If you want to maximise readers, sales, and profits on your print books, the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) recommends publishing on both KDP Print and IngramSpark. KDP Print gets your book listed on Amazon, the world’s largest book retailer, at the best available royalty rate. IngramSpark gets your book into the catalogues used by bookstores, libraries, and academic institutions worldwide.
Using both together gives you the best of both worlds. This guide explains exactly how to set them up, what to watch out for with ISBNs and distribution settings, and how to avoid the common mistakes that cause listing headaches.
Updated April 2026 | Originally published May 2023 | By Debbie Young, Sarah Holroyd & the ALLi Team
KDP Print vs IngramSpark: Quick Comparison
Before we get into the detail, here's a side-by-side overview of what each platform offers.
| KDP Print | IngramSpark | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Amazon sales (highest royalty per unit) | Bookstores, libraries, global distribution |
| Upfront cost | Free | Free |
| Royalty structure | 60% of list price minus print cost | List price minus print cost, trade discount, and distribution fee |
| Distribution | Amazon storefronts (UK, US, DE, FR, ES, IT, CA, AU) | 40,000+ retailers, libraries, and bookstores globally via Ingram's network |
| Hardcover options | Casebound only (cover printed on board, no dustjacket) | Casebound, digital clothbound, dustcover options |
| Print pre-orders | Not available | Available up to 12 months ahead |
| Returns policy | Not applicable | Author chooses: yes (deliver or destroy) or no |
| Payment terms | 60 days | 90 days |
| Proof copies | Marked “not for sale” on cover | Unmarked (can be resold) |
| File revisions | Free, unlimited | Free, unlimited (as of February 2026 — see note below) |
⚠️ February 2026 pricing update: IngramSpark made significant changes to its fee structure in February 2026. Revision fees, which previously applied to changes made more than 60 days after publication, have been removed — all revisions are now free. However, print costs for most formats have increased, and the global distribution fee has risen from 1.5% to 1.875%. Check IngramSpark's current pricing schedule for the latest figures before setting your list prices. ALLi members should also check the membership site for any updated fee waiver benefits.
Ready to set up your print book on KDP and IngramSpark?
ALLi's free toolkit has everything you need: platform comparison tables, a royalty worksheet to calculate your actual earnings, and a step-by-step checklist to get both platforms set up right first time.
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Why Use Both Platforms?
KDP Print and IngramSpark serve different parts of the book-buying ecosystem. KDP Print is your route to Amazon, where most online print book purchases happen. IngramSpark is your route to everywhere else — the bookshops, libraries, and wholesalers that make up the rest of the market.
You might wonder: since IngramSpark distributes to Amazon too, why not just use IngramSpark alone? Two reasons.
Higher royalties on Amazon. When a reader buys your book on Amazon and it's fulfilled via KDP Print, you earn 60% of the list price minus print costs — with no distribution fee. If that same sale is fulfilled via IngramSpark, a compulsory trade discount is deducted first, substantially reducing what you earn.
Better availability messaging. If your book is only on IngramSpark, Amazon may display “temporarily out of stock” or quote delivery times of several weeks. In reality, POD fulfilment only takes a few days, but the pessimistic messaging deters buyers. When your book is also on KDP Print, Amazon shows it as “in stock” and ready to ship.
Royalty Comparison: The Numbers
Here's what you'd actually earn on a $15 paperback that costs approximately $5 to print, depending on which platform fulfils the sale and what trade discount you've set on IngramSpark.
| KDP Print (Amazon sale) | IngramSpark (40% discount) | IngramSpark (55% discount) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| List price | $15.00 | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| Print cost | ~$4.85 | ~$5.00 | ~$5.00 |
| Deductions | 40% to Amazon ($6.00) at 60% royalty rate | 40% trade discount ($6.00) | 55% trade discount ($8.25) |
| You earn | $4.15 | $4.00 | $1.75 |
Note: IngramSpark correctly calls your earnings “publisher compensation” rather than royalties. The exact figures depend on your book's specifications and may have changed with the February 2026 pricing update. Use the IngramSpark compensation calculator and the KDP pricing calculator for precise, up-to-date numbers.
- ⚠️ Mid-2025 KDP royalty update: KDP Print introduced a tiered royalty structure in 2025. The rate is now up to 60%, but may be 50% depending on your list price and marketplace. KDP displays your exact rate and royalty when you set your price during title setup — always check the calculator before publishing.
How Print-on-Demand Works
Print-on-demand does exactly what the name suggests: each book is printed only when a reader orders it. No boxes of unsold stock in your garage. No upfront investment in inventory. When someone buys your book, the platform prints it, ships it, takes their cut, and pays you the balance.
This makes it affordable and flexible. If you spot a typo after your first few sales, or want to update your backmatter when your next book comes out, you can upload revised files without scrapping existing stock.
Print Options: What Each Platform Offers
Both platforms offer a range of standard trim sizes, glossy and matte covers, and paperback, hardcover, and large print formats. The paperback options are similar, with a choice of cream or white paper (cream is the convention for fiction, white for non-fiction).
IngramSpark also offers a “groundwood” paper that more closely resembles traditional trade paperbacks — worth considering if you're publishing literary fiction and want a more traditional feel.
The biggest difference is in hardcover options. IngramSpark offers digital clothbound with dustcover, casebound, and casebound with dustcover. KDP Print now offers hardcover too, but only casebound (the cover image is printed directly onto the board, with no dustjacket option). If a professional dustjacket matters to your book, IngramSpark is currently the only POD route.
KDP Print: What You Need to Know
Publishing on KDP Print lists your book on Amazon's storefront across its print territories, which now include the US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, Canada, Australia, and others. You pay nothing upfront. Amazon subtracts the print cost and their share from the list price and pays you the rest.
The standard royalty rate is up to 60% of the list price, minus print costs (the exact rate depends on your list price and marketplace — KDP shows your rate when you set your price). There's no distribution fee — that's covered by the customer through shipping or their Prime membership.
For a $15 book costing $4.85 to print at the 60% rate: (60% × $15) – $4.85 = $4.15 in your pocket. (At lower list prices or in certain marketplaces, the rate may be 50% — always check the KDP pricing calculator for your specific book.)
Why You Must NOT Tick Expanded Distribution
This is one of the most common mistakes authors make. If you tick “Expanded Distribution” on KDP, Amazon makes your paperback available to bookstores and libraries through Ingram's network — but at a lower royalty rate (40% instead of 60%), and it will block you from publishing the same ISBN on IngramSpark.
If you plan to use both platforms: do not tick Expanded Distribution on KDP. Leave that box unchecked. IngramSpark will handle the bookstore and library distribution far more effectively, and you'll keep the higher KDP royalty rate for Amazon sales.
If you've already ticked it, you'll need to uncheck it, then contact IngramSpark support to transfer your ISBN. This can take up to 30 days, but it is fixable.
IngramSpark: What You Need to Know
IngramSpark is part of Ingram Content Group, whose distribution network reaches beyond the internet into physical bookstores, academic institutions, and libraries worldwide. These outlets typically won't order stock from Amazon — most bookstores see Amazon as a competitor, and the trade terms aren't commercially viable for them. They order through the same distributors and wholesalers they use for trade-published books, and Ingram is the biggest of those.
Publishing on IngramSpark means a bookseller or library purchasing department can order your book. It doesn't mean they will — that's down to your marketing. But without being in the Ingram catalogue, they can't order it even if they want to.
Setting Your Trade Discount
Unlike KDP Print, IngramSpark requires you to set a trade discount — the percentage of the list price that goes to the distribution chain (wholesalers, distributors, and bookstores). This is on top of the print cost and Ingram's own distribution fee (now 1.875% as of February 2026).
IngramSpark lets you set a discount between 40% and 55% per territory. Here's how to decide:
- Marketing heavily to bookstores? Set 55% and allow returns. This gives booksellers their expected trade discount and makes them more likely to stock your book.
- Focused on online sales? Set the minimum (40%) and don't allow returns. Online retailers will still list your book regardless. Readers can still place special orders through their local bookshop.
- Different strategies by territory? You can set different discounts and returns policies for each market.
Be realistic: most indie books sold in physical bookstores are special orders placed at a customer's request, not speculative shelf stock. If bookstore marketing isn't a core part of your strategy, the lower discount will preserve more of your margin without meaningfully reducing your reach.
A Note on Returns
The bookstore ecosystem allows booksellers to return unsold stock for a full credit. If you allow returns on IngramSpark, you bear the cost of the returned book and shipping — and you typically don't get the physical book back (they're usually destroyed). In the US, you can choose between “yes – deliver” and “yes – destroy”; in other territories the only option is “yes – destroy.”
Only offer returns if you're actively marketing to bookstores and comfortable with the risk. Instances of mass returns causing financial distress are rare, but they have happened to small publishers.
Ready to set up your print book on KDP and IngramSpark?
ALLi's free toolkit has everything you need: platform comparison tables, a royalty worksheet to calculate your actual earnings, and a step-by-step checklist to get both platforms set up right first time.
From the Alliance of Independent Authors. Unsubscribe at any time.
ISBNs: The Rules You Must Follow
This is the area where authors most often get tripped up. Here are the essential rules:
- Buy your own ISBN. Do not use KDP's free ISBN — it belongs to Amazon and cannot be used on IngramSpark. Owning your ISBN also means you (or your imprint) are listed as the publisher, which looks more professional.
- Use the same ISBN on both platforms. Your paperback is the same product regardless of who prints it. If you use different ISBNs, Amazon will create two separate product pages, splitting your reviews and sales history. Use one ISBN per format (one for paperback, one for hardcover, one for ebook).
- Don't accidentally use your ebook ISBN. A common error is uploading the ebook ISBN when setting up the print edition. Double-check before submitting.
If you're new to ISBNs, download ALLi's free guide: Using ISBNs: A Short Guide for Indie Authors, available to members via the ALLi membership site under Publications > Short Guides.
Step-by-Step: Setting Up Your Book on Both Platforms
Follow these steps in order to avoid the most common pitfalls.
- Buy your own ISBN from your national ISBN agency (Bowker in the US, Nielsen in the UK). Don't use a free KDP or IngramSpark ISBN.
- Prepare your interior PDF. The same file works on both platforms, but check each platform's specs for bleed and margins. Upload and let the system flag any issues.
- Prepare two cover files. Spine widths differ slightly between KDP and IngramSpark because of different paper thicknesses. Download the cover template from each platform and have your designer adjust accordingly.
- Set up your book on KDP Print first. The review process is faster and proofs are cheaper, so it's the better place to catch formatting issues. Do NOT tick Expanded Distribution.
- Order a KDP proof copy. Review it carefully. KDP proofs are marked “not for sale” on the cover. Allow a couple of weeks for printing and shipping.
- Approve and publish on KDP Print. Once you're happy with the proof, publish. Your book will be live on Amazon within 24–72 hours.
- Set up the same book on IngramSpark using the same ISBN. Choose your trade discount and returns policy per territory.
- Order an IngramSpark proof if desired. IngramSpark proofs are unmarked and can be sold.
- Approve for distribution on IngramSpark. Allow a few weeks for your book data to filter through to retailers' and distributors' catalogues. IS broadcasts new data weekly.
- Set up your print pre-order on IngramSpark (optional). This is the only way to get a print pre-order listing on Amazon. Plan well ahead to allow for data propagation.
Timing and Practical Tips
Review Timelines
The review process on KDP Print is typically faster than on IngramSpark, and both are slower than ebook approval. Allow plenty of time between uploading and your publication date — especially around major holidays when presses run at full capacity.
Author Copies
Both platforms let you buy author copies at cost plus shipping. KDP is generally cheaper per unit. IngramSpark offers expedited printing for an extra fee. Build plenty of time into your schedule if you need copies for a launch event.
Ebooks: A Separate Decision
This guide covers print distribution. For ebooks, ALLi recommends uploading directly to the major ebook retailers (Amazon KDP, Apple, Kobo) rather than using an aggregator, to maximise profits and control. If you do use IngramSpark for ebook distribution, opt into all channels except Amazon, to avoid duplicate listings.
A Reality Check on Bookstore Distribution
Being in the Ingram catalogue makes your book available to bookstores — but it doesn't guarantee shelf space. Most indie books sold in physical shops are special orders placed at a customer's request, not speculative stock.
The trade discount you set on IngramSpark is divided between everyone in the distribution chain: Ingram takes their distribution fee, and the rest is split between any wholesalers and the bookseller. Even at a 55% discount, the bookstore's share may be smaller than you'd expect.
For most indie authors, publicising to bookshops is time-consuming for relatively little financial reward compared to selling directly to readers online. Be strategic about where you invest your energy.
Ready to set up your print book on KDP and IngramSpark?
ALLi's free toolkit has everything you need: platform comparison tables, a royalty worksheet to calculate your actual earnings, and a step-by-step checklist to get both platforms set up right first time.
From the Alliance of Independent Authors. Unsubscribe at any time.
ALLi Member Benefits
Both Amazon KDP Print and IngramSpark are valued partner members of ALLi.
IngramSpark
ALLi's Author and Authorpreneur members have access to exclusive IngramSpark benefits, including discounts and fee waivers accessed via a members-only code. Check the ALLi membership site for the latest details on what's included, as these benefits are updated periodically to reflect IngramSpark's changing fee structure.
Amazon
ALLi members also have access to a dedicated Amazon Helpdesk with direct access to Amazon support, helping you fast-track any problems that might otherwise take weeks to resolve through standard channels.
You're not doing this alone.
ALLi members get exclusive IngramSpark fee waivers, a dedicated Amazon Helpdesk to fast-track problems, and the support of a global community of indie authors. If you're publishing on both platforms, membership pays for itself.
Further Reading
- Your Book in Bookstores: ALLi's Guide to Print Distribution for Authors — by Debbie Young. Available as ebook (free to ALLi members) or in print (ISBN 978-1913588656).
- Using ISBNs: A Short Guide for Indie Authors — free to ALLi members via the membership site under Publications > Short Guides.
- For more on using short-run print services, see articles by ALLi members Jane Davis and Adam Croft on the Self-Publishing Advice blog.
- Adam Croft and John Doppler of ALLi Watchdog discuss Amazon availability issues in their candid interview on the Self-Publishing Advice blog.
I’m curious: why would anyone hesitate to offer a substantial wholesale discount? Presumably you would still remain able to offer your books at MSRP, or a bit lower, on your own website, and could continue to sell at the usual price on Amazon. It seems to me that the wholesale discount does no harm to you, doesn’t diminish your current sales, but only opens additional venues for selling your books. Am I wrong about this?
Some authors find the discounts bring their books beyond a competitive price, if they are to make any profit. There is no harm, as you say, but it’s also not likely to prove particularly profitable.
I want to use Ingram Spark, but my book has been available on KDP Expanded Distribution for a while (with an ISBN I purchased separately).
I’ve just switched Expanded Distribution off, and going to transfer the ISBN to IS (I understand from posts above it can take a little while and some nudging).
Dumb question: that won’t stop Amazon KDP from printing their paper versions, will it?
I have my paperback graphic novel on Ingramspark, ordered about 100 pre-release copies, and made needed changes to the interior and cover. I had entered my own ISBN on KDP before putting it on IS. I have asked both companies if the release date will go smoothly since KDP first had my ISBN. KDP suggested leaving all the book distribution to IS instead of loading it on KDP. This is new compared to anything else I heard. IS said I would have to rescind the Amazon contract with IS.
Ingram says being listed on Amazon is possible, and it might take three weeks after release to show up there. This makes me worried about the large community of people for my particular audience who will probably look for the book on Amazon more than bookstore orders. Suggestions? Have things recently changed so KDP does not want to list Ingram distributed books?
I’m really confused about ISBNs. Your article says we must use the same ISBN for the same book on different platforms. I bought my own ISBNs from Bowker and published on KDP (not expanded distribution). Now I’m in the process of publishing my print books on IngramSpark. I received the message that the ISBN is already in use from IngramSpark and went ahead and took a free one from them. I messaged IngramSpark and they said that this is okay. Just a side note, Draft2Digital customer service told me the same thing recently. So, my Bowker ISBN for a book is on Amazon and a free one is on Ingram… for the same book. Will Bowker have a problem with this? I am so confused. Thank you for any help.
Print on Demand paperback with owned ISBN on both KDP and Ingram Sparks (IS). Can I have a higher list price on IS than KDP? Does IS demand to lower its list price if it discovers the list price on KDP is lower?
Hi,
Thank you for your very informative article.
I am wondering if you can give me a little bit more guidance and opinion .
I created a work book curriculum I completed the graphics, including a cover, and its already in pdf format.
I envision it selling on amazon, privately (like people asking for my book and I submit a order to print it on) on Etsy and teachers pay teachers as a printable. My goal is not necessarily to get it to bookstores etc. I am wondering in this case do I need to get an ISBN number. Also since I already laid out money for the graphic design, I would like to curb as much as possible of costs and get the most profit as possible (and with royalties if feels like amazon takes a significant cut …)
Also because this workbook has different levels, I would want to create different options of bundling- is that possible on amazon?
do you recommend I use both services of amazon and Ingram (for private printing) ? or what would be your recommendation.
Thank you
A local bookstore has a separate section for local authors, but require that all books be available through Ingram with at least 40% discount and returnable. My books were already set up on KDP expanded distribution, so I removed them from that program and tried to set them up on Ingram Spark. I got the “ISBN In Use” error.
My next step was to request a title transfer for my books (they’re all published under my own imprint, Moon Lit. Publishing). After the 30 days that IS warned me it could take for the transfer, I was still getting the ISBN In Use message. I finally resolved that problem by sending a request to KDP support to complete the transfer. It only took a couple days after that.
The good news is, IS did not charge me the $49 setup fee, since the interior and cover files transferred directly from KDP.
I learned from a Barnes & Noble manager, who did checking high up the chain, that it does not consider carying books that are Print On Demand; marketing events are limited in the POD category to seasonal multiple local author events. This policy seems to me likely to be widespread among most chains. The cost of returns is a significant deterrent anyway, unless marketinh campaigns are VERY well funded and professionally designed. My novel, Ancient of Genes recently got several awards and its TV/Film package (called a bible) also got Finalist in the Page Turner award (British, not the bigger US/Canada competition). But my agent and a consultant advised avoiding big marketing spends (I had proposed $50k). Instead, both advised a $10k promo for my website and other serious SEO and Landing Page. This includes capitalizing on selling the audiobook myself (use ACX, Findawayy, etc. but emphasize trusted audiobook venues w better margins such as Ebay’s partners. I’m going to do this and save the $40k that’d probably go to pay for tragic B&N & other physical store chain returns. What do y’all think?
Hi
Just a quick comment about the quality of colour printing by Ingrams: terrible! If your book requires top quality colour work, Ingrams is not the way to go. I am a professional designer/illustrator and thus have certain quality expectations. I will explain: One of my book series is for papercrafters: cut -n- make books based on my craft designs and illustrations. The crafts to cut and make IS the end product. I ordered copies from both Amazon KDP and Ingrams. I was so shocked at the difference in quality that I removed all titles in that series from Ingrams. Even the ‘best’ quality option was over saturated and individual colours ill- defined. I do not even remember when last I saw such cheap-looking printing.
It is a great pity. I do not understand how they manage such crappy printing in this day and age of fabulous POD printers. I also compared their printing to my two studio printers – one is a fancy one and the other a cheapo just for things like letters, forms etc. Even that one was better than the printing in the Ingrams book. I took it up with them and got a lame answer that they have some other system than Amazon. Yip.
The Amazon book had astounding quality. As they all have because I have ordered the whole series. I know not many authors would need sterling colour printing, but I thought to just mention that. I am now starting to publish my own children’s books and hope their quality is adequate for those .
Anni
Only published my book on Ingram Spark as I heard they had better printing of colours. I am not happy with them, but people still say photos looks good. Maybe should go with Amazon then and I do not really want bookstores to sell my books as the book will cost too much then for the end customer (often above $€£100 … while I can sell it myself for less than half ordering from Ingram directly to the customer) – never see anyone mention this anywhere … .
Thank you so much for your comments on this issue, Anneke. I have been wondering about this as I self published a manual for educators with IS, and the quality was fine for that, but definitely would not be good enough for a picture book.
As self-published authors, we have always gone with both Amazon KDP and Ingram Spark. Amazon is great in the US and Canadian markets, but Ingram Spark has better global reach and also better reach into brick-and-mortar stores, schools, and libraries. However, the high printing and shipping costs of Ingram Spark, which continue to increase, really make it hard to justify sometimes.
Thanks Debbie and Sarah.
Great article and very helpful.
My question is in regard to ‘expanded distribution’. I’ve published an ebook using 2 different distributors but found my book was duplicated (i.e. it appeared twice) on a particular online retailer website at different prices. I want to avoid this happening for my next book as it confuses readers and customers.
If I click on ‘expanded distribution’ on both KDPP and IS could this duplication issue happen again?
Is it best to use IS for the print book and KDPP for the ebook, or should I load my print and ebook on both IS and KDPP?
Many thanks for your help.
Monty
I am wondering if you figured this out Monty. I just read that if you don’t purchase your own ISBN then you will have two different books on Amazon. One with the Amazon ISBN and one with the IS ISBN. Also if you go IS and Amazon then you turn off the expanded distribution on Amazon. I am trying to decide if I want to use Amazon expanded distribution of Ingram Sparks. What is the advantage of adding the Ingram Sparks in addition to the Amazon KDP?
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Could you please inform me of KDPs email address or the url where I can ask specific questions, as I can’t find their email address for answers to my needs on their site nor anywhere to write to them, I live in Australia. I already have published a book with another publisher but have cancelled that but want to transfer it to KDP but need to find out requirements, then after that to Ingram Spark if you could also give me their email address that would be much appreciated, thankyou,
Regards
John Coleman
Ingram is extremely unreliable and slow, it took us 3 -6 months for them to set up a new account on lightning source because you can ONLY communicate with them by email, then we have been trying to publish a book with INGRAM SPARK Barnes and NOBLE and IS only have email communication which makes it extremely difficult and slow to communicate with anyone correctly. I keep getting different answers that make NO Sense. SO for anyone be careful if you publish with IS< they are extremely slow and NOT RELIABLE at all, It is very frustrating for an independent published in these times, they are causing us to lose more revenue by holding our ISBN hostage!!
I can’t seem to find any advice anywhere about ebooks. If I’m publishing paperback versions on both platforms should I also do ebooks through both? Or just one?
What do you think about the idea to have draft2digital distribute books to both KDP and IS? It seems, that, for a price, it would simplify the entire process?
Yes, we have members who use aggregators like Draft2Digital to distribute to both (and other ebook outlets). Other authors prefer the control of dealing direct. It’s a personal choice
I’m a first-time self-published non-fiction author who had one book with a traditional publisher and will have another one with a poetry publisher in a few months. With 3 weeks to go before launch, on my self-published book, I don’t think I have the time or mental energy to do both the KDP and IS for my paperback (I already paid a formatter to do the epub and pdf) so I was going to do expanded distribution and hope the bookstores don’t hate Amazon enough that they won’t stock my book. I purchased my own ISBN’s for both the ebook and the paperback. My question: Will I potentially lose a lot of book sales to bookstores and libraries going expanded distribution for my paperback versus kdp non-expanded distribution and IS? (and I also don’t want to be bothered with the time and expense of returned books, etc that IS seems to have. Thanks.
Thanks for the great information! I have several books that I published/printed for other people with Lightning Source before IngramSpark was available. I would like to set up Amazon KDP accounts for each of the authors and transfer their books to KDP so they can be in charge of them rather than having to go through me. But I am a little unsure of how to make this a smooth transition. Is there any advantage to using the author’s ISBN numbers on Amazon rather than using a KDP ISBN if I plan to remove them from my LS account?
Also, I have several of my own books published through LS that I want to move to Amazon KDP because I like having more control over marketing, key words, categories, etc. On the Amazon KDP site regarding extended distribution it states, “Your book’s ISBN must not have been submitted for distribution through another service.” So does that mean, for instance, if I publish my book on Barnes and Nobel with a free B&N ISBN, I could still be enrolled in Amazon’s extended distribution? If that’s the case, it’s my understanding that KDP, with extended distribution, puts the book in its IngramSpark account, so it would be included in the Ingram database. Unless I’m missing something, if I am willing to do the extra work to have my book listed with different ISBNs, is there any advantage to having my books both in Amazon and LS or IngramSpark?
Thanks so much for helping us navigate this complicated self-publishing world!
I recently learned that if you own the ISBNs and upload your titles to Lightning Source or Ingram Spark first, you will not be able to use the same ISBNs at KDP extended distribution. However, you can put a new ISBN number on your titles and put them into KDP extended distribution. You have to turn the original one off where you registered the ISBN, and where it currently is live like at LSI and KDP (non extended). Then create a new title at KDP with the new ISBN. Finally, request to KDP support that the old title and new title are linked resulting in one new title.
Question:
I will be an Indie author soon. If I use IngramSpark for my paperback. Is there an option not to accept returns? Potentially the author could end up owing money to IS for big return order.
Manuel Lanz
[email protected]
yes that is an option
So which platform do you upload to first? KDP or Ingram Spark? I noticed IS now has the option to opt out of Amazon distribution. And I understand you do NOT want to click expanded distribution on KDP as well. I was planning on putting my book on KDP first, but not sure if that is correct or if I should put on IS first? I have seen comments supporting both. It’s very confusing. Anyone?
I am just getting started with Amazon paperback and IS paperback and hardback. Will my hardback show in the same listing as my Amazon paperback or will it be separate? Is there something I need to do to connect them?
Hi,
Thanks for this great article which is very helpful. I am still getting my books formatted and looking where to go to get my books published and looking on Trustpilot it looks like Ingramspark are not a good service any more and there are many bad reviews.
Is there any update to the advice in this article regarding using Ingramspark?
Thanks
I understand that IS is very unusable for the average person, hence the poor reviews on Trustpilot. However I am working with a professional indie editing, layout, and design team. They always and only use IS. I plan to use KDP on my own–much more user-friendly.
I published my hardcover and two softcover books(one in Spanish) with CreateSpace. I am using their isbn numbers.
The hardcovers no longer are being produced by KDP, so essentially they do not exist.
KDP said that I can purchase new ISBN numbers and switch to someone else. Can I do this for the hardcover without causing any problems because the hardback cannot be ordered(and never could be) from Amazon?
Also, when people ask about their ISBN numbers being released, are those from people who purchased their own ISBN’s or the ones that CreateSpace owns.
Hi Debby,
Thanks for your article.
Based on excellent advice such as yours, I always set up my print books to be available on both KDP (formerly Create Space) and Ingram Spark. This worked fine for years, with the bulk of my sales on Amazon, but also occasional sales on Barnes & Noble and other websites. I priced the books the same on both distribution channels.
As you know, Amazon prohibits their authors from selling a book elsewhere at a price less than the list price on Amazon. This past summer I received an email from Amazon saying that Walmart was selling one of my books on its website for less than the Amazon list price, and that, therefore, I needed to lower my list price on Amazon or they could stop selling my book.
I was not about to let that happen. Obviously I had no way of controlling Walmart’s discounting of my titles, so I had to stop distribution through Walmart. Ingram Spark does not let one pick and choose specific distribution outlets–either they distribute the book to all outlets or they don’t. So in order to preserve my income stream from Amazon, I was forced to stop distribution with Ingram altogether. Now I can’t sell any books through Barnes & Noble or anywhere else.
This situation negates any benefit of setting up with Ingram. Has anybody found a solution to this problem? Am I missing something?
Thanks
Hi I just saw this morning that someone had the same problem as you and they simply not increased their wholesale discount on IS which forced Walmart to increase their retail price.
Brenda, sounds like you’re saying you can *decrease* the wholesale discount on IS from the going rate of 55% to whatever % makes the price come out the same as Amazon. If this is correct, this might be a very cool workaround.
Hi Debbie, thank you for your article. As is the case with good articles, more questions arise.
I have a Children’s Book on both platforms:
Ingram Spark has it as Saddle Stitch, ISBN ****01, released in a few days.
KDP has it as Perfect Bound, ISBN ****02, already live.
I was told by someone at IS, that if the print format was different, the ISBN’s had to be different.
I am willing to change IS to Perfect Bound. If I do, it appears that you recommend that I set the ISBN’s to be the same. Here are my questions:
1. If I keep as is (IS Saddle Stitch and KDP Perfect Bound with 2 different ISBNs), what will it look like on Amazon when as user navigates to my book?
2. If I change both to the same format and the same ISBN, what will it look like on Amazon when as user navigates to my book?
3. Is there something else I should be asking, but I don’t know to ask? It is all very confusing, and I have no idea how the moving parts work together, and how these two competing entities impact one another.
4. If I keep both print formats (saddle stitch and perfect bound), will both show on Amazon and the user can choose?
5. If I set everything to the same print format (perfect bound) and the same ISBN, when a user buys from Amazon, which will they get? I assume the KDP.
6. When B&N orders 100, will they see options from both KDP and IS?
In the end, I like Saddle Stitch better, but KDP does not offer for a 32 page picture book at 7.5 by 9.25. I also like IS quality over KDP, but I like KDP price over IS.
Seeking the best of both worlds, and lost a bit in the confusion.
I have a book on both KDP and IngramSpark. They have different ISBN numbers. (They are my own, issued by my government.) Is this a problem?
Do I also need to put my eBook on both platforms or is this just for print?
–
chrisnwest.com
Hi Debbie,
It’s been about a year since you published Why Indie Authors Should Use KDP Print & IngramSpark Together
Is your perspective or advice different today? Any updates to your insights?
Thx
Alan
Visit The King of Kreskin Avenue at my new website: http://www.alanvitberg.com
Hi Alan, the advice in this article is still timely.
How can you do both simultaneously when KDP requires exclusivity?
Hi Cece,
I do wish the name wasn’t so confusing!
KDP is the broader self-publishing platform at Amazon; it does not require exclusivity.
KDP Select is an optional program under KDP that does require exclusivity.
You can sign up for KDP without enrolling in KDP Select, and many authors who “go wide” to distribute through other platforms do exactly that.
Hi,
Thank you for this article. I have a hard book children’s picture book I want to publish. This is my first book. So my main concern is that IS can fulfill POD’s on Amazon. From what I’m gathering IS does this. But when/how does the “out of stock” affect a POD from IS?
Hi Aline,
That’s a common problem with books fulfilled by Ingram and sold on Amazon, and it’s precisely why it’s a good idea to distribute through both concurrently.
If you’re distributing your book through both platforms, and it’s a format KDP can produce, that listing will take priority over the Ingram listing.
If the format is unavailable through KDP, such as POD hardcover options, the Ingram listing will be shown, and that’s where you’re likely to encounter the inflated shipping delays that Amazon quotes.
Hello,
I’m about to go through and split KDP and Ingram, but wasn’t sure what to do with the KDP Select. How does their exclusivity agreement work? Is it temporary or is it permanent? Would you recommend enrolling in the KDP Select Program?
**I will be doing KDP for e-book and print exclusively on amazon while using Ingram for Hardcover, Paperback, and e-book.
Thanks!
Joe
Hello,
At this point, I am totally confused. I wrote a kids Christmas book (first book) and have learned a lot, but now have other questions! My book is on Kindle, paperback and hardcover (hardcover only with IS) on Amazon. I believe the Amazon book has a n ISBN given by Amazon but not 100% sure as I hired someone else to format it and get it on there for me. Anyway, now I want my paperback to be available on both Amazon and IS but totally confused as to how to do this. I currently only have hardcover available through IS. How can I add my paperback to IS that is already for sale on Amazon? Thank you in advance!
Deborah
Hi Deborah, in many cases it’s not possible to reverse engineer this process, you may well need to unpublish, then republish with your own ISBNs. We’d need to know more details. If you’re an ALLi member, please send an email and we’ll investigate for you.
Thank you for your article, I learned a lot!
It sounds like ALLI membership has loads of benefits.
I have a few questions….
Is the ALLI membership subscription paid annually or is it monthly?
Do ALLI members still get a passcode for publishing for free using Ingram Spark in 2019?
I’m disappointed that CreateSpace is no longer and merged with KDP. CreateSpace was more of a Ma and Pa POD outfit, whereas dealing with Amazon and its foreign techs, who are difficult to understand and not well schooled on publishing, can be frustrating. Also, I’m disappointed that KDP only offers 55# paper. I’ve published several 8.5 X 11 books that contain hundreds of images, and they don’t print well on 55# paper.
Here’s a situation to which I cannot find an answer.
I thought I had done all the research and made an informed decision to use CreateSpace to publish my first two novels. I now realize all the mistakes I made and am relaunching. I would like to use a combination of KDP Print and IS for a number of reasons, however, I took the free ISBN from CreateSpace. It doesn’t appear that there is any way for me to expand this to IS without taking down the books from Amazon and completely re-publish, losing the current sales history and reviews. And then there is the problem of having two ISBNs for the same work that, from what I had read, will confuse Amazon and cause issues.
So, unless I am missing something, I have to either suck it up and completely start over, or leave things as they are and go with Amazon’s expanded distribution on those two books and do a combination of KDP Print and IS going forward.
I have been looking into Ingram and was particularly unsure about their ‘returns’ feature.
They recommend that self-publishers allow returns, as it will increase the chance of wholesale purchases.
Ingram also explains that bookstores may purchase a number of books and then return them if they aren’t selling – and that this purchase must then be paid by the self-publisher.
To me that sounds incredibly risky. Do you have any thoughts about this returns feature?
Same question here too, anyone has any advice?
Same feelings. IS explained the 2 “returns” choices: return and destroy, or return and send back to me. Return and destroy means the retailer returns to IS (retailer pays shipping both ways), IS destroys copies, and I (writer-publisher) refund wholesale price to retailer. Send back to me means that I pay shipping back to me of returned copies. Of course, I do not want to facilitate any returns, but am thinking that the shipping cost paid by retailer will deter them from over-ordering, or returning unsold copies? Currently I have returns disabled, but only one store stocks my book and they sell out, so has not been an issue…
I’m a little confused on exactly what happens in the system and for the end user when a book is listed on both KDP and IS. Are there two different URLs? The meta data is probably a little different for each one too. What does the customer see when searching in Amazon? One listing for IS that says available in 1-2 weeks and one for KDP that says “in stock”?
My first POD book is going live on IS probably Monday in paperback and casebound, and paperback on KDP. I have gotten all my questions answered except this last one!
Amazon will not send proof copies or author copies to Australia. I’m told that I have to purchase a copy at retail price from their Global Store. IS print their copies in Australia and send them out fairly quickly. I am still using both though.
One question, POD soft cover and POD hard cover with a wrap around are distributed by both?
Amazon don’t do hard cover books
Thank you for the great advice! Do you recommend Bookbaby, Smashword, or D2D distributionservices for Indi authors? Thank you!
Nice way of thinking and thank you for your valuable Information
Would you turn off expanded distribution on KDP, since IngramSpark is essentially expanded distribution?
Yes, that’s essential
I can’t figure out how to undo the Expanded Distribution option on the KDP Right & Pricing page. I know that to use the same ISBN for KDP & IS, you have to go with the Standard Distribution. I don’t remember checking “Expanded”, but for some reason that is how the book is listed, and of course KDP keeps giving me an error message.
Thank you for the advice!
Great article, and excellent detail on the process nitty gritty from Karen Myers, thanks Karen!
In your “Essential Tips,” you didn’t mention whether it matters on which platform one first uploads the book file.
I’ve read somewhere on the blog or the ALLI FB page that doing it one way or the other makes a difference on how smoothly the process goes — but I can never remember which one should come first.
And did the recommended order change with the move from CreateSpace to KDP Print? So confusing!
Because of the expense of the Ingram setup, if you have NOT used a discount coupon, it makes more sense to design/test on Amazon KDP, since revisions are free, and then move to Ingram once you’re happy on Amazon KDP.
You will still need to proof on KDP to be sure your cover (and color matching) is reasonably compatible and the spine is properly placed in comparison.
If you are using the ALLi discounts for Ingram (strongly recommended), this is less of an issue.
Typo. s.b., “you will still need to proof on INGRAM…”
What I had heard was that one system (or the other one) would somehow be able to “see” the other listing and refuse to accept the ISBN number.
That didn’t make much sense to me, if the book hadn’t been published yet, but I’m sure I read it more than one place — and I thought one of the places was in an ALLI article or FB forum post.
If that’s just an internet wive’s tale, though, that makes me happy. One less thing to bother about remembering…
Yes, I keep seeing this crucial step in comments on blogs but never in the blog article itself. Sometime I think the author-helper blogs just want clicks and are withholding some crucial information, or they just don’t go the extra mile with their advice. I am at that point of publishing two books, between IS and KDP, but cannot find a straight answer, and do not want two listings of one book because I didn’t list it with IS first.
I think you just need to upload to Amazon first and turn off expanded distribution. I published with Amazon and had expanded distribution turned on for a number of years, and when I went to publish with IS, it said the ISBN was already in use. I’d already turned off the expanded distribution, so I had to contact IS, who gave me a form to fill out, saying that I release the ISBN (or words to that effect), and once Amazon released it, I could publish on IS. It took Amazon almost two months over Christmas, but everything is fine now. I hope this helps.
Thank you so much. I’ve been struggling with the ISBN issue for a couple of weeks now.
Hi everyone,
I’m in the exact same situation and was curious Susan, did you have to contact Amazon to release your ISBN? Or did you only have to turn off distribution and fill out the IngramSpark form and wait a couple of months?
Thank you!
– Konn
Thank you, thank you! Me too. I just went into Amazon and unchecked expanded distribution and am waiting for a reply to my email asking to release the ISBNs.
Beware of the book cover differences when using both Amazon KDP and Ingram.
1) The spine widths are different because the paper comes from different sources and has different thicknesses, so you must make a minor change in the cover design so that each one gets its own cover file. (Same interior file, different cover file). Use their own templates when doing the layout, rather than one cover template for both.
This caution applies to every printing manufacturer you use.
2) Tolerances for POD are much looser than for offset (bulk, short-run) printing. The margins you get in the templates may seem small, but on thin books the spine is especially vulnerable to being jammed up against the left or right-hand edges in a visible and exasperating manner. The paper stock is thinner for Ingram, so the spines are narrower and more prone to this. Design the text for your spine to fit the narrower Ingram requirement and allow for extra space inside the “safety margin” so that if/when it does shift, the effect is less noticeable.
For offset printing, they’ll check that they have everything positioned perfectly before proceeding. For POD printing, it’s more like a copier machine and the paper can be lined up a little too tight or loose against one edge. Since they only print one at a time…
3) Both Ingram & Amazon KDP seem to be getting slower in their responsiveness for author copies, proof copies, and general availability. You may need to allow more time than you’re used to, to receive and view a proof before releasing the publication.
(and, yes, I AM checking out offset & fulfillment options for some print-centric projects…)