Claude Bouchard Books

Lightning Source is one of the suppliers I deal with for print versions of some of my novels. To date, I've been satisfied with the quality of the prints they produce, their vast distribution network and the higher than average royalty payout offered per sale and I expect that satisfaction will continue. The reason I'm pissed off at them is what I'll call geographical discrimination.

Let me start with a bit of comparative information about other similar suppliers in regards to payment policies. Various suppliers offer different payment possibilities as follows:

• Lulu issues payments on a quarterly basis by either cheque or PayPal, regardless of a member's country of residence. For cheque payments, a client's revenue balance must be $20 or more while the amount for PayPal is set at $5. There are no handling fees involved if cheques are preferred..
• Smashwords pays quarterly and U.S. residents can be paid by cheque with a $75 minimum or PayPal for $10 or more. Non-U.S. members are paid strictly via PayPal with the same $10 minimum requirement.
  
• Createspace pays U.S. members monthly with a minimum balance requirement of $20 if paid via electronic fund transfer and $28 if paid by cheque. An $8 handling fee is charged for cheque payments. Non-U.S. members are not eligible to EFT so payment is by cheque once the $20 minimum has been attained or surpassed. Handling fees do not apply for non-U.S. members.
• Kindle pays monthly by electronic fund transfer where available when revenues due attain $10/£10/€10. Otherwise, cheque payments are issued when $100/£100/€100 minimums are reached.
• And now, Lightning Source. Currently, Lightning Source issues payment by cheque on a monthly basis with a $25 minimum requirement. So far so good. However...

Lightning Source has recently informed its members that electronic funde transfers are now available for those having chequing accounts with banks based in the U.S., U.K., Europe and Australia. Based on the information supplied, there doesn't seem to be a minimum required for monthly EFT payments to be issued, which is an added benefit. As a means of encouraging these members to sign up for EFT, Lightning Source has advised that the monthly minimum required for those who wish to continue receiving cheque payments will be raised to $100, in other words, quadrupled.

As a resident of Canada, I have no chequing account with any bank based in the U.S., U.K., Europe or Australia. When I contacted Lightning Source to enquire if this quadruple increase would be waived for those not eligible to EFT due to country of residence, i was bluntly informed the increase applied to EVERYBODY. I was also told PayPal was not an option being considered. As a pacifying pat on the head, however, the following mention was included in the response I received:

"We hope to have CAD as a currency option in the future ETA unknown."

One could argue the new $100 minimum is the same as that for Kindle. However, like more and more authors, the bulk of my sales are in eBooks generally, most of which are on Kindle so, a higher minimum earning is not an issue. Print, however, is a dwindling format...

So, Lightning Source, thank you for:

• showing no regard to a number of the clients who collectively generate earnings for you;
• openly discriminating on the basis of country of residence;
• finding a way to keep our money in your coffers longer and;
• telling me to go screw myself is such a lovely, business-like manner.

It makes me feel good to know a supplier doesn't give a rat's ass about at least a portion of their customers.