If it Looks too Good to be True, it Probably is!

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As an author, don’t let yourself trap by Vanity publishers and a plethora of scam artists that want to cash in on writers.  The list of these unethical offers is endless and unfortunately some writers are not vigilant and tweet / re-tweet or post without carefully reading and researching these scammers on the Internet. It is easy:  just google “complaint” and the name… You might be surprised what comes up!
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For Example on Monday:
I was on our Twitter book account when I saw by chance this tweet:

Worth a bookmark: To purchase Single ISBN numbers http://www.aardvarkglobalpublishing.com/isbn_numbers.php?adid=askjeeves 
#authors #writing #books  pic.twitter.com/hL5fNi5RfW

(I omit her name here, not to give her more appearance than necessary. Not sure why she promotes this Vanity printer and defends them fiercly…)
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I immediately ran into protection- and investigative mode, and made a quick Google search, as I saw that several people had retweeted it already and posted it.  I replied to her:

NOT a good idea – don’t be tempted by the price! Aardvark Global Publishing is listed as the publisher!  … and I added
ANOTHER TRAP FOR AUTHORS – Don’t waste your money! Read also this and compare:    BTW they pay only $1  – and sell it to authors for $69 …….. Don’t fall for this!  

Her answer:

Exactly my point. So again I ask, why smear a business. CreateSpace has it’s own problems, so do your research

I tweeted back:

Here is the research: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/ECKO-HOUSE-PUBLISHING/   aka Aardvark. $69 ISBN price works only when you publish with them http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Aardvark-Global-Publishing/Sandy-Utah  

Her answer:

You are blocked from following … my Tweets.

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Fine with me. Will not miss her vitriolic answers.  But I hope some smart authors have looked up this Vanity publisher as well (see all the complaint links from the Internet search about this company – who recently changed their name – at the end of this blog post).
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And then she shot one more:

Answer to the pissing duel on ISBN. Aardvark Global is affiliated w/ Bowker.

I am afraid she thought “affiliated” means belonging to Bowker.  Nothing could be further, they are just buyers there.  Dictionary: AFFILIATED means closely associated with another, typically in a dependent or subordinate position, or a re-seller.

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Why I Write About These Tweets?
As an author-publisher one needs to know about the publishing business and certainly about the predators who are hunting for victims.  Familiarize yourself with practices regarding ISBN “sales”, to learn what’s behind a seemingly cheap offer, and how these “businesses” work. 

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What Authors Need to Know About ISBN

  • ISBN numbers are sold to the publisher by the official agency for the USA, R.R. Bowker. If you are not buying it from Bowker, and instead getting it cheaper, or for free, from Vanity printers (everyone who poses as a “publisher”, taking money from writers for “services” that she or he could get much cheaper elsewhere), or POD printers (CreateSpace or SmashWords), trades his publisher-status in exchange for saving a couple of dollars to these “affiliates” of the official ISBN seller Bowker.  Like many others Aakvard / EckoHouse Publishing is a Vanity publisher, a printer or at least affiliated with a printing company.  Researching hundreds of Vanity publishers over the years, one always sees the same patterns…
  • How ISBN sales work: Bowker sells ISBN’s to publishers (and self-publishers) from 1 – 10,000 numbers.  See the prices below.
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This is an original screen shot from Bowker, the official seller of ISBN’s in the USA:
Buying ISBN’s in Bulk at Bowker:  

https://www.myidentifiers.com/get-your-isbn-now

1  $125.00

 

10  $295.00

 

100  $575.00 (= $ 5.75 / per ISBN

“If you are a USA based publisher and buying more than 100 ISBNs, we have programs designed to fit your needs,”  writes Bowker.

So, I gave them a call, to make sure my own files are correct, and 1,000 ISBN’s cost still $1,000 – which means Vanity Publishers and POD’s buy them for $1 / piece – and sell them for any amount, say for example $69 to an author – but ONLY if this authors buys also their other Vanity Services…  
If authors don’t sign up – they have to pay $139, exactly $14 more than they would pay at Bowker – or $138 more than Aarkvard-EckoHousePublishing can get it in bulk from Bowker…
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I am talking here about prices for US-authors / publishers.  The Canadian government supports the writing / publishing community generously, ISBN’s are free in Canada!

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isbn

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VERY IMPORTANT:
An ISBN gives a publisher (YOU)  free inclusion into Books in Print, the world’s largest catalog of books, which is licensed to all major search engines and to ten-thousands of bookstores and libraries.  Your ISBN record will also receive a free online listing at the online Books in Print bibliographic database that’s available on the open Web at http://seo.bowker.com.  Please read also how to sign up for this free listing on Bowker – but it works only if your imprint is listed as the publisher!
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The Book Designer, Joel Friedlander wrote:

  • The ISBN contains within it a “publisher identifier.” This enables anyone to locate the publisher of any particular book or edition. If you use a “free” ISBN from an author services company or a subsidy publisher, that company will be identified in bibliographic databases as the publisher.
  • Owning your own ISBNs gives you the ability to control the bibligraphic record for your book. This is an important part of your book’s metadata, and is a key component in your book being discoverable by online searchers. This has a powerful influence on your efforts to attract search engine traffic to your title.
  • And further cautions: “But keep in mind that it’s rarely a good idea to buy just one ISBN. If you intend to issue your book as both a printed book and an ebook, you will need two ISBNs right from the start, and the cost of buying two individual numbers is the same as purchasing ten numbers (currently $295). In addition, Bowker is actually registering your publishing company when they issue you your numbers, not your individual books. This is a key step for many self-publishers and that’s a pretty good reason to get an ISBN as well.”
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Bowker explains on their Help Page at Bowker:

Question: I got my ISBN from my printer and now I want to make sure it’s in my name, how do I transfer the ISBN?

ISBNs cannot be transferred on an individual basis. If a self-publisher wants to be identified as the publisher, the self-publisher must get their own ISBN.  A printing company or publisher services company cannot sell, give away or transfer one of their own ISBNs they bought in their publisher role, to a customer.

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The only way to be recognized as the publisher and have your book worldwide listed, is to order your ISBN’s directly from and pay to Bowker – and at the end it’s the least expensive!  Don’t give any of your rights away!  Not even to POD service companies. 

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Here is a Short List of Complaints on the Internet:

Aarkvad and Eckohouse Publishing are the same company!

ECKO House Publishing – The Revolutionary Way To Publish Your Book

What is “revolutionary” in taking advantage of authors? Or in printing books?  How else they make money from authors:  http://www.onestopcopyrighting.com

Judy SlackOrdered 10 ISBN numbers and bar codes. As of this date, I have not received or heard from Ecko after numerous calls and e-mails. What is going on with this company? PayPal has delivered the money so that should be no problem in delivery what I ordered in a timely manner according to their website promise.”  http://www.manta.com/c/mtrgs57/ecko-house-publishing

Better Business Bureau complaints
http://www.bbb.org/utah/business-reviews/publishers-book/ecko-house-publishing-in-sandy-ut-22311892/

http://www.mullinchinowsky.com/no_aardvark_global_publishing.htm

https://openlibrary.org/publishers/Aardvark_Global_Publishing  (Aardvark is claiming on their website to have 1000’s of authors helped… checking their website, there are only a few books)

http://www.scambook.com/company/view/122460/Aardvark-Global-Publishing

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/directory/aardvark-global-publishing

Well, and that’s their business site on Google+  –  no comment necessary …

https://plus.google.com/114875685637156881519/about

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