KDP Print vs Lulu Books vs CreateSpace | Self Published Book Unboxing

About this video

In an unboxing comparison of print-on-demand copies of other authors’ books, Dale L. Roberts judges KDP Print, CreateSpace and Lulu on delivery time, shipping and handling, and print quality — not on the books’ contents. KDP Print delivery was wildly inconsistent: one book arrived in six days while another ordered the same day took 16 days despite an initial four-to-five-day estimate. Both came in bubble-wrap envelopes, which he considers inadequate protection for larger books, though print quality on glossy and matte covers was good. CreateSpace was slower but predictable — the books he cites took about 15 and 12 days — and it alone shipped in corrugated cardboard, which he strongly prefers because a damaged book tends to earn the author a one-star review. CreateSpace quality was essentially equal to KDP Print, and he notes Amazon has said both use the same printers. Lulu impressed him most on the product itself: both books arrived in five days, in perfect condition despite also using bubble-wrap envelopes, with cream and white paper options, glossy covers and a near-perfect cut. His verdict: Lulu wins on delivery and quality, CreateSpace wins on shipping and handling, and KDP Print is too unpredictable on delivery for him to fully trust.

Key takeaways

• KDP Print delivery ranged from 6 to 16 days for books ordered the same day — fast sometimes, but unpredictable
• CreateSpace took roughly 12-15 days but shipped in corrugated cardboard, the packaging he trusts most against damage
• KDP Print and CreateSpace print quality were effectively the same; he notes Amazon says they use the same printers
• Lulu delivered both test books in five days in perfect condition, and he rated its print quality — covers, paper and cut — the best of the three
• A book damaged in transit reflects on the author, not the printer, in reader reviews, so packaging matters commercially

Episode details: published December 2, 2018 · 10:05 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Dale L. Roberts’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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