Support for Indie Authors discussion

Barcodes on KDP paperbacks.

I purchased a package of 10 ISBNs from Nielsen (UK) and produced two barcodes for use on the back cover of the special hardback edition and forthcoming ordinary hardback edition of my latest book, the latter distributed through Ingram Spark. I shall use both Ingram and KDP for the paperback, but should I bother with a barcode on the rear cover of these, the KDP edition in particular?

KDP places the barcode automatically unless you check the box saying the cover already has the barcode.
It has to be there, but you don't have to do it. Just make sure the barcode won't cover anything important.

Thanks. I'll make sure to check that box.

I'd personally use your own barcodes, since you can place them how you like and KDP Print's barcodes do not meet normal retail standards. I get mine free via IngramSpark's cover templates, but there are also great free generators you can use.

The designer incorporated the barcode in the design, or chose where to put it. I've already got one for the new hardback edition but the cover needs to be adjusted to Ingram Spark specifications/template so we'll see what they provide.

Pretty sure I paid for my barcodes. Darn it. I usually check to see if free options are available.

Yeah, unfortunately with the shift from CreateSpace to KDP Print, Amazon no longer uses the same specs as IngramSpark. I used to be able to use the same Paperback cover for both, but now have to have separate files for each. So annoying :-/

I used A5 for a print run. It seemed a safe, standard option. It's available on Ingram Spark in both formats and yet not on KDP. Go figure. I like a bit of extra space around the text, but it's hassle.

you can put in your own ISBN on KDP and they will generate the barcode, the same with Ingram. You don't have to pay for barcodes. All you do is leave the space at the bottom right for the box, KDP and Ingram will give you that space on their templates and the professional designers know where to leave it. If you are self-publishing, do not use the 'free' ISBN as that will show that wherever you are publishing is the publisher. Make your own company and logo and use that across all venues., It is difficult with all the companies not accepting what another does, making life difficult unless you are great in photoshop or InDesign type programs.

You can move the bar code where you want on both KDP and Ingram.

Some people prefer to generate a bar code that includes the price or other information, and if so, there are generators online, you don't have to go with the ones that KDP or Ingram generate. You don't ever have to pay for a bar code on top of your ISBN number because it is just a digital representation of your ISBN number. No magic.

How do you get a price put into your ISBN/bar code? I have a designer for my covers, so I will need this info for her for my next book coming out next month. This will be the first one that will have the price added. How so I get it added to my previous books?

P.D. wrote: "Just use a barcode generator

(here was a link)

Give it to your designer.

Add them to your previous covers and reupload them."

No link, please. I'm quoting your post without the link and removing it.

Michelle, you can do it with IngramSpark's cover template creator (it has an option to include the price in the barcode), as well as some of the free barcode ones. One I've used before is called Bookow's, but there are others available as well.

Oh dear, I'm so sorry! Thank you for the kind correction.

If you are resident in Canada.

Deleted a comment for links.

I've come across advice regarding adding price to barcodes on Ingram Sparks support materials. According to this, retailers such as Barnes & Noble prefer, or insist, on prices being printed on barcodes.

"Some larger bookstores, such as Barnes and Noble require the price of the book to be in the barcode if it is to be sold in their stores but, this requirement is not necessary for books sold through their website."

Fair enough. Elsewhere, however, I've been advised to set wholesale prices higher than anticipated retail price because retailers set their own price effectively discounting the product. Hmmm. Anyone have experience of this?

You should put your price on the bar code. That is the new industry standard. Ingram will ask the discount you will give. It used to be 40% but now 60% is standard. In your meta data, you will tell whether or not you do returns. If you do returns, you will have to state either cover page returns or full book returns. Based on your percentage and returns policy, that will determine whether or not your book is carried in a major chain store. Personally, book stores are a money-losing proposition if you're not careful.

Thanks, Ken.

So the question is to put the wholesale price or the price I would expect the retailer to use on the barcode ? I'm guessing the latter, which would certainly make bookstores a money-losing proposition.

I would never set the wholesale price higher than your expected retail price. You should just set the price to your desired retail price, what you want consumers to pay in general. The wholesale percentage will take care of the bookstores.

If you up your wholesale price, what will actually happen is almost all the bookstores, especially the online ones, are just going to price it at that price so then your readers end up with overpriced books and you end up with unhappy readers. If the store does set a different price, remember they are not paying your retail price, rather they pay the price with the wholesale discount, giving them plenty of wiggle room to set the price lower than your retail price. So if you have a $14.99 book with a 30% wholesale discount, the retailer is paying $10.49, giving them room to set the price anywhere between that $10.49 and the $14.99 and still make a profit.

For the barcode, you should put the retail price that you set - not the price that the stores pay. So if you have your retail price set for your paperback set to $14.99, then you should set that as your barcode. Keep in mind, the barcode goes across all stores, you can't set it per store, so you really can't anticipate what the retailer will set or use, hence you just use your retail price. Often the retailer will either use your retail price, or they will price below it and so then it looks like a deal for them when consumers see that retail price on the barcode.

Anma wrote: "I would never set the wholesale price higher than your expected retail price."

Thanks, Anma.

I think the most basic rule is to set a price at which you receive a modest return on sales. If you offer the 55% wholesale discount, this will tend to push that threshold upward and in my (limited) experience results in a wholesale price signicifantly higher than the retail rate.

see a comment in 'Ingram/KDP Combination' thread

I suppose the issue here is how to make the book attractive to bricks and mortar stores, because it is these who I'm told require the 55% wholesale discount, and also the price on the barcode.

My conclusion would be to forget about bricks and mortar, offer ony 30% wholesale discount, set a more 'reasonable' retail price and get on with it.

Honestly, yes I would skip doing the 55%. Unless and until you are at the level that your local big box bookstore is going to stock your books on the shelves out of demand, there really isn't a big need to even look at doing a 55% wholesale price. For most indies, it isn't likely to happen unless it's a store that really pushes local authors or you are super huge like Mark Dawson or Joanna Penn level.

Rather, just doing the minimum is more than enough for the bookstores to carry and sell it, they just won't order a bunch at once to stick them on the shelves in advance. You can also compromise, and do something like 40% - they still have plenty of profit margin, but then so do you.

I generally price my paperbacks $14.99 and my hardbacks $24.99, so I earn a decent profit on each one for sales to stores, while also having the prices be fair and palatable to readers. Pretty much every bookstore just lists them at those prices.

Richard wrote: "Thanks, Ken.

So the question is to put the wholesale price or the price I would expect the retailer to use on the barcode ? I'm guessing the latter, which would certainly make bookstores a money-l..."


You always put the retail price by the bar code. You never put your wholesale price on the book. The retailer will use the retail price. So, in some cases, I do only a 40% discount. Other times, I may do a 50% or 60% discount. The only ones who know the wholesale price I charged is me and the vender guying the books at a discount. The consumer will always pay the retail cost. Generally speaking, if I give a buyer a deep discount, I have a non-returns contract in place so I am not burned. They can either do 40% with returns or they can do 50-70% discount (based on volume of the order) with no returns.