Createspace vs. Lightning Source: Choosing a Print Distributor

Total Read Time: 2 minutes

["Letters of Lead" by Daino_16]

I want to have a print version in addition to an ebook for my upcoming novel, Soul Seeker.  Lightning Source and Createspace are currently the biggest games in town for Print on Demand (POD), so at least I have narrowed down my options. 

I have read several different blogs on the topic of print distribution, but just when I think I’ve settled on a final decision, I read another blog or comment that sways me back the other way.

Do you have any experience with either of these companies?  Please, let me know!

Here are my findings so far:

Createspace (Amazon)

 Pros:

• Affordable (Free or $39 to upgrade your book to a Pro Plan for better margins** + cost of proof copy* + $5/year for your book to be listed with Amazon)
• Your book is available to order on Amazon within a few days of approval
• Your book is printed on site, so it’s always in stock on Amazon
• Community support forum

*Update: As of April 25th 2011, Createspace is giving the option to skip the proof process.

**Update: As of January 18th 2012, Createspace has discontinued the Pro Plan. Selling your book on Amazon for the former Pro Plan level margin is now free. The Expanded Distribution Plan (availability on other sites, bookstores and libraries) is now $25.

Cons:

• Soft cover format only 
• If you opt for Expanded Distribution, it can take weeks for your book to become available from other retailers 
• Amazon sets retailer discounts and returnability status

 

Lightning Source (Ingram)

Pros:

• Wide distribution network (Includes Ingram, Baker & Taylor, and more)
• Hard and soft cover formats available
• Writer/Publisher gets to set their own retailer discount and returnability status

Cons:

• Expensive ($75 file setup fee + $30 proof copy + $12/year for your book to be listed with Ingram)
• Lag time before your book becomes available on Amazon
• Limited information provided on website up front

Conclusion

I love that Lightning Source has both hard and soft cover options available, and that the writer is truly in control of their own book as the publisher.  What intimidates me is the cost, as well as how little information and support I can find on their site. 

What are their manufacturing costs?  I couldn’t seem to find a link to this info on their site.  I had to go to Google in order to find it.  Even then, it was contained in a lengthy PDF file.  This is a key piece of information.  Meanwhile, other POD companies like Createspace and Lulu give you their costs up front with easy to use calculators.

Createspace appeals to me because this will be my first novel, and it seems like an affordable, straightforward process, with lots of information available up front. 

But the writer gives up certain controls as a trade-off.  Amazon sets the retailer discount and returnability for Expanded Distribution.  They seem to want to be the publisher as well as the distributor, which concerns me.  This is my book.  I want to maintain as much control over it as possible.

So what’s a first-time publisher to do?  All I can say is that today, I’m leaning towards Lightning Source.  (But I should probably sleep on it first.)