Back in February I mentioned that I had bought a copy of Phil Barker's HORSE, FOOT AND GUNS rules. It later transpired that the wrong edition of the text had been published, and the version that I bought was withdrawn from sale.
Yesterday evening I received the following email from Lulu:
Those of you who have not used Lulu to self-publish your work may not realise that when you do so, you have to upload a copy of the text to your account so that the publication can be allocated an ISBN and pre-publication proof copies can be printed. If you select the wrong option – as I did when I first used Lulu – it is very easy to publish your book before the proofs have been checked and any errors corrected. Luckily for me I realised what I had done before any purchases had taken place, and I was able to upload the corrected text for publication before any copies were sold.
Yesterday evening I received the following email from Lulu:
Hello,I should therefore be receiving a replacement copy of the latest edition of the HORSE, FOOT AND GUNS rules in the very near future ... and I think that in doing this Phil Barker and Sue Laflin-Barker have more than made up for the understandable mistake that occurred.
You are receiving this message today because we show that you purchased a copy of the book “Horse, Foot and Guns.”
We were notified by the author that the version you received was not the one she intended to be available. The author has asked Lulu to help notify her customers of the error and to inform each customer that she will be replacing it with a complimentary copy of the new version of the book.
We are writing to you today from Lulu to let you know that we will be placing these new orders within the next couple of days. If you ordered with a registered Lulu account, the new order will be placed in your Lulu account and you will be able to track its progress from your Order History page. As this is a complimentary reorder, the payment method will say Invoice, Billed to Lulu.
If you did not order with a registered Lulu account and placed your order as a guest, a reorder will be placed for you; however, you will not be able to track your order. If you wish to inquire about the status of your reorder, please contact Lulu through the Support link on the top right side of the page. Select My Orders, I purchased a book or calendar, Something else, then click the “I still need help” button. Please be sure to include the previous order number and the email address that was used to place the order so that we can better assist you.
We appreciate your patience as we get these orders placed and the new book printed for you. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to respond to this message or contact us through the Support link on Lulu.com.
Thank you for shopping with Lulu. Have a great weekend!
Kind regards,
Thomas B
Lulu Press, Inc.
Those of you who have not used Lulu to self-publish your work may not realise that when you do so, you have to upload a copy of the text to your account so that the publication can be allocated an ISBN and pre-publication proof copies can be printed. If you select the wrong option – as I did when I first used Lulu – it is very easy to publish your book before the proofs have been checked and any errors corrected. Luckily for me I realised what I had done before any purchases had taken place, and I was able to upload the corrected text for publication before any copies were sold.
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Have bever geard of Lulu, but what a great idea?
ReplyDeleteRay Rousell,
DeleteThey are a company that specialises in assisting authors to self-publish their books and to sell them via Amazon and other online booksellers. Have a look at their online catalogue and you might find all sorts of things of interest.
All the best,
Bob
Well that explains the exchange I had with Lulu support when I tried to buy the book after your previous posting. At that time it appeared as a new release on their website but the link to purchase didn't work.
ReplyDeleteMust now try again!
Incidentally, I'd also not heard of Lulu before you mentioned it when publishing your own title. Is there any particular reason for choosing it rather than, say, Createspace?
Mike Hall,
DeleteI'd give it a day or so before trying to buy a copy of the new edition, just in case.
I chose to use Lulu because several people I know had used it and had told me how relatively easy it was. I made a few mistakes with my first book, but after that everything was easy, simple, and quick.
All the best,
Bob
Very decent of them.
ReplyDeletePrufrock,
DeleteI thought that it was.
All the best,
Bob
I have purchased one or two books through Lulu. Your post shows an excellent example of good customer service, correcting a mistake, at minimal fuss for the customer.
ReplyDeleteFitz-Badger,
DeleteI have bought quite a few books from Lulu - as well as publishing two - and I have found their service to be very good.
I think that what Phil and Sue have done more than makes up for the error that occurred ... especially as it must have cost them quite a chunk of any potential profits they might have initially made.
All the best,
Bob
The earlier Lulu offering led to a lot of complaints here -http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=411578&page=2
ReplyDeleteI hope this action resolves this.
Nigel Drury,
DeleteWhen I read some of the comments, I was put in mind of the following quote:
'To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.'
(Macbeth Act 5, scene 5, 19–28)
I think that Phil and Sue have done all that they can to remedy the situation ... but that still won't satisfy the blowhards out there.
All the best,
Bob