I often get questions about why I sell my books on Amazon. It’s fair to ask, and I want to be honest with you about why I made this choice.
My main goal is to make my music (compositions, arrangements, and exercises) available to everyone. To do that, I need to spend my time writing and teaching—not managing a warehouse.
Here is why I use Amazon:
1. The “DIY” Challenge
I tried to do everything myself in the past.
I cycled to a Staples, a local print shop, to print the pages and get them bound. Then I walked to the post office to mail them. There was a lot of back-and-forth to get the books properly printed and bound. It was time-consuming.
More importantly, it was too expensive. To print just one 100-page book, it cost more than $20—before I even added the book covers (in color and heavier paper), the binding, sales tax, and postage.
The local library charges 20 cents per black & white sheet of paper. I don’t have my own printer. So I looked for another way.
2. Local Printers
I asked a local businessman to refer me to a professional local printer. To get make it affordable to sell, I’d have to order hundreds of books at once. This means paying upfront and storing the unsold books in my one-bedroom apartment. I don’t have the space nor the stamina to pack and ship them all by myself.
3. The Amazon Trade-Off
When I offered my books only as digital files (PDFs), many of you told me you wanted a physical, printed book. However, when I tried to print them in small batches, many readers still preferred to order through Amazon for easier shipping and better service.
Using Amazon’s “Print-on-Demand” service is my solution. They only print a copy of the book when a customer buys it. I do not need to store hundreds of books, and you get a professionally printed book sent to your home. It is not a perfect system, but it is the best way for me to get my music into your hands while keeping my focus on teaching.
How You Can Help
I respect your personal choices. If you prefer not to use Amazon, I am always happy to provide the PDF version of my work. I sell the PDF copies at US$30. Just e-mail me.
Also, if you want a physical copy but do not want to buy from Amazon, you can ask your local library to buy my books. This is a great way to read my work without having to purchase it from a retailer you would rather avoid.
Thank you for your support and for continuing to learn with me!
