Createspace Reviews EFT Royalty Payments For More Authors
Update: Createspace is now officially merged with Kindle Direct Publishing.
This article remains online for reference value only.
Over the years, Createspace has helped many authors publish in paperback by using print-on-demand. It is a simple process that only requires a pdf file of the text and cover design.
The review process is fast, and a proof copy is available almost immediately. Once approved, author copies of the printed book can be ordered.
Easy to publish
It always has been a terrific way to publish in print and Kindle as Createspace is also an Amazon company.
Added to this is the fact that distribution to other retailers, such as Barnes and Noble, offered authors many advantages.
However, while most Createspace reviews are positive, there is almost always a mention of the many complaints about Createspace and its payment terms and especially by (EFT) electronic fund transfer.
EFT payments
EFT royalty payments to bank accounts were introduced by Createspace in 2012, but they were limited to only a very few countries.
Since the 2012 introduction, authors who live outside of the US, UK, and a few European countries have had to suffer not only being paid by cheque but have also had to wait until their accrued royalty balances reached quite high balances of $100, £100, and Euro100.
On top of this, those authors who are paid by cheque then lost a percentage of their royalty due to bank costs associated with clearing an international cheque from Createspace, which often amounts to between $5 and $10.
Meanwhile, for those fortunate to be living in the few countries where Createspace offered EFT royalty payments by bank deposit, there were no minimum payment thresholds and no additional bank fees for Amazon and expanded distribution sales.
Nothing changed
Despite years of complaints about this unfairness from authors around the world to Createspace customer service, nothing changed for three very long years.
Finally, in recent times, however, Createspace has announced that EFT royalty payments, and therefore no minimum payment thresholds, are now being made available to thirty-one additional countries.
This list of new counties added are:
Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, French Guiana, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Martinique, Mayotte, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Republic of Ireland, Reunion, Romania, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Summary
While this is very welcome news for European authors, it is not so for many other countries.
Still noticeably missing from Createspace EFT royalty payments are major countries such as Australia, South Africa, and Canada, along with probably many more.
While it is good news to hear that Createspace has acted, albeit after three long years, there are still many self-publishing authors who are going to continue to suffer from exorbitant royalty thresholds and the costs associated with depositing a cheque.
One can only hope that Createspace will move more rapidly to make EFT royalty payments available to many more countries and not wait another three long years to do so.
Update: Amazon KDP now offers similar paperback publishing services, so it might be worth considering changing over to KDP for Kindle and print. Especially, because Amazon KDP does pay by EFT to almost all countries. As Createspace is owned by Amazon, it seems that Createspace may well be phased out in the future.
Update 2: There is news speculation that Createspace will be closing down. This might be the right time to move your paperback POD self-publishing to KDP.
Update 3: We have published a new article explaining how to move your existing Createspace paperback titles to Amazon KDP.
Related Reading: My Paperback Version Is Not Available On Amazon To Buy
I have just received two cheques from Amazon Kindle Publishing totalling about $300. My bank, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, has increased its deposit fee from $10 per cheque to $28! This doesn’t include their currency exchange fees. Does anyone know of a way around the bank ripoffs here (I’l probably die of old age before Amazon pays us by EFT).
It is frustrating, Lloyd. I’m lucky that I get paid by KDP by EFT. But for my Amazon Associates account, I am still paid by cheque. It’s absolutely archaic for one of the biggest tech companies in the world. Perhaps one day Amazon will rise out of the stone age.
anyone ? have been try CS not paid for the month of august? July royalties that should have been paid end of august but still the createspace not sent it they only give my royalties payment GBP only..
It’s beyond me too, James. Cheques are far more expensive to prepare, print, send and cash. It’s a slow archaic process. I’m a little more fortunate than you in that I get EFT for Createspace and KDP. But Amazon Associates are still in the dark ages and send me cheques with no option for EFT.
I’m in Australia, and I’ve stopped all royalty payments until they work out that they are living in the 21st century and no-one works with cheques anymore. Does anyone know why they can’t let go of this cheque fetish?
They don’t let go of this cheque fetish simply because nobody can CASH these archaic cheques they’re sent, so the company gets away with saying they send royalties to their authors, but never having to actually PAY anything at all! And then, just to add insult to injury, this is described as “vanity” publishing.
It’s the age-old scam: people who are able to create stuff do so, because that’s the way they’re built — and as a consequence are first screwed into the ground by corporate pirates unable to create anything, and then sneered at to boot. Good fun, eh?
These $#*!ers still owe me thousands of dollars, and refused to pay. They deleted my account for no apparent reason, and refused to explain why. Then they stole $50,000 from me by not paying royalties. Createspace sucks A$$. Michael G is one of their account a$$holes. He should be strung up on the nearest tree branch and hanged til dead. $#*!er. $#*! Createspace.
I discovered Ingram’s on-demand publishing platform two years ago, and have not looked back since. Ingram is a world-class service, and makes Createspace look like a retarded child doodling with his own poop.
Ingram also distributes books to Amazon, which means you get to stick that in Createspace’s eye! Woo-hoo!
Well I’ll be damned! Canada, Australia, South Africa? Really? Is there a reason these countries are not on the list? Currency issues perhaps? Or, maybe they just don’t want to do business with us. This is one of the reasons I haven’t approached them yet. I have been looking at other alternatives. I refuse to cash archaic cheques in the age of EFT’s. Unfortunately, they seem to hold all the cards at the moment.
Well, so far, there is not a fee for depositing a check in Guatemala. Yes, it’s complicated since takes 30 days to clear it plus the 2 weeks that took to receive the check.
It’s complicated due to Government policies, not Amazon or KDP.
I’m disappointed. I live in Canada–the US’s closest neighbour–and we still have to wait for that $100-cheque. Amazon can do it with Kindle. Why are they holding out with CreateSpace? It’s very frustrating.
When I started to read this article, my fingers were crossed that Canada would be listed. I guess I have to wait another three years. Errr.
I agree it’s very unfair, Diane. Createspace treats Canada as if it was a third world country. It’s absolutely shameful.