How much does it cost to distribute through Lightning Source?
How can a bookstore order my book?
How long does it take for my book to appear on websites?
When do I receive Compensation Payments for books sold through Ingram's Global Distribution Network?
Can I expedite or rush the distribution process?
Add pricing to the markets where you would like your book listed as available for sale.
How do I remove my title from distribution?
When you upload your book to your account, it is released to one of the industry’s largest global distribution networks, offered by Ingram. Ingram sells direct to qualifying businesses and institutions only, such as bookstores, libraries, and other retailers.
Ingram sends the information for your book to all of the 40,000+ bookstores, libraries, and retailers in their global distribution network and lists the book as available for sale to them at a discounted price depending on the wholesale discount the publisher offers. As you can appreciate, we are not the only piece of the distribution chain in your title. Each company that is involved in the distribution chain may receive a portion of your wholesale discount. The bookstore or retailer then sells the product to consumers at the retail price and they also keep a portion of the discount you offer.
It is up to the author or publisher to promote, market, and create an interest in the book and refer purchasers to Ingram's network of retailers.
How does distribution work?
With Lightning Source’s Print on Demand service, books can be purchased through Ingram by bookstores, libraries, and retail outlets. The order prints, ships, and arrives at the customer or store within a few days.
How much does it cost to distribute through Lightning Source?
The Market Access fee (MAF) is a $12 annual fee due at initial set up and each year thereafter for each title. The digital catalog provides standardized BISAC subject coding (required in title setup) with up to three subject categories, detailed title listings in all daily catalogs provided to our international distribution partners. Ongoing title changes and updates in price are also included. Publishers may remove a title at anytime, but there will be no pro-ration of the digital catalog fee.
A Market Distribution fee of $12.00 per year entitles a publisher to the following services.
- Standardized BISAC subject coding with up to 3 subject categories
- Detailed title listing in all daily catalogs Lightning Source provides to its US distribution partners* (e.g Ingram, Amazon.com, etc.)
- Detailed title listing in all daily catalogs Lightning Source provides to its International distribution partners* (e.g Amazon UK, Whitakers/Bookdata, Gardners, etc.)
- Title summary (annotation) inclusion in our enhanced bibliographic catalog feed
- Thumbnail cover image preparation and inclusion in our enhanced bibliographic catalog feed
- Storage and backup of both title content and bibliographic data
- Price and discount maintenance for publisher price changes
- Detailed title listing in all daily catalogs Lightning Source provides to its US distribution partners* (e.g Ingram, Amazon.com, etc.)
How can a bookstore order my book?
If your title is enabled for wholesale distribution, Ingram will make your title available to its distribution channels, including our affiliate Ingram Book Group LLC (“Ingram”) who maintains one of the industry’s largest global distribution networks. Ingram sells directly to qualifying businesses and institutions only, such as bookstores, libraries, and other retailers.
How long does it take for my book to appear on websites?
During the title setup process, once you click the enable button to add distribution services to your book, it can take 2-6 weeks before appearing on retailer websites or on a distributor or retailer’s internal ordering system. Depending on the time of year, it can less than 2-6 weeks and you may see pieces of information appear and then disappear (depending on the retailer) until the title information and cover are fully uploaded onto websites.
When do I receive Compensation Payments for books sold through Ingram's Global Distribution Network?
The sale of the book is added to your sales reporting within 24-48 hours of us receiving the order from the retailer. You can learn more about compensation payments and minimum payment requirements HERE.
Compensation Payment Schedule for Print Books
Can I expedite or rush the distribution process?
We are not able to rush the distribution process for your book. When the distribution service is added to a book, we send out a metadata feed containing the book information to our retail partners. How quickly the metadata is uploaded to retailer websites depends on that retailer and is not controlled by Ingram. Also, during the 4th quarter of each year, it can take longer for the book to appear as available for sale due to all the data feeds our distribution and retail partners are receiving.
Add pricing to the markets where you would like your book listed as available for sale.
When you log into your Lightning Source account, click on your book's title and the PRINT INFORMATION button. Click on the Enabled for Distribution button.
For Ingram's Global Distribution Network you are able to set prices for each market, you will be required to set a list/retail price, a wholesale discount, and the option of a return. Here are a few suggestions and guidelines to help you determine what list price to set for your book:
- Consider how much you want to earn for every book sold.
- Look at the retail price (not discounted price) of books that are similar in size (page count and trim size), the type of binding, and the type of content, of your book.
- Offer your book at a list price that is considered a fair and reasonable price for each market the book is being sold into and the type of content of the book.
- Assign a price to your title that conforms to trade standard pricing, ending in .95, .99, or .00 in ALL markets.
- Pricing errors do sometimes happen, and titles submitted with a list price greater than 124.99 (USD, GBP, AUD), will be reviewed by the Customer Support management team. If you believe your book is appropriately priced and exceeds 124.99 (USD, GBP, AUD) please contact Customer Support and let them know, so there are no delays with your book.
- CANADA: You can add pricing for Canada, however, the compensation earned for books sold in Canada is the same amount as what you earn in the U.S. because we don’t have a print facility there. The books are shipped to our Canadian distribution partner from Ingram in the U.S.
- AUSTRALIA: Compensation earned for books sold in Australia is charged GST before the payment is made to you. Divide your intended Retail Price by 1.1.
The pub comp calculator does not account for the GST on the cost of printing. In order to see what you will actually be paid, you need to calculate 10% on the unit print cost and deduct this from your stated pub comp.
Books have a higher price point in the AU market in comparison with US and UK markets. Do your research and price your book similar to those in your book's genre.
Offering a 53-55% wholesale discount should ensure the intended retail price is honored on online retail sites.
Returns
Many online retailers who sell books will no longer purchase books that are non-returnable. Having a book available as non-returnable can affect the availability messaging on websites. You as the publisher can decide if you want to give bookstores, retailers, and libraries the option of returning unsold books. You have three options to select from:
- Yes-Deliver- Available in the U.S. Market only
Select this return status if you want your book to be sold as returnable and you would like the returned book shipped to you. IngramSpark cannot guarantee the condition of the book being returned. (This return option is only available for books sold in the United States or Canada.)
Returns to US addresses - If you select this option, you will be charged for the current wholesale cost of each book returned, plus a $3.00 per book shipping and handling charge.
Returns to non-US/international addresses - If you select this option, you will be charged for the current wholesale cost of each book returned, plus a $20.00 per book shipping and handling charge.
- Yes-Destroy- Available in all markets EXCEPT Global Connect
Select this option if you want to allow your book to be sold as returnable and you do not want to receive a physical copy of the returned book. If you select this option, you will be charged only for the current wholesale cost of each book returned. No shipping and handling fees will apply. IngramSpark will destroy and pulp any returned books received if this option is selected.
- No or Non-Returnable- This option is available in all markets
Select this designation if you do not want to allow your titles to be sold on a returnable basis. IngramSpark will not accept returns from booksellers for any title so designated. Returns can be very costly and if you are not financially prepared for returns, this may be your best option.
Publishers should be financially prepared for the cost of returned books.
How do I remove my title from distribution?
If you would like to remove your title from availability through Lightning Source's distribution network, but would still like to be able to print copies for yourself, you can simply remove the title from distribution. Please contact the Lightning Source support team at LSCustomerHelp@ingramcontent.com to make this change to your title.
How do I cancel my book?
If you would like your title to be cancelled (no longer available for printing or download), please contact the Lightning Source support team at LSCustomerHelp@ingramcontent.com. Once your title is cancelled, Lightning Source will not fulfil any new orders.
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