Lightning Source to Spark complete failure Total Spark database failure -- in an attempt to save money, we switched from Lightning Source to Spark, having had assurances that it would be seamless. It wasn't. Beginning on 5 March 2024 we tried to upload new covers for two of our books that we'd entered under the LS regime. Spark wouldn't take them, claiming "Imprint name already taken." Surprise! It's OUR IMPRINT THAT WE'VE BEEN USING SINCE 2011. But somehow, Spark's IT folks have been unable to flip the bits necessary to tell the Spark side that (all) our Saddle Road Press books belong to us. This has caused problems -- do I even need to say that email help has been, so far, useless? No answer, no fix -- and it's the 15th -- ten days of an unfixed problem. Two authors need review copies and we're unable to produce them. It's causing trouble. This is just nuts.

In today's world one is constantly… In today's world one is constantly frustrated, trying to communicate one's problems to an automated voice at the other end of a company line. It was such a relief to be able to speak with an actual person (I had to pay for this privelege!) who used human intelligence to resolve the issues I had. Tyler F. quickly understood my problem, and then went the extra mile to personally resolve it as quickly as he could. He even followed up, informing me of the progress. Thank you, Tyler.

Unreliable delivery. Unreliable delivery. I've received numerous notifications that my book package has arrived at the drop-off point, but at the drop-off point they tell me that they have not received my package. I've been there several times.

Steep Learning Curve but decent product First, Zak (Customer Service) was Awesome. He answered my concerns quickly and completely, with great follow-up. But everything else about the experience was not great... unclear directions on bleed and print parameters, inconsistent feedback from the process, Extended print times (even though i paid for express service), decent quality printing, though you need to use their ULTRA Premium Print if you have ANY graphics or pictures. Regular Premium Printing was horrible (low contrast, dull colors, etc). But, yes, once I got all of that figured out, I would use them again after the ridiculous self-taught learning curve.

Error message of “mobile number must be unique” There was a problem setting up my account because it conflicted with information when I originally set it up in 2016. Despite several attempts to remedy the conflict, it still didn’t recognize my cell phone (unchanged since 2016.) However, once Zac stepped in to work on my file, he resolved the problem in one day. After 18 days of email exchanges, nothing was resolved until Zac took over. He gets a gold star!