Wubbit Fulfillment / Mitchell Publishers

[DreamWeaver]

A friend got spam today from wubbit.com, and wanted to know if it was another vanity publisher. I went to take a look--the site is mostly placeholders so it's kind of hard to tell what the heck their angle is. But their motto is "You're gonna Wubbit!", which I can't find another way to describe but hurl-inducing. (I know, I know, I'm a writer, I should be able to pull the sesquipedalian word that I can't quite bring to mind, but which means "causes to vomit", out of my...well, out of thin air.)

Anyone else get unsolicited email about this company? What do you think?

 

[veinglory]

There is some info here:
https://www.wubbit.com/wubbit/AuthorDetails.aspx
https://www.wubbit.com/wubbit/BookstoreDetails.aspx

Until I see evidence that bookstores are actually using the service... well. I can't work out if they take returns--if not, well....

p.s. am I the only one who see the pendulous logo and the invitation to 'wubbit' as a bit dodgy?

 

[DreamWeaver]

Searching wubbit.com, I found the legal disclaimers, which were in the name of Mitchell Publishers. Googling that found a website; the section "About Us" was classic author-turned-publisher verbiage. You can read it here: http://mitchellpublishers.com/About-Us.html

I've bolded the very best line in the whole "About Us" page (cut-and-pasted so you know I am not kidding or paraphrasing):

In addition we will provide what we call “non-traditional” distribution channels in order to maximize sales. Why put your title on a shelf next to thousands of others where it may never get noticed?

Again, that is from Mitchell Publishers, not wubbit.com--but they belong to the same person/company.

 

[M.R.J. Le Blanc]

In addition we will provide what we call “non-traditional” distribution channels in order to maximize sales. Why put your title on a shelf next to thousands of others where it may never get noticed?

Wow gee...um I don't know...

Maybe because that's where I and many other book buyers find books? Obscure website or a bookstore. Yeah, hard decision that.

 

[Momento Mori]

Mitchell Publishers:
I quickly discovered that most doors were closed to new authors

Yeah. That was the reason why you had problems finding a publisher.

MM

 

[ChristineR]

(I know, I know, I'm a writer, I should be able to pull the sesquipedalian word that I can't quite bring to mind, but which means "causes to vomit", out of my...well, out of thin air.)

Emetic? You find their quip to be an emetic? Or you find it to be emetic? It's a clever word that can function as both noun and adjective.

 

[Stanmiller]

veinglory wrote

p.s. am I the only one who see the pendulous logo and the invitation to 'wubbit' as a bit dodgy?

I see I'm not the only one that thinks the logo and the word wubbit together bring an image of Tawny Blaze, just before her enormous...ahhh...never mind.

 

[waylander]

They're spamming extensively. I just found their missive in my spam filter.
I would be very wary of anyone whose business model included spamming random e-mail addresses.

 

[Momento Mori]

Wubbit looks to be intended as a distribution site that makes books available to independent bookstores and individual customers. I'm a bit of a loss to understand how it's intended to work in practice. Even assuming that bookstores sign up to the site, surely there's no obligation on them to order books through it and how are customers going to find out about the site in the first place to make an order (unless that's what the spam is about)?

They're charging authors $36 to register, but unless the site is actively promoting titles to customers, I don't see what bang you're getting for your buck.

There are some disturbing links on there to design, graphics, publicity, printing and "fulfillment" services, with the place holder reading as follows:

Wubbit.com is partnering with some of the best names in the business to help you bring your book to market. We want to provide you with easy access to the resources you need from reputable companies. This part of the site is currently under construction and will be available soon.

That suggests to me that the site will also be selling services from other companies to authors, which is a bit of a conflict of interest.

The fact that they're resorting to mass spam speaks volumes as to their lack of professional set up.

MM

 

[Momento Mori]

Mitchell Publishers Website:
At Mitchell Publishers we are committed to “Serving the Interest of the Author.”

Red flag. Publishers should be committed to selling books to the public.

Mitchell Publishers Website:
In early 2009 I completed my first book and went in search of a publisher. I quickly discovered that most doors were closed to new authors and the doors that were open wanted me to sign away the rights for anything I created for the rest of my natural life. In exchange for this they were willing to keep the lion’s share of the revenue and I would receive very little in the way of royalties for my efforts. Needless to say this did not sit too well with me, so I decided to start Mitchell Publishers Inc. in July of 2009.

Suggests to me that s/he never did his research and was in a hurry to publish.

Mitchell Publishers Website:
Until now the publishing and distribution of a title consumed almost all of the sales revenue generated and left very little for the author. We intend to change this philosophy and make sure the prospective authors share in the wealth of their creation. By making our authors more successful we will be able to share in their success and build a long lasting relationship with them.

Apart from the complete lack of sense of this paragraph, there is no information on how Mitchell Publishers plan to increase wealth for authors.

Mitchell Publishers Website:
In order for a title to be successful it must be properly marketed and promoted to the right audience. This is where most publishers fall short.

Not true. Commercial publishers get this right.

Mitchell Publishers Website:
We will create a marketing, advertising and promotional campaign that is custom tailored to your audience.

Consisting of what and aimed at whom?

Mitchell Publishers Website:
In addition we will provide what we call “non-traditional” distribution channels in order to maximize sales.

Smells like Facebook and/or Twitter to me and maybe a random internet site as well. All of which is lovely, but depends on people hearing of you first to know about the book.

Mitchell Publishers Website:
Why put your title on a shelf next to thousands of others where it may never get noticed?

The stupidity. It burns.

Mitchell Publishers Website:
Wouldn’t you rather have your title in a store that is more geared toward your audience?

So they're only distributing to specialist stores?

Mitchell Publishers Website:
Mitchell Publishers is pleased to announce that we are opening our online bookstore for other authors and publishers to sell their titles !!!

I really hope that this isn't the type of specialist store Mitchell is thinking of targeting - not only is it a conflict of interest, but I don't see why any other publisher would want to sell their books on a store owned and operated by a rival.

Conclusion: clueless.

MM

 

[CaoPaux]

Both sites are gone. Doesn't look like it survived much past '11.

 

[Gravity]

Obviously we didn't wubbit. Silly wabbit.