With the inevitable merge of Createspace/KDP Print more and more likely, Amazon’s KDP has recently posted another update to their website related to the KDP Print platform.

I have this Love/Hate Relationship with Amazon and I think all of us experience this type of sentiment all the time with Amazon!

So if you aren’t that curious as to why I’ve mentioned this little tid-bit, you are welcome to scroll on down to the end, almost the last “entry” in this post (surrounded by *** and in bold) for the most recent update to Amazon’s KDP Print Platform …

Otherwise, stick with me, I think you’ll get a laugh and/or perhaps you’ll feel the same pain I endured! LOL

I first learned about this recent change (on June 20th) from one of my Facebook Group members who shared it with our community. There was some bit of back and forth to confirm this via KDP support and as a result all of us realized that indeed, print books printed by KDP Print were now available for distribution on Amazon Canada.

(You are welcome to join my Facebook Group: “Publishing Made Simple“).

Later in the week, I followed up with KDP support to inquire that if distribution was available through Amazon Canada, why wasn’t it showing up as an option within our bookshelf/interface yet?

KDP support replied with the following answer: “KDP is consistently working upon making paperback distribution to more countries like Canada in future, but as of now, the Amazon KDP does not distribute paperback books to Canadian marketplace (Amazon.ca).“

Huh!!?? LOL

As usual, Amazon mucking everything up by giving it’s customers/vendors conflicting information!

First Confirmation: Amazon updates their website saying that Amazon Canada Distribution was available for print books via KDP Print.

Second Confirmation: Authors have shared within Facebook Groups and forums that Amazon Account representatives have confirmed that yes, KDP Print now offers Amazon Canada Distribution.

So no wonder I was frustrated when the response from Amazon/KDP was that distribution WAS NOT available!

Now this really makes sense … doesn’t it!?

No!

Well, actually it does make sense … half of what Amazon Representatives say completely contradicts what other Amazon Representatives say!

Jeeezzzz…..

So what did I do? I called KDP directly to try to get accurate information. Well, I must have been dreaming thinking I’d get that! 🙂

So what awaited me? Bad news: the KDP Representative said to me that Amazon Canada distribution wasn’t available for print books via KDP Print!

AAarrrrrrr….!!!

I tried holding back my frustration (and couldn’t), and the explanation given to me was TOTALLY inaccurate! These people are simply reading off scripts or something and some of the information is completely wrong!

Anyway, I told the representative that I was getting conflicting information: a number of folks were saying it was available, a number of folks were saying it wasn’t, even their own website (Amazon’s website) indicated that distribution WAS available.

So what gives ….!?? LOL

I asked the representative to elevate my ticket and/or follow-up with their supervisor to confirm what information was accurate.

The representative got back to me and CONFIRMED that Amazon Canada distribution is NOW AVAILABLE for distribution for print books using KDP Print.

Finally!

Jeeezzzz ….. seriously!? LOL

Amazon, Createspace & KDP DON’T communicate well – that is an understatement.

So I got further clarification after I asked additional questions:

The Canadian distribution for our print books has been added to KDP accounts, but the option to see that distribution from within our account will NOT show up since there is still NO option to change the Canadian Pricing. Regardless, KDP books get added to Amazon Canada Marketplace distribution, but it can take up to 30 days. So if you don’t see your book appear on the Canadian Amazon Marketplace and the book hasn’t been published more than 30 days, give it some time and your book will appear shortly.

This is why being a first-time author (or someone using Createspace and/or KDP Print for the first time) can be very vexing. I’d say that 50% of the time, Amazon representatives provide inaccurate information. This can become overwhelming and certainly confusing. It’s up to those of us who are experienced to help clear their path so that they don’t get discouraged on their publishing journey. 🙂

Looking for the distribution update?

*** KDP has CONFIRMED that Amazon Canada distribution is NOW AVAILABLE for print book distribution if you are publishing (printing) via KDP Print. ***

[Footnote: To learn why I no longer recommend Createspace but instead suggest that you use KDP Print, read about all the current benefits to using them by checking out the following article: “Createspace vs. KDP Print – it’s time to make the switch” (It’s Time to Move from Createspace to the KDP Print Platform)”]

https://ericvanderhope.com/createspace-vs-kdp-print-its-time-to-make-the-switch-2/

Back to this current article … I mentioned earlier that this update was a result of information shared within a Facebook group I created for folks that are looking for answers and direction on how to publish their print books via KDP Print.

The name of the Facebook Group is: “Publishing Made Simple“

https://www.facebook.com/groups/publishingmadesimple/

You are welcome to join me and hopefully many other indie publishers who will probably be just as excited and nervous about these changes as me!

All my books that were on Createspace are no longer there, I’ve already transferred them over to the KDP Print Platform. If you’d like to learn how to do that, feel free to refer back to the article I referenced above (there is a video tutorial towards the end).

So what do you plan on doing …? Feel free to share in the comments below.