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Amazon UK launches POD service

07.10.08 Graeme Neill

Amazon has launched a print on demand (POD) programme in the UK. Amazon.co.uk said that the service would mean it could rapidly print and ship an individual book following a customer order. It would also allow it to bring previously unavailable titles, such as out of print books or foreign language editions, into print in the UK, it said.

Among the publishers who have joined the programme are Faber, John Wiley & Sons, HarperCollins UK, Cambridge University Press and Allen & Unwin Australia.

Amazon said it would be able to print books in both full colour and black and white and said the books would be "virtually indistinguishable" from traditionally printed titles.

Christopher North, vice president of media at Amazon.co.uk, said: "Working with publishers, we hope to bring hundreds of thousands of books to Amazon.co.uk’s customers that might never have otherwise been available. POD not only enables publishers to keep more titles in-stock at Amazon, but it also makes possible innovative new approaches to publishing."

For a limited time, Amazon.co.uk said it would provide free setup for publishers with POD-ready PDF files.

Amazon.co.uk will be providing the service from its fulfillment centre in Marston Gate near Milton Keynes. North said that Amazon would be consulting with its US POD company Booksurge for their "expertise and experience" offering the service.

Amazon.com caused controversy in the US earlier this year when it demanded that publishers use BookSurge for their print on demand needs, or supply Amazon.com with five copies of each title for its warehouse. However, North stressed that Amazon.co.uk would not require publishers to use its POD service exclusively. "We are offering titles that are being produced by other print on demand providers," he said.

It is unclear whether this move will affect terms negotiations with publishers. North refused to comment adding "we are launching something brand new and we hope it will create savings that will benefit everybody". "Our focus is demonstrating we can provide a highly reliable, high quality channel that wasn’t previously available," he said.

Amazon.co.uk Faber Cambridge University Press Print on demand Graeme Neill John Wiley Home Chris North

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By June Austin

Amazon never provide anything for free - except delivery - there has to be a catch. Personally I think they are foolish in the extreme if they think that UK authors and publishers, not to mention our laws, will let them get away with it - assuming they are planning to do what they did in America (which they probably are). My own publicist, who has contacts all over the place, and has brought companies down before, will tear them to shreds. Apart from anything else, the court case with Booklocker in America isn't decided yet anyway.

07 Oct 08 21:07

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By COMMENTATOR

We all await June Austin's publicist to bring down Amazon.

08 Oct 08 07:54

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By Josie Henley-Einion

If June Austin's publicist succeeds in bringing down Amazon, with all that rainforest disappearing will there be implications for global warming? But seriously, why is it not better for readers and authors if books are perpetually in stock? Assume that I am stupid (you will anyway), please inform me.

08 Oct 08 11:12

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By RobC

I don't think Jane's objecting to POD on principle, but Amazon's recent attempts to force all POD sold through its US site to use their own POD printer. It's unlikely they'll try such a trick in the UK, but given their US stance and other recent predatory techniques, it's understandable why publishers and booksellers are concerned that Amazon has too much power and is in a position to exploit it.

08 Oct 08 13:00

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By June Austin

Absolutely Rob, in all seriousness though, I don't think they will try it here either. It does amuse me when I see comments like "the service would mean it could rapidly print and ship an individual book following a customer order" because they already can - through Lightning Source. Cambridge University Press are incidentally (so I was told anyway) LSI's biggest POD customer. It puzzles me then as to who this partnership is with, as I thought they Amazon and LSI already had one! The fact that this service is to be fulfilled via Amazon's distribution centre in Milton Keynes should maybe give us a clue as LSI are also based here. Even if they do try the strong arm tactics they tried in the US, it won't work with the small POD companies anyway, since Amazon don't buy books direct from them, but via wholesalers. ALL such books are automatically listed on Amazon, provided they have a) an ISBN and b) distribuition through either Gardners or Bertrams. To remove such a book from Amazon.co.uk (or for that matter, any online retailer) the book would therefore have to removed from the supply chain altogether.

08 Oct 08 16:19

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By Josie Henley-Einion

So this is perhaps just an Amazon media hype thing – i.e. it’s been going on all along via Lightening Source and they’re ‘launching’ it now to get publicity?

08 Oct 08 18:57

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By June Austin

Who knows? There is definately though more to this than meets the eye. Until we know the full facts, it is all supposition ...

09 Oct 08 06:39

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By Paul Rix

I read with some alarm at amazons proposal, here are a few points for them to chew on. 1. should they ever print a copy of any of my books they will be in breach of copyright laws, 2 this is an attempt at a monopoly, illegal in the UK in this case as it dictates who will print it. 3 their in house printer, book surge, may well be better quality than some cut priced mass produced paper backs, they are not as good as lightning source who currently produce copies of my books. If Amazon persist they can expect to be reported to, the d.t.i, the o.f.t ,the monopoly and mergers commision and the copyright protection agency, what ever their official title is! I have the phone numbers for all of these agencies and if they print a copy of any of my books, without my permission I will report them. As to who my publisher is, that is my buisness and I do write under a pseudonim, I knew I should have put pen name, my spelling is lousy. all the best, old geezer P.s, good luck to Angie Hoy.

10 Oct 08 21:52

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By June Austin

Good for you Paul !

11 Oct 08 06:28

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By paul rix

how it works at the moment is like this, if Josie was to order a copy of Junes' book off amazon, amazon would order it either through Gardiners, the wholesaler for Junes' publisher, who do, I believe hold small stocks, or more likely direct from L/S who would print it and send it direct to you. And yes, I do know June, not that well but I do know her, and her book is well worth a read! says he shamelessly. One thing I have noticed is authors using Junes' publisher are for the most part fiercly loyal to the company and are proud of both the qualiy of the product and the service. Should Amazon try to push this 'money grab' scheme through the product quality will most definately suffer and I can't see how service will improve as the booksurge system is incompatable with existing systems and would mean publishers having to use a different format with all the cockups which would go with it, not to mention the extra costs just so amazon can make a few extra pence per copy.

12 Oct 08 02:48

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By June Austin

Thanks Paul, looking forward to reading your new book too, when it comes out! Amazon almost definately order mine from Gardners and not direct from LS - the reason I know this is because as soon as Gardners started stocking it, just over a year ago, giving Amazon a bigger discount, Amazon passed that discount on to their buyers. The price has come steadily down since, impacting sales via my own website. They would not have been able to do this on terms of 25 percent, but can when they are given 40 percent ... Agree with all your points though 100 percent. Ignor this at your peril, and don't think this all blow over either, because it won't. Remember that if you stick your head in the sand, all you see is an arse !

12 Oct 08 12:04

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By Clive Keeble

Amazon is not going to get a free-run on this latest venture, as can be witnessed by a news report on PrintWeek. http://www.printweek.com/news/854474/Amazon-denies-POD-threat-UK-printers/

16 Oct 08 09:49

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By Aaron Shepard, Shepard Publications

Amazon.co.uk is suddenly listing many books of Lightning Source UK customers as "temporarily out of stock" with no guarantee of any delivery. In fact, this is happening on every Amazon site worldwide, except in the U.S.! That's despite the fact that Amazon.co.uk can order the books for quick printing and shipment from Lightning UK, Gardners, or Bertrams.
Comment edited, 18.10.08

17 Oct 08 03:15

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By June Austin

They are not refusing to stock them though - what sensible retailer in their right mind would, for a guaranteed sale? Instead they state that they will let you know when the book is in stock, and not take your money until then. I don't know any more than anyone else as to what is going on, but if I find out, will be the first to blog about it !

18 Oct 08 21:15

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By Paul Rix

I have just had a conversation with Damien Peachey from the amazon press office. Hopefully this will alay the fears of authors, myself included. He assures me, that although amazon would prefer to print in house via booksurge, publishers not signing up will be able to carry on exactly as they have been, with no problem, titles will be available exactly the same as they always have. Time will tell, but the man gave his word and until proven different I for one will accept it, feel free to contact me if you have a problem, Paul Rix

20 Oct 08 11:57

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By Paul Rix

I have just had a conversation with Damien Peachey from the amazon press office. Hopefully this will alay the fears of authors, myself included. He assures me, that although amazon would prefer to print in house via booksurge, publishers not signing up will be able to carry on exactly as they have been, with no problem, titles will be available exactly the same as they always have. Time will tell, but the man gave his word and until proven different I for one will accept it, feel free to contact me if you have a problem, Paul Rix

20 Oct 08 13:19

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By Paul Rix

I'll try again, you can see where the oldgeezer comes from! sorry about the duplicate. What I wanted to post was I have done some checking and my book, printed as a pod by L/S is available on amazon uk, with free delivery and it has been out 5years. I write under a psuedonym and amazon didn't know who my publisher was. So I can't see how me having a winge could have affected my book rather than anyone elses. Many titles from my publisher were flagged out of stock last week which is patent rubbish as they are pod titles printed by L/S. However things do seem to have returned to normal, long may they stay that way.

20 Oct 08 13:32

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By June Austin

All a storm in a teacup then as someone else said to me the other week (Paul will know who, and not it wasn't him). My own book is still showing as in stock, which it no doubt is. As for other POD titles not stocked by Gardners et al and therefore available only as special orders, last time I checked, they were showing as taking 6 to 9 days to be despatched, which is marginally better than saying not in stock. Tehcnically they are not in stock, as they are not in Amazon's warehouse, but they will as Amazon say 6-9 days to be printed and despatched. All is well then that ends well.

20 Oct 08 16:50

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By Aaron Shepard

I have to apologize for my previous comment. Though my facts about sudden availability of many books were true, and the timing was extremely suspicious, it turns out that the probable cause was a temporary data feed problem between Lightning UK and Amazon.co.uk. I jumped to a conclusion, and there's no evidence of any discrimination against Lightning books by Amazon.co.uk. Thanks to whoever edited out the harsher statements in that comment!

31 Oct 08 21:02

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