All authors know who Amazon is, and so it’s natural when you see a company called Amazon Publishing Services that you would think this is a good option. Unfortunately, imposter companies are leaning on the Amazon logo and name and offering editing, design, and upload services. Authors should be cautious about hiring these companies – because they are NOT Amazon and you’re not getting what you think you are paying for.
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After encountering dozens of authors that had paid for their service and dozens of others that realized just in time that it was a scam, I decided to start speaking out about it.
If you’re curious about the potential pitfalls of hiring the wrong publishing service, this article is for you.
Book Launchers, is a full-service self-publishing company dedicated to helping you write, publish, and promote a non-fiction book to boost your brand and business. Our primary service is a full-service publishing team helping you self-publish, but we also have courses like Self-Publish and Succeed Live and Book Marketing Magic that will help teach you aspects of the process as well.
Some authors look at our full-service self-publishing offerings and find the price higher than they expect and, instead opt for cheaper alternatives. This can work if you do a lot of homework and you’re a great project manager. However, for many authors it actually can often result in more costly and irreversible problems. This was the unfortunate experience of one of our clients, who came to us in tears after dealing with a fraudulent company named Amazon Publishing Services (We’ve also seen them operate under AMZ Publishing). Despite its misleading name, it had no affiliation with Amazon, and due to its non-US base, Amazon hasn’t been able to shut them down.
The first thing everyone realizes is their process is very high pressure but the Amazon name keeps them thinking it will be ok. But, when you do hire them, you do get some service but with the client we helped fix the issues here were the big and expensive things she had us fix:
Ebook Design Flaws
- Fixed-layout Ebook: The company created a fixed-layout ebook instead of a reflowable one, which caused significant issues.
- Fixed-layout Ebook:
- Font size is set and unchangeable by the reader.
- Not compatible with all devices.
- Larger file sizes can affect pricing options.
- Reflowable Ebook:
- Adjustable font sizes and adaptive layout.
- Compatible with a wide range of devices, including smartphones and tablets.
- Smaller file sizes are easier to download and less likely to impact pricing options.
- Fixed-layout Ebook:
Not sure what you should be looking for in a book layout? This video will help you understand book layout and what decisions you need to consider with this important piece of the book publishing process:
Unauthorized Kindle Select Enrollment
There are many programs available in the Kindle platform and one is Kindle Select. This means you’re going to be exclusively distributing your e-book through Kindle. You can’t sell or give it away anywhere else. This is ok for some authors, but many authors want to be able to sell it direct or give it away for leads. She was unknowingly enrolled in Kindle Select, restricting her from wider distribution until she could exit the program.
- Kindle Select Program:
- Suitable for some books, especially fiction, but enrollment should be voluntary and well-explained.
- A 90-day exclusivity commitment, preventing sales through other platforms.
- Can significantly reduce potential royalties due to Kindle Unlimited.
Unprofessionally Produced Print Layout
The print layout was created in Microsoft Word instead of Adobe InDesign, compromising the quality and functionality of the design. There are many free and low cost programs that convert a word document into an .ePub file that Kindle will accept for publishing. Just because it will upload does not mean it’s going to look good. Here’s a quick break down of the difference between Word and Adobe InDesign, and why we almost always format a book with Adobe InDesign for the best results.
- Microsoft Word:
- Good for initial formatting but not for final typesetting and design.
- Limited design options, particularly for handling images and full-bleed layouts.
- Adobe InDesign:
- Designed for professional and accurate layouts.
- Offers extensive customization options for chapter headers, section breaks, and image handling.
- Results in a cleaner, more polished final product.
Expanded Distribution Doesn’t Mean What You Think
She was sold on the benefits of having her book available widely for book stores. The KDP Platform has the option for expanded distribution but the reality is that bookstores will not order from Amazon so there is no real benefit. They don’t make enough money and most bookstores are not going to buy through Amazon because Amazon hurts their business. Her print book was enrolled in Expanded Distribution without her understanding the implications. We would never advise an author use their expanded distribution. We would recommend you upload your book to Ingram Spark if you want to reach bookstores.
Here’s why:
Through KDP:
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- Reduces royalty rate to 40% instead of 60%.
- Does not guarantee acceptance by external distributors.
- Limited access to Ingram’s catalog.
- Not available for hardcovers.
- ISBN is locked from being available through other aggregators like IngramSpark.
- Through IngramSpark:
- Higher royalty rate, closer to Amazon’s 60%.
- Direct access to Ingram’s extensive network of retailers and booksellers.
- Available for both paperback and hardcover.
- Switching from KDP to IngramSpark requires a formal request to release the ISBN, taking up to 30 days.
Choosing the Right Publishing Service
While these issues were significant, they are not as severe as those caused by some outright scam companies. However, nothing was done in the author’s best interest – everything was done cheaply and easily for the company. When hiring a publishing service, ask the right questions and know what you’re getting into. You can check the ALLi watchdog list to ensure you’re dealing with reputable companies.
Investing extra time and money upfront will save you from headaches and additional costs in the long run. If you’re working on a non-fiction book, we’d love to help at Book Launchers. We have courses, an Author Business Accelerator, and our full-service support options to choose from. Schedule a call today to find the right fit for your project.
Also, we recommend checking out this blog on other Scams to Watch Out For!
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If navigating publishing options — and avoiding sketchy services — feels overwhelming, you don’t have to do it alone.
Author Launch Kit (ALK) is a step-by-step book marketing software built specifically for authors who want a clear, trustworthy plan for promoting their book without falling for costly upsells or gimmicky “services.” It helps you:
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💡 Instead of guessing which services you need (or which might be scams), ALK gives you a proven framework authors can confidently follow.
👉 Explore Author Launch Kit here: https://booklaunchers.com/alk/ (Includes onboarding tools and guidance to help you avoid common pitfalls.)
