Amazon Makes Author POD Demands
Amazon has sent an open letter explaining “what we’re changing with print on demand and why we are doing so.” Amazon has caused a major stir in the POD field with its decision to have publishers who want to sell POD titles directly through its website use its BookSurge POD subsidiary.
In the letter from the Amazon.com books team, the company reiterated that by using machines that are located in its own fulfillment centers, Amazon can have a title ready for shipment quicker than if it needs to wait for a book to be shipped to its facility. The extra time will permit Amazon to “marry” a title with another product that will be shipped in the same box, in most cases hitting Amazon Prime shipping times.
“It isn’t logical or efficient to print a POD book in a third place, and then physically ship the book to our fulfillment centers. It makes more sense to produce the books on site, saving transportation costs and transportation fuel, and significantly speeding the shipment to our customers,” the letter states.