What is Xlibris' returns policy?

Xlibris will happily replace any books you receive that has physical defects free of charge. Because our books are custom manufactured for you as they are ordered, the industry standard for print-on-demand is that no other returns are accepted. If you enroll in the Xlibris Bookstore Returnability Program, you can make your book returnable through Ingram. This means, that if bookstores can order copies of your book on consignment, which makes your work more attractive to booksellers everywhere and levels the playing field for self-published titles.

What discounts are available on Xlibris books?

Xlibris offers author discounts ranging from 30% to 60%, reseller discounts up to 48%, and discounts on direct sales. We try to make it as easy as possible for you, your customers, and book retailers to purchase copies of your published book.

What is the royalty that I will receive on sales of my book?

On all sales made directly through Xlibris, you will receive 25% of the retail price as your royalty. If the book is sold through one of the channels like Amazon.com, you will receive a 10% royalty based on the retail price.

Xlibris pays royalties on a quarterly basis (following the £25 threshold requirement), along with your royalty check, you will receive a statement detailing a history of your earnings and a newsletter containing important updates and special offers. You can also check your royalties in real time via our website and your personal My Xlibris account.

When do book sales appear on my sales and royalty page?

For orders made through Xlibris, we add book sales to your sales and royalty page when the books are shipped to the customer. Sales made through our distribution channels will be added once they are submitted to us, which is either monthly or quarterly. Items that have been ordered, but not yet shipped, will not appear on your sales and royalty page. We receive shipping information each day, and as we receive notice that an item has been shipped, your report is automatically updated.

How is the sales and royalty page organised?

The most recent book sales appear at the top of the page and continue down in reverse chronological order to your first sale. The sales are organised by month, with a monthly total row in blue. Within each month, the sales are organised by type of sale (reseller, Xlibris - by phone/by mail, etc.).

What is an 'Order ID'?

The Order ID is the confirmation number that we give customers when they purchase a book. We have included it on this page so that we can solve any issues that may arise as quickly as possible. If you reference an Order ID, we can access the record easily and quickly. Please make sure to ask for your Order ID at the time you place your book order.

Why do two items have the same Order ID?

We often place mixed orders with paperbacks and hardbacks included in the same order. Your royalty pages have such items listed separately since the royalty owed to you is different for the different types of items sold.

Why do you only show the city or town of the customers who purchased my book?

Due to privacy concerns, we are unable to include the customers names along with their addresses. Just as we do not provide your personal information to parties who wish to purchase our author lists, so too do we protect the privacy of customers who purchase books.

I keep seeing an address with "LSI Wholesale". Who are they?

LSI is an acronym for Lightning Source Incorporated, the print-on-demand subsidiary of Ingram Book Group, which is one of the largest book distributors in the United Kingdom. Almost all book resellers, including Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble, and hundreds of others, purchase Xlibris books through Ingram and LSI. In turn, LSI provides us with a monthly report of all Xlibris sales, which we then list on your sales and royalty report under the "LSI Wholesale Discount" heading.

My friend bought a copy of my book through an online bookseller. Why don't I see their sale and their address on my sales listing?

Online booksellers order and receive Xlibris books through Ingram distribution and LSI. Because of this, you will not see individual online bookseller purchases on your sales and royalty page. Such sales are included in the sales listed as "LSI Wholesale Discount".