
I'm looking for feedback from others who have published paperbacks with KDP and/or transferred books from Createspace.
I've been told by KDP that it 'typically' takes 30 days for the paperback edition to be available on the Australian Global store "but additionally there are a few criteria that come into picture that decide whether or not a book should be made available in the Australian site. That being said, because there are many things that come into the criteria we can't exactly specify what they are." Excuse me! :help
Anyone else been told this?
I have never spoken to them about books being in the Global store, but I just looked up mine out of curiosity. It was there (it's a 74 page Erotica, so I'm not sure what their criteria are, but I obviously passed them). The books is US$7.99 which comes through as AU$12.53 with $10.95 postage. $23.50ish for a 74 page Erotica is likely going to be enough to stop any sales. (I actually thought $7.99 would stop sales as I only created the book to learn the process, but I do get the occasional sale on it, so there you go!)
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Thanks for your feedback, LMareeApps . :Tup2:
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Hi everyone. Great to see the Aussie thread is alive and kicking over here.
I'm looking for feedback from others who have published paperbacks with KDP and/or transferred books from Createspace.
I've been told by KDP that it 'typically' takes 30 days for the paperback edition to be available on the Australian Global store "but additionally there are a few criteria that come into picture that decide whether or not a book should be made available in the Australian site. That being said, because there are many things that come into the criteria we can't exactly specify what they are." Excuse me! :help
Anyone else been told this?
Hi JB, they are basically the same in all ways, you'll find your KDP paperback available just like Createspace was. I've got mine in KDP print but not for Expanded Distribution, I use IngramSpark for that.
Make sure you tick 'All Territories' so your book is available everywhere.
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Hi everyone. Great to see the Aussie thread is alive and kicking over here.
I'm looking for feedback from others who have published paperbacks with KDP and/or transferred books from Createspace.
I've been told by KDP that it 'typically' takes 30 days for the paperback edition to be available on the Australian Global store "but additionally there are a few criteria that come into picture that decide whether or not a book should be made available in the Australian site. That being said, because there are many things that come into the criteria we can't exactly specify what they are." Excuse me! :help
Anyone else been told this?
Hi JB, they are basically the same in all ways, you'll find your KDP paperback available just like Createspace was. I've got mine in KDP print but not for Expanded Distribution, I use IngramSpark for that.
Make sure you tick 'All Territories' so your book is available everywhere.
Having to wait 30 days for my paperback to be available - with some doubt as to whether the book will be accepted - is not exactly the same as CreateSpace, Leo.
That aside, I'd like to know more about what you are doing with your books. Do you mean you have published your print book twice? Once with KDP and again with IngramSpark. So, two ISBNs?
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The KDP print proofs/author copies is frustrating. The support page states, Australian users can use amazon.com or amazon.co.uk, but when I do I get the can't ship to Australia error.
I've emailed KDP to try and figure out where the discrepancy is, maybe the support page is out of date, or maybe they need to set a flag some where. I suspect the former but I'm hoping for the latter. I'll report back when I know more.
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The KDP print proofs/author copies is frustrating. The support page states, Australian users can use amazon.com or amazon.co.uk, but when I do I get the can't ship to Australia error.
I've emailed KDP to try and figure out where the discrepancy is, maybe the support page is out of date, or maybe they need to set a flag some where. I suspect the former but I'm hoping for the latter. I'll report back when I know more.
To the best of my knowledge, Lee, the issue with author/proof copies has not been resolved - such luxuries are simply not available to Aussie authors. We have to buy copies through the retail store.
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Hello! Another Australian reporting for duty.
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So this KDP author's copies issue -- if we can only get copies from the AU retail store, that means we can't actually get proof copies? Like at all?
(the purpose of proof copies being to check them before they go on sale)
I'm taking this venture step by step. Ultimately, my plan is to sell paperback on Amazon via KDP, and use IS for Expanded Distribution.
It feels so wrong to sell a product and not be able to check it first.
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So a while back I heard Joanna Penn say on her podcast that one can set the book prices higher in Australia because "Australians have a tolerance for higher prices". I remember that word: tolerance. I am not particularly tolerant of this, especially after being moved from .com to .com.au and seeing the difference in pricing for the same ebook.
Indies keep it fairly fair, but the big publishers seem to like a big difference. I appreciate that the Australian company is a different company, but still, when a new ebook release in the US is US$3.99, and in Australia is AU$11.99. And in that example they hadn't even redone the cover!
But I guess for indies the standard practice is to round up? So US$3.99 is AU$5.50 so round up to AU$5.99?
Anyway, when I priced my book, I rounded it down for Australian customers! Ha! I am the resistance!
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So a while back I heard Joanna Penn say on her podcast that one can set the book prices higher in Australia because "Australians have a tolerance for higher prices". I remember that word: tolerance. I am not particularly tolerant of this, especially after being moved from .com to .com.au and seeing the difference in pricing for the same ebook.
Indies keep it fairly fair, but the big publishers seem to like a big difference. I appreciate that the Australian company is a different company, but still, when a new ebook release in the US is US$3.99, and in Australia is AU$11.99. And in that example they hadn't even redone the cover!
But I guess for indies the standard practice is to round up? So US$3.99 is AU$5.50 so round up to AU$5.99?
Anyway, when I priced my book, I rounded it down for Australian customers! Ha! I am the resistance!
Haha! Nice, Astrid. Grin
Welcome, by the way...
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So a while back I heard Joanna Penn say on her podcast that one can set the book prices higher in Australia because "Australians have a tolerance for higher prices". I remember that word: tolerance. I am not particularly tolerant of this, especially after being moved from .com to .com.au and seeing the difference in pricing for the same ebook.
Indies keep it fairly fair, but the big publishers seem to like a big difference. I appreciate that the Australian company is a different company, but still, when a new ebook release in the US is US$3.99, and in Australia is AU$11.99. And in that example they hadn't even redone the cover!
But I guess for indies the standard practice is to round up? So US$3.99 is AU$5.50 so round up to AU$5.99?
Anyway, when I priced my book, I rounded it down for Australian customers! Ha! I am the resistance!
I set mine at $1 more than the US prices. Canadian dollars the same.
One thing to bear in mind with US$3.99 vs A$11.99 - if it's a big publisher and the locals are editing the book for us/aus language differences, that aussie publisher will be paying their staff maybe twice what the US publisher will be, AND they're going to sell maybe 10% the number of copies their US counterpart will.
Re tolerance for pricing here, we don't get those poor-quality dimestore $6.99 paperbacks like they do in the US. Our minimum is a trade paperback, even though it's an A-format size. That's one reason our minimum prices on print books are high, another being wages, transport, retail rents and so on. We just don't have the scale.
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And G.S.T, which seems to add maybe $3-$7 to the price of any given paperback, compared to pre GST days
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And G.S.T, which seems to add maybe $3-$7 to the price of any given paperback, compared to pre GST days
Heh. Not quite, but seems to is right ;-) (Unless you mean the big B- and C- format trade paperbacks?)
To be fair, though, paperbacks were around the $18.95-$19.95 mark in 2000, now they're ... the same. Some are $22.95, but the price hasn't moved very much in almost 20 years.
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So this KDP author's copies issue -- if we can only get copies from the AU retail store, that means we can't actually get proof copies? Like at all?
(the purpose of proof copies being to check them before they go on sale)
I'm taking this venture step by step. Ultimately, my plan is to sell paperback on Amazon via KDP, and use IS for Expanded Distribution.
It feels so wrong to sell a product and not be able to check it first.
Ir's bizarre, Astrid.
Below is a copy of an email from KDP I received after asking them what options are available to Aussie authors re proofs.
"I understand your frustration in this matter. Please note that we had to change this due to the new Australian GST law.
Before publishing your paperback, it will go through two separate reviews to make sure our customers have a positive reading experience.
First, it will go through the online print previewer.
This tools allows you to see what your book cover and manuscript will look like before you publish it and will also help you identify formatting errors that need to be fixed before publishing. There are lines that show the “safe” areas on the cover and tool tips that appear when you hover your mouse near them. These tips provide helpful information to make sure nothing is getting cut off and your files are formatted according to the margin specification.
After you approve the paperback within the print previewer and click "save and publish" on the pricing page the book will go to our manual review team.
They look at image resolution, fonts, margin settings, and overall readability of your book. They also review all new or revised KDP books for compliance with our content guidelines. If they find any issues, they'll let you know via email.
Should you after this order a retail copy and still find the title to be faulty then please let us know. Should you wish you will be able to unpublish the book while you fix the issues you may have found."
So there you have it.
And to add insult to injury if we transfer our paperbacks from CreateSpace to KDP they will not be available to Aussie readers for 30 days - something they don't bother to tell us when they send their 'excited' email to announce that "that CreateSpace (CSP) and Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) will become one service."
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And G.S.T, which seems to add maybe $3-$7 to the price of any given paperback, compared to pre GST days
Heh. Not quite, but seems to is right ;-) (Unless you mean the big B- and C- format trade paperbacks?)
To be fair, though, paperbacks were around the $18.95-$19.95 mark in 2000, now they're ... the same. Some are $22.95, but the price hasn't moved very much in almost 20 years.
Yep, that sounds about right, the trade ones took the brunt of the hike :)
If I search a bit, I can still get a pre-2000 (ish) price at a spot like Target but it's steeper in actual bookstores - but then, nothing quite beats going into an actual store to talk to folks about books so that's a nice trade-off for the extra cost
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Difference between business name and imprint? Can someone explain it in terms of Australian authors? I know I have to register a business name, but what about imprint? Can I choose anything, or is there a separate registration process?
thanks...
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I'm seriously thinking of putting myself out "there" as an audiobook narrator and producer at $100 PFH. I'm Australian, and my accent is a deal-breaker for most non-Oz authors. After seven books of my own with good reviews, indicators are I'm good at the job. But $100 PFH is cheap, and maybe most will assume I can't produce a good audiobook... but I'm keen to try creating someone else's book and discover the demands and logistics that requires. That demands an untried, entry-level price.
I'm unashamedly fishing here for any thoughts or opinions that might let me take this further.
Thanks!
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I've been trying to record my own audiobook, but to be honest my time is better spent writing new work.
I'm more than happy with an aussie accent, and in fact an aussie actually recorded seven chapters of Hal 1 a year or so back and they sounded great.
(They got busy and dropped the project. It wasn't a paid deal, they approached me to have a go, with the idea of a profit share if/when the work was completed.)
I'm more than happy to discuss a proper contract with an estimate and an agreed PFH. I'll msg you now with my email.
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How about a New Zealander living in Sydney? For eleven years so far. In that time, I've seen 8 Aussie prime ministers. a dead wombat lying legs up on the main road to Canberra, some kangaroos, a lot of Australians, and more.
I have written thriller & suspense novels. I like to write SF. I think I've met most of you before.
Will go and post something similar in the NZ writer support thread now. grint
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How about a New Zealander living in Sydney? For eleven years so far. In that time, I've seen 8 Aussie prime ministers. a dead wombat lying legs up on the main road to Canberra, some kangaroos, a lot of Australians, and more.
I have written thriller & suspense novels. I like to write SF. I think I've met most of you before.
Will go and post something similar in the NZ writer support thread now. grint
Welcome! Although to be fair, measuring the passage of time in APMs is misleading in the extreme ;-)
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Hey! I'm an Aussie author/hermit from country Victoria. ;)
Six years self-pub, four years full time. Romance and UF, represent!
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Hey! I'm an Aussie author/hermit from country Victoria. ;)
Six years self-pub, four years full time. Romance and UF, represent!
Hi Nicole, and welcome to our little community L)
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On the vexed issue of publishing paperback through KDP.
There was absolutely no indication from Amazon that there would be a 30 day delay before the paperback edition of the book I just published would be available to Australians (which includes the author). In fact their communication implied that the book would be available ‘within 3-5 days’.
I contacted KDP support to complain about the delay in making the paperback available and got the usual Amazon line about the Australian GST laws causing the problem and that they were working hard to improve the situation.
I then wrote to Jezz Bezos. I got fobbed off by one of his executives (who claimed Jeff had read the email) with the usual shifting of blame to the Australian Government. He totally ignored the main thrust of my email which was the problem of not communicating that there would be a delay. Surely that is well within the power of Amazon to control.
Anyway, I ordered a handful of copies to use for promotion via AusPost freight forwarding (Shopmate). Very easy to do and the books will be here next week which is fine. However, the cost of freight via this service, even with a ‘welcome’ discount of $10, is twice the cost that CreateSpace used to charge.
And now I wait. Will my paperbacks be available to the Australian market in 30 days? Or is there some other hidden hiccup waiting to cause further delays? :shrug
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Way, way,way off topic...but how many times can you say that your brother just purchased a town? According to Domain.com the most viewed property in Australia. Allies Creek is about 3 hours drive from Brisbane and boasts 12 homes, several large sheds including an old sawmill, a large dam and about twenty hectares.
https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/buying/entire-town-hits-market-for-unbelievable-price/news-story/d52ca67121c2f11eec1f280906684192 (https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/buying/entire-town-hits-market-for-unbelievable-price/news-story/d52ca67121c2f11eec1f280906684192)
My brother and his wife are looking to turn the town into a multi-faceted facility for arts and crafts, recreational camping/holidaying and any other crazy schemes they can dream of. Just had to share, sorry for venturing so far off topic. Nobody but Australian would really care, so I didn't think appropriate for a general posting.
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Wow, that is awesome! Goodluck to your brother and his wife, what a bargain grint
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I'm not trying to derail this thread in any way, but can I just slip in here and ask a question of any Australians here (I'm American)?
I'm watching an Australian TV show on Netflix called "Rake." Plotwise, it now involves the Australian government's conflicts. One of the running jokes is that when things are going the worst, someone will threaten to "call in the Americans," which is met with horror/terror. Could somebody explain the joke to me, i.e. why this is viewed with such horror (it's pretty funny, but I'd like to understand it)? Thanks.
Again, apologies for any derailment.
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I'm not trying to derail this thread in any way, but can I just slip in here and ask a question of any Australians here (I'm American)?
I'm watching an Australian TV show on Netflix called "Rake." Plotwise, it now involves the Australian government's conflicts. One of the running jokes is that when things are going the worst, someone will threaten to "call in the Americans," which is met with horror/terror. Could somebody explain the joke to me, i.e. why this is viewed with such horror (it's pretty funny, but I'd like to understand it)? Thanks.
Again, apologies for any derailment.
Now, that would be opening the door to a thoroughly political discussion... where a lot of those emojis I see up top when typing this would probably come in handy.
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I'm not trying to derail this thread in any way, but can I just slip in here and ask a question of any Australians here (I'm American)?
I'm watching an Australian TV show on Netflix called "Rake." Plotwise, it now involves the Australian government's conflicts. One of the running jokes is that when things are going the worst, someone will threaten to "call in the Americans," which is met with horror/terror. Could somebody explain the joke to me, i.e. why this is viewed with such horror (it's pretty funny, but I'd like to understand it)? Thanks.
Again, apologies for any derailment.
I am not surprised that no one has attempted to answer this, particularly as this forum is predominantly populated by Americans. Mammasan, please understand that Aussie humour can be quite ribald and rude, and highly politically incorrect. We love to lampoon and imbibe in a daily feast of satire and irony. If you aren't Aussie, Kiwi or Pommie then our humour would seem rather 'strange'.
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I'm not trying to derail this thread in any way, but can I just slip in here and ask a question of any Australians here (I'm American)?
I'm watching an Australian TV show on Netflix called "Rake." Plotwise, it now involves the Australian government's conflicts. One of the running jokes is that when things are going the worst, someone will threaten to "call in the Americans," which is met with horror/terror. Could somebody explain the joke to me, i.e. why this is viewed with such horror (it's pretty funny, but I'd like to understand it)? Thanks.
Again, apologies for any derailment.
Rake is produced in Sydney and I am in Melbourne so ‘call in the Americans’ might have taken on a more modern meaning in Sydney that I’m not aware of but I believe it is a reference to WW2.
During WW2 the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill made it clear he would not help protect Australia from a potential Japanese invasion. So the Australian Prime Minister John Curtin called on the Americans to help, asserting that Australia now ‘looks to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom’. Shock and outrage rippled through the nation at this. How could we be so disloyal to Britain!
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Oh wow. I haven't checked to see whether we can now order our own paperbacks via Createspace.
https://thewest.com.au/business/retail/amazoncom-bows-to-pressure-reopens-global-store-to-australian-shoppers-ng-b881028518z
Amazon has stopped blocking Australians from shopping on its much larger US site after a customer backlash, dumping an unpopular policy the retail giant had said was necessary to comply with GST laws.
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It's not working yet, but the article above says 'from nov 22nd', which I assume is tomorrow in our time zone.
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Oh wow. I haven't checked to see whether we can now order our own paperbacks via Createspace.
https://thewest.com.au/business/retail/amazoncom-bows-to-pressure-reopens-global-store-to-australian-shoppers-ng-b881028518z
Amazon has stopped blocking Australians from shopping on its much larger US site after a customer backlash, dumping an unpopular policy the retail giant had said was necessary to comply with GST laws.
:clap:
I wonder if Aussie authors can now order proof copies and author copies.
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Not yet. I'll try again after 1am AWST
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Not yet. I'll try again after 1am AWST
Looks like proof and author copies are now available to us. I haven't tried placing an order but both options to order are now showing.
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Not yet. I'll try again after 1am AWST
Looks like proof and author copies are now available to us. I haven't tried placing an order but both options to order are now showing.
Not necessarily indicative. Quite often you can go through the entire process, and then it tells you it cant be shipped after all.
When someone confirms they actually ship, then we can celebrate.
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I tried again and the message is the same: Amazon can't ship 'third party' items to Australia.
Now we probably need to hassle KDP.
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Just wondering if anyone has recently bought author copies of print books through KDP and had them shipped successfully to Australia. It looks like we can, but is the proof in the pudding?
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Nope, still doesn't work. I'm about to order author copies and have them shipped to a hotel in Singapore, so my parents can bring them back in their luggage. What a ridiculous situation.
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I know this is possibly an extremely useless suggestion in a way, since everyone has their files set up already - but is it worth switching to someone else for print, since KDP is struggling so much?
I've always used IngramSpark/Lightning Source and since they have a fulfillment center in Victoria, I don't have to deal with CS/KDP for print, nor US shipping costs & times. (I assume Amazon still doesn't have a printing plant here in Oz yet?)
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I know this is possibly an extremely useless suggestion in a way, since everyone has their files set up already - but is it worth switching to someone else for print, since KDP is struggling so much?
I've always used IngramSpark/Lightning Source and since they have a fulfillment center in Victoria, I don't have to deal with CS/KDP for print, nor US shipping costs & times. (I assume Amazon still doesn't have a printing plant here in Oz yet?)
I'm certainly considering the IngramSpark option for my next book due out at the end of the year. If that works out well for me, I'll look at switching my other books over as well.
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I'm certainly considering the IngramSpark option for my next book due out at the end of the year. If that works out well for me, I'll look at switching my other books over as well.
I've been quite happy with them so far, in terms of speed and quality etc - but as you've probably seen mentioned around, it's best to find a promo code to get free uploads/revisions whenever possible. (One expires in March if I remember correctly).
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I've used IngramSpark for a few years and am very happy with there service. There is a forum here on WriterSanctum that you can go to, it has one of their staff available for us to contact.
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It's not worth it for me. I only need a dozen copies a year in Australia max. I used Lightning Source for years, but the fees and fiddly upload requirements did my head in.
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If you're going to use IngramSpark, now's the time. They have a promo on until the end of March where they're waiving the fees entirely. The promo code is "NANO". You have to get the book(s) fully loaded, including cover and contents, to save the $49 setup fee per book (you can't load just the cover now and save half, then load the content later and pay the balance).
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It's not worth it for me. I only need a dozen copies a year in Australia max. I used Lightning Source for years, but the fees and fiddly upload requirements did my head in.
Yes, when I first checked out IngramSpark/Lightning Source it seemed even more mind boggling than Smashwords.
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Hi, fellow Aussies.
For those wanting to get 'author copies' of your books printed on KDP in the US, you need to get a free ShopMate account with Australia Post. https://shopmate.auspost.com.au/ That gives you a US address so you can then order 'author copies' from your KDP Bookshelf page options next to your book. I'm doing it for the first time since the change over from CS, which used to ship quickly and relatively cheaply. I'm only having 20 of my new book sent out (just under 400 pages per book), so I'll give you a price and time breakdown when I have all the costs.
It was only three days after ordering the author copies that Amazon were shipping them to the ShopMate address - so that was fast. When they arrive there, ShopMate will email me as they will need a copy of the invoice from Amazon, and then I pay them for shipment to Australia.
I did get some quotes from Australian printers, but I think most worked out more expensive than KDP versions, and I'm fairly sure some were just printing through them as they offered world wide distribution through Amazon. I guess, buyer beware with any printing company. One of my friends claimed to get really cheap books printed in China, but I'd be very concerned about copyright issues since there are so many Chinese companies that show very little concern for copyright issues when it comes to so many other things.
I'm going to order a box of my smallest books later in the week, just to compare times and postage.
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Hi, fellow Aussies.
For those wanting to get 'author copies' of your books printed on KDP in the US, you need to get a free ShopMate account with Australia Post. https://shopmate.auspost.com.au/ That gives you a US address so you can then order 'author copies' from your KDP Bookshelf page options next to your book. I'm doing it for the first time since the change over from CS, which used to ship quickly and relatively cheaply. I'm only having 20 of my new book sent out (just under 400 pages per book), so I'll give you a price and time breakdown when I have all the costs.
It was only three days after ordering the author copies that Amazon were shipping them to the ShopMate address - so that was fast. When they arrive there, ShopMate will email me as they will need a copy of the invoice from Amazon, and then I pay them for shipment to Australia.
I did get some quotes from Australian printers, but I think most worked out more expensive than KDP versions, and I'm fairly sure some were just printing through them as they offered world wide distribution through Amazon. I guess, buyer beware with any printing company. One of my friends claimed to get really cheap books printed in China, but I'd be very concerned about copyright issues since there are so many Chinese companies that show very little concern for copyright issues when it comes to so many other things.
I'm going to order a box of my smallest books later in the week, just to compare times and postage.
I used ShopMate a few months ago to ship copies I had been forced to buy at retail rates. ShopMate shipping costs were more expensive than Amazon/CS.
However I'm interested in knowing whether Aussie authors are now actually able to buy our books at 'author copy' rates. If I'm reading your message correctly, you've actually bought copies at 'author copy' rates (e.g. $3 - $4 ea). Is that correct?
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JB Rowley - yes, I was able to purchase the books as 'author copies' at the printing rate. I didn't have to pay retail. In 'Bookshelf', when you hover over the three dots at the right of 'promote and advertise' the option 'request author copies' comes up. I ordered, paid the 'printing price' costs, plus postage, for 20 books. I'm still waiting to see how much extra postage I have to pay from ShopMate, but paying around $5 for the 391 page book gives me some leeway with postage costs.
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I used ShopMate a few months ago to ship copies I had been forced to buy at retail rates. ShopMate shipping costs were more expensive than Amazon/CS.
However I'm interested in knowing whether Aussie authors are now actually able to buy our books at 'author copy' rates. If I'm reading your message correctly, you've actually bought copies at 'author copy' rates (e.g. $3 - $4 ea). Is that correct?
I'll be interested to know if you now have the option of 'author copies', or was it a glitch with mine? Surely, it is all authors, as long as a US address is provided.
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I used ShopMate a few months ago to ship copies I had been forced to buy at retail rates. ShopMate shipping costs were more expensive than Amazon/CS.
However I'm interested in knowing whether Aussie authors are now actually able to buy our books at 'author copy' rates. If I'm reading your message correctly, you've actually bought copies at 'author copy' rates (e.g. $3 - $4 ea). Is that correct?
I'll be interested to know if you now have the option of 'author copies', or was it a glitch with mine? Surely, it is all authors, as long as a US address is provided.
For a period of time in 2018 Aussie authors could not purchase their books at the reduced 'author copy' rates even if using a US address. We had to buy them retail and we still could not get them shipped to Australia. The fact that we can again order author copies means that ridiculous situation has apparently changed. (I haven't ordered any author copies of my books this year, although in my account it looks like I can. I just didn't know if it would 'really truly' work but if it has worked for you then it looks like it's all good.)
The next ridiculous situation that has to change is not being able to ship the books direct to AUS.
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How's it all going, fellow Aussies? ANZAC day is here again - always a fairly sombre day. My grandfather was at Gallipoli. Served in WWI and WWII. He died before I was born. I knew Dr Mountjoy when I was young, who was one of the veterinarians with the Light Horse in the Middle East in WWI. His stories were amazing - he had to put many of the horses down. If you Google his name, along with some keywords, you'll find his photographs online "Stanley Mountjoy horse photographs WWI" should do it - you might find inspiration for a story in them. He was also a good friend of Banjo Patterson. I LOVED Banjo's poems as a kid in the 60s an 70s, so talking to an old man who had been his friend was pretty darned cool.
So much of history is closer than we think. My friend, Alana, talks of her grandmother and her grandmother's good friend - who was Ned Kelly's sister. Her grandfather told her of when Ned Kelly worked their horses at Glenrowan where they lived. Alana is 70 - one of those young 70 year old people though. I keep getting selfies from her on my phone with, "My balcony this morning" and it might be the pyramids behind her, or the Andes, or the Eiffel Tower.
Well, that's my five minute break from writing. Back to the new book - 27,000 words down since April 8, 70,000+ to go, and I'm dilly dallying, as usual. Keep on writing!
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Doing well thanks - a spot of gardening, and 1200 words done on my current WIP.
Both my grandfathers served - one in the Great War, in the Royal Flying Corps. (He was sixteen, and lied about his age to join up.) The other grandfather was in the 8th Army, and saw action in North Africa, and probably Italy. He was MIA for a while, presumed killed, but showed up again (fortunately!)
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One of my grandfathers served in France in WWI. He would never talk about the war in any detail. We always figured it was because his experiences were too terrible to reminisce about.
When he died I was able to read his diary from the war years, and I discovered that after all the training etc he finally arrived in France quite near the end of the war. Then he came down with a sickness that kept him in hospital until after the Armistice was signed. He only spent a few days in the trenches, and there was no major action during that time. He probably never fired a shot.
I don't know for sure, but I suspect that's why he didn't want to talk about the war. (There has to be a story in there somewhere, although it isn't my genre.)
I've never cared that he didn't win the Victoria Cross. If he'd seen more action and been killed, I wouldn't be writing this... ;-)
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Lest we forget - what they did for us.
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Any Aussie writers who are making a living from their work ... do you want to comment?
https://twitter.com/spacejock/status/1126068712019128321
(My reply to "Literary twitter - how many Australian writers do you reckon are currently making a living from their writing alone? I'm curious to hear your guestimates because I've made a list and checked it twice and...it's not very long.")
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Genrecon is on once more. :banana:
Brisbane's Biannual festival of all things genre is being held in November this year.
Right now there's a basic website where you can register your interest, with more to follow soon.
https://genrecon.com.au/ (https://genrecon.com.au/)
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ACX:
Does anyone know how to go about getting in ITIN number for US Tax purposes? When you sign up to ACX they make you tick a box saying that you have a US tax number and I don't want to tick it if I don't have one. I want to jump into ACX but I need this first. There is an agent here who will do it all for me but they charge $299 and the whole procedure seems like a pain. If anyone knows any easier route please let me know! Thank you.
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Hi,
I've recently gone through the process with ACX. It wasn't actually an issue for me, since I lived in the US for a few years and therefore have a US Social Security Number, and I've also retained a US bank account.
If that doesn't apply in your particular case, you might find this article interesting: https://www.savvynewcanadians.com/amazon-kindle-self-publishing-how-to-avoid-the-30-u-s-withholding-tax/. If it works it should be a _lot_ simpler than other methods.
All the best,
Allan
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Thank you so much. I'll definitely check this out.
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Still no joy ordering copies from KDP for delivery to Australia, but after seeing a recent comment about Lulu on a different site, I decided to go and price them up.
I was impressed that you can enter various details and get a per-book price (and a delivery cost) without signing in or giving your firstborn as a sacrifice. This included delivery to Australia.
I was very impressed with the printing price and delivery fee. (Postage, the books being printed locally in Australia, is very good.)
So, I dusted off my login from somewhere around 2003 or so, and signed in properly.
They don't offer the paperback size I use on KDP (5.25 x 8), but 5.5x8.5 is close enough to use my existing interior file.
For the cover, I fired up Indesign, downloaded the relevant Lulu template and resized my existing cover in under 10 mins. Saved to PDF, uploaded, done.
I was going to order three copies, which worked out about AU$8 each including postage (274 page novel), but I've decided to upload a couple more titles and get a mixed batch of books.
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I'd be very interested in how this goes for you Simon, e.g. how long delivery takes and your opinion of the quality of the paperbacks when they arrive.
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Will do. I have KDP copies to compare them to.
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Got the Lulu books today - I'm impressed. The interior print quality is no different to KDP, and the covers look better. (Bit more vivid than my last batch of KDP books.)
For any aussies trying to get hold of paperbacks, I would recommend doing a trial with one book first. It'll probably cost about A$15 including postage and you can then judge for yourselves. (Postage is cheaper the more books you order. I ordered 5 copies across 2 titles and it came to a total of $32, delivered.)
Now I just have to figure out how to sell copies locally!
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Thanks for the updates Simon, I know that Ingram Spark distribute widely. I sell quite a few though their distribution which includes Book Depository. Do you know if Lulu distributes to any online or bricks and mortar bookshops?
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You can set up a distribution account, but I don't know anything about that. (I once used Lightning Source for that reason.)
I just needed to be able to buy copies locally.
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Thanks for the updates Simon, I know that Ingram Spark distribute widely. I sell quite a few though their distribution which includes Book Depository. Do you know if Lulu distributes to any online or bricks and mortar bookshops?
Many thanks, Simon. Lulu looks like a better option than Amazon for print copies.
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ACX:
Does anyone know how to go about getting in ITIN number for US Tax purposes? When you sign up to ACX they make you tick a box saying that you have a US tax number and I don't want to tick it if I don't have one. I want to jump into ACX but I need this first. There is an agent here who will do it all for me but they charge $299 and the whole procedure seems like a pain. If anyone knows any easier route please let me know! Thank you.
I thought ACX wasn’t available for Australian authors?
There used to be a detailed walk through for getting an EIN, which was what we used for Amazon before they started accepting Australian TFN’s. Not sure if that would work in this case?
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Not sure if it is true or not, but apparently Australians may now order author paperback copies from KDP again. Announced over at the other site. I went through all the procedures (without actual purchase), on the KDP site which allowed it. As opposed to before when it simply stated that I should place an order through Expanded Distribution way back when. For my smaller non-fiction books, where I do not want to fork out for ISBNs, that would be fantastic. For my full-length novels, I will still go through Ingram Spark because they print in Australia and are good quality.
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Thanks for the update.
I shifted all my stuff to Lulu Australia, and the price + postage is a lot less than the same title from KDP. I wonder how many others have already found alternatives?
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I do my hardcovers through Lulu and have found their quality to be ace (printed in France from what I can tell). I get my paperbacks from IS and am more than happy with their prices, their turn-around and their quality. I would not go back to Amazon/KDP for print books again. Too much hassle and no guarantee they won't spit the dummy again in future.
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A shift in subject here. Today I checked on my Billings and Payments page under Amazon Ads and see in a pretty bright red box a request for my VAT / GST number and beside it a red Triangle with an exclamation mark in the center so that I'd know it was very important.
'Update your payment settings
Our records indicate you may not have provided complete tax details for your Advertising account. To ensure you are billed correctly, please update your Payment Settings. The country associated with your VAT registration number, where relevant, should match the country of your billing address.'
When I go to fill out the required details it has right at the bottom, after name and address, a box for my ABN to go. I don't have an ABN. I used to when I made more than 75,000 a year from the business (actually I never did make that much from it but they required it anyway). The royalties I receive for my books don't come to anything like that amount, so I am not required under Australian law to have one.
The problem is, I cannot complete the page until I include an ABN in it. I understand that without the ABN Amazon can slap on an extra 10% in charges.
Is anyone else dealing with this issue? Or do you all have ABNs whether or not you meet the requirement in earnings from royalties?
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I have an ABN, although I can’t remember if Amazon requested it or not. I think Facebook did recently?
Even if you have an ABN, you don’t need to do all that GST crap unless you’re over the threshold or you register for it. An ABN is free.
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I have an ABN, although I can’t remember if Amazon requested it or not. I think Facebook did recently?
Even if you have an ABN, you don’t need to do all that GST crap unless you’re over the threshold or you register for it. An ABN is free.
Thanks for your reply, Rinelle. I was wondering if this wasn't a new Amazon policy.
I might go ahead and get my ABN back again, but I don't want to for the very small amount I make out of my books. Much less than half of the threshold set by the Australian gov.
The pink box still has not gone away from my Billing page though. I have queried it.
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It could be new. I only had to add it recently. Could be something to do with the new GST laws?
It’s easy to get back. Same number even. And it doesn’t cost you anything, or change anything, so long as you don’t actually register for GST.
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Amazon replied to my query.
Amazon replied to my query today. I don't need to pay VAT / GST so I don't need the ABN in this case, since I don't earn enough from the royalties. There is a small box which must be unticked if you are in that lucky category (really not-so-lucky, since the book sales do not earn a figure that attracts the tax man's attention) that doesn't require an ABN.
The trouble is the small box has this beside it in tiny text...
I accept and acknowledge all the conditions set out in the VAT Agreement. (Required if a VAT Registration Number is provided).
All I was seeing was the first sentence and so I was ticking the box. I mean there is always a similar box to tick with a similar 'I accept and acknowledge... at the end of most online contract /agreement these days. So, doing that I could not submit the page without entering a VAT/GST/ABN. The same red bar and triangle at the top of the page, which suggests to me there's something I need to do. I thought those types of warnings disappeared once the update was submitted? I wished Amazon would make that box disappear and free me from doubt. I suppose that would be too easy??? Clicking a little x in the top corner makes it disappear but when the page is opened again there's the same red alert.
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Just popping in to say hello.
In a long ago life I was a minor YA writer. Now that my high-needs kid is a bit less high needs and I have the time, I'm plunging back into writing--m/m romance this time around. Really have the joy of it all back.
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Anyone else ready for the government(s) here to step up and do more to support people who've had to stop work due tot he virus? :evil2:
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So finally Amazon will be printing paperbacks in Australia.
Not sure which state they have chosen for their printing press but I assume the premier, the best, the one and only - Victoria! grint
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If you read the fine print it says they won't be printing cream insides to start with, only white.
Of course all my 40+ paperbacks are cream...
So I have a choice - I can republish separate editions for Australia only, or convert all my existing books to white paper. (I much, much prefer cream.)
If you leave them at cream, amazon.com.au will just show 'out of stock' by the way.
I think I'll republish them all, with territory set to Australia only. I really don't want to mess with my existing books.
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Most of my books are in white. BTW the 'out of stock' notice has appeared under all my books on amazon.com even those printed in white. It's ridiculous - confusing for potential customers.