Print on Demand Part 3

I wish I could think of a better title.

I wish this part hadn't even been needed.

But, guess what?

No calls, missed calls, answerphone service messages, emails or even the slightest squeak from Amazon. So much for the response tweet. As this is published, it is just over 24 hours since Amazon's promise to get in touch...

I've now been looking at the Barnes & Noble print-on-demand proposition, amongst others. Amazon is still compelling due to its market position and the shear capabilities of its cloud platform (speaking with developer hat on here), but I have serious concerns about KDP's quality control and response times.

Print-on-demand is, I believe, the future. It holds huge promise by reducing unnecessary production and resource consumption, but also by lowering the barriers to entry for individuals to enter the publishing field.

So how can the largest and most technically advanced sales and cloud platform on Earth be fumbling this so badly?

I understand that the attitudes of shop floor staff in print companies in the UK are still largely stuck in the 70s, and I factored that in from experience. But my problem has become a straightforward customer relations problem now.

It is probable that the live copies of the book will be absolutely fine. But I would like certainty on my gamble that the printer's proof was an exception, not a problem buried in the files I uploaded. I would like to talk to someone in the KDP team who knows how the system works. Hell, I would like to help them make it work better and be part of this fascinating new publishing opportunity.

But sadly, I probably won't be recommending KDP to a friend at this time.

<sigh>Back to social media</sigh>