Regular readers know I’m heavily into book publishing as a means of creating income streams. I do this by buying ebooks and articles with PLR (Private Label rights), sort through the chaff (and some of the ebooks are total rubbish) and collate the best and publish it as paperback books.

My regular publisher has been Lulu.com for the past year or so. However, since Britain started being hit by postal strikes, Lulu have really increased their postage charges.

I have just published another book as a test tonight through Lulu.com. The finished product costs me less than £2.00 (GBP) to buy. On buying a proof copy, as I say, for less than £2.00, Lulu.com wanted an amazing £12.96 for postage to my home address.

What a Rip Off.

I emailed Lulu.com about two or three weeks ago, asking for an explanation for the increase in postage charges. I have not received a reply from them.

The problem with this is that no customers are going to buy my paperback books (and I have several that are ISBN editions) if they are going to have to pay extortinate postal charges on top. And that includes international retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble and so on.

The book I published tonight is only 53 pages, and would have fitted in a normal envelope and could be delivered by the Post Office for less than a pound GBP.

Lulu.com have lost my business, with immediate effect. I will find a local printer on my next set of days off who specialise in short runs.

It’s not that I only sell the occasional one; I’ve been really fortunate this year and I’ve sold over 70 paperback books. Lulu.com are being extremely ignorant and stupid, especially as so many authors depend on them as a publisher.

What a rip off Lulu.com!

Tags: charges, lulu, lulu.com, post, postal, rip off, scam, strike