Why NOT use Ingram Spark to sell your paperback book on Amazon?

• Posted on February 7, 2022
• by DSAdmin7
• in blog
• Comments Off on Why NOT use Ingram Spark to sell your paperback book on Amazon?

Blog post from self-pub.net [updated: replaced “Createspace” with “KindleKDP”]

IngramSpark offers a better wholesale discount option for their distribution than KindleKDP. With KindleKDP, you can choose their Standard Distribution which lists your book at Amazon only for a 40% wholesale discount, or their Expanded Distribution, which gets it in other online retailers in addition to Amazon for 60%. At IngramSpark, you can get that same distribution for a 30% wholesale discount. So, while IngramSpark’s wholesale discount is better, you might experience stock issues on Amazon, which can really hurt your sales. (see: Understanding Wholesale Discounts When Self-Publishing a Book)

My suggestion is to use IngramSpark to distribute your book to everywhere except Amazon and use KindleKDP to distribute to Amazon only.

How that works is you would set up an account at both and upload your book to both. I typically let the listing go live on Amazon through KindleKDP first, then release the title for distribution through IngramSpark. Amazon will see that they already have the title through KindleKDP and will not pick it up through Ingram. If your title is already on Amazon through IngramSpark, you can also submit through KindleKDP and the KindleKDP version will replace the one from IngramSpark.

Here is a step by step:

1. Create an account at IngramSpark.
2. Create an account at KindleKDP.
3. Upload your files to both IngramSpark and KindleKDP. (you will need to set up your cover to each of their specifications, as they are different)
4. Use the SAME ISBN at both. (this is important!)
5. Select KindleKDP’s Standard Distribution option. Do NOT select the Expanded Distribution option. (this is important!)
6. Get a proof copy through KindleKDP. I recommend a printed proof copy, but it is not required.
7. Once you receive and approve your proof, approve the proof on KindleKDP.
8. Wait for your book to go live on Amazon. This typically takes 1-3 days.
9. Approve your book for distribution at IngramSpark. You can also order a printed proof through IngramSpark, but it is not critical.

If your title is already on Amazon through IngramSpark, you can still do this using the steps below:

1. Create an account at KindleKDP.
2. Upload your files to KindleKDP. (you will need your cover set up to meet KindleKDP’s specifications)
3. Use the SAME ISBN that you used for your book on IngramSpark. (this is important!).
4. Select KindleKDP’s Standard Distribution option. Do NOT select the Expanded Distribution option. (this is important!)
5. Get a proof copy through KindleKDP. I recommend a printed proof copy, but it is not required.
6. Once you receive and approve your proof, approve the proof on KindleKDP.
7. Amazon will replace your listing on Amazon with the KindleKDP version. You will not see a difference in your listing.

Hint: Add something to the copyright page that is different from the file you submit to IngramSpark and KindleKDP and make the book’s description slightly different on each. That way you can tell where a printed book came from and verify that KindleKDP is handling the Amazon listing.

Orders placed through Amazon will be handled through KindleKDP. Any orders placed through other online retailers will be handled by IngramSpark. You will get payments for the book orders from each of them.

Tags: book distribution, ingramSpark, Kindle KDP