Do I need to provide the barcode for my paperback when uploading to Amazon KDP or IngramSpark?

This author asked if they have to provide the barcode and ISBN on the backcover when they upload their paperback book to Amazon KDP or IngramSpark.
The simple answer is: NO
If you have not purchased or created a free barcode then you do not have to provide on. Amazon KDP and IngramSpark can generate a no price barcode that will show up on your paperback or hardcover book. They will pull in the ISBN you provided so that it appears.
If you want the price on your barcode and have a barcode with the price, then yes, include that on the cover file when you upload. For Amazon KDP you will need to select the box that says you already have the barcode.

[@charlene-moore]

I was told that if the price is not embedded in the barcode that big brick and mortar stores won't sell it. So I bought my own ISBN and barcode. My designer won't add it to the cover and states Amazon does that. Now you say what they create will NOT have the price (like if i sell my book in the USA for $18.00 there is a second barcode that will have the numbers 51800. Which is what is needed to sell at big bookstores. You mention that I could add my barcode to Amazon. But I do not see where I can do that. It just asks the question if I have my own barcode. What do I do?

[@1MKWilliams]

Amazon will create a no price barcode with your ISBN on it. If you have a barcode with the price on it they will still accept that. Your cover designer should absolutely be able to add that. If not, find another designer.

[@azharulhaquesario]

thanks...

[@雪鷹魚英語培訓的領航]

Thanks, exactly what I needed to know.

[@1MKWilliams]

You're welcome. Glad I could help!

[@jamin6517]

Do you have to have a barcode for a hardcover on IngramSpark because I was reading the million page long help articles and they said you need it . Thank you for answering for paperback. I did purchase my own ISBN numbers just to put it into more context of my situation

[@1MKWilliams]

If you do not provide a barcode for the hardcover on IngramSpark they will apply a no-price-listed barcode to the back of the book.

[@jamin6517]

@@1MKWilliams final question of the hour. 😯IngramSpark doesn’t allow spine text under 48 pages? Is this true? I saw the spine space is .25” for my hardcover (33 pages) . I thought that would be enough space. Have you heard of this?

[@1MKWilliams]

@@jamin6517 correct it is a little too small for text to be legible

[@jamin6517]

@@1MKWilliams got it! Thank you

[@issavibe4436]

Does this apply to hardcover books too?

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes

[@davidvissersbooks]

Do you get to choose the position of the barcode or does KDP apply it in a specific spot on the back cover?

[@1MKWilliams]

Where Should My Barcode Go? Amazon KDP Paperback Cover Template and Barcode #selfpublishing

[@dotspotcartoons]

Hi there. Thanks for this video. The only thing I want to add about KDP is, if you let them assign you a barcode, rather than buying your own, you CANNOT sell your book on any other online platform using that same ISBN. Something to watch out for if you are planning on selling in different ways. Best to be independent.

[@1MKWilliams]

This is not accurate. If you use the Free ISBN from Amazon KDP then you cannot take it elsewhere. The barcode on the print books will show your ISBN but that does not give ownership of the ISBN the author brought to KDP to that platform. Barcodes and ISBNs are two different things, but yes, the ISBN will show on the barcode. The two terms are not interchangable

[@yacoubpetro]

There is no checkmark on ingram like kdp though, so how will i know that ingramspark are going to include it or not?

[@1MKWilliams]

They will. You also see a digital proof before you hit approve so you can check

[@mikecook_author]

What do you think about the changes to Ingramspark coming May 1st?

[@1MKWilliams]

I have lots of thoughts. I'll be doing a short tomorrow and I'm aiming to get a video out on Monday or early next week about it as well. I think it is a positive change overall but I see the cons to it as well.

[@mikecook_author]

@@1MKWilliams great, thank you.

[@mdague7814]

I still not clear with we have published 9 books with a Bowker ISBN and priced BARCODE, yet now they are saying I can not have price on there in case they want to put it on sale. Though they put one of those previous books on sale even though it had a price.

[@1MKWilliams]

i've not heard that you can't have a fixed price because of the potential for a sale. Usually, if people are going with KDP I say use their provided barcode. The barcodes with the fixed price are best for selling into bookstores and bookstores don't buy from Amazon.

[@blackrose7727]

Hey can we add elastic band on our kdp journals?

[@1MKWilliams]

I don't believe so with print on demand

[@UnleashingYourBrilliance-jq3kw]

I just published 2 days ago and want to change my price on my paper back. I already have a bar code on the back of my book. Do I need to have the bar code changed now to reflect the new price?

[@1MKWilliams]

Congratulations on publishing! If this is a permanent price change, yes you need a new barcode (or use a no price barcode). If it is a temporary price change for a promotion or discount then you dont need a new barcode

[@UnleashingYourBrilliance-jq3kw]

It is not permanent. Can I have Amazon create a no price bar code or do I need my illustrator to create it? I actually just paid my book illustrator to create another book cover with a new bar code reflecting the new price. Thank you

[@1MKWilliams]

@@UnleashingYourBrilliance-jq3kw if it is not a permanent change than you don't need a new barcode

[@spiritangel1079]

Why is my Bowker Isbn being rejected on KDP ?

[@1MKWilliams]

Can you send me a screenshot? Is it the ISBN you assigned for the paperback or the eBook?

[@spiritangel1079]

@@1MKWilliams i actually called KDP. ( Because I kept getting" please fix the highlighted areas" before publishing. And there were no highlights. The girl from the KDP. checked the backside and she said It's the Bowker Isbn. I went back to Bowker copy and pasted the isbn to make sute it was correct. Tried to publish again. I got a message from the Kdp site. It said having service problemd basically we are sorry try to fix it

[@spiritangel1079]

It is paperback. he hardback is set and ready to go as well. Tomorrow if it doesn't work. I will call Bowker. KDP said they were sending paperwork for Bowker, so Bowker could see there is a problem. Oooh the frustration. 😁

[@1MKWilliams]

@@spiritangel1079 okay let me know how it all works out

[@LittleThingsCo]

Hey @@spiritangel1079 Just curious - did you hear back from Bowker? What was the issue?