Proof Copies

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Proof copies are snapshots of how your paperback would currently print. You can check for grammatical errors, typos, and formatting. You can also review images or graphics to make sure they meet your expectations. If your proof doesn't print as expected, it may be due to formatting issues. Ordering proofs is not mandatory, and you don't need to wait to submit your book for publication if you order a proof. However, if your submission doesn't pass our quality review, you'll need to edit your files and resubmit them. Learn more about paperback formatting.

Proofs are different from regular copies. They have a "Not for Resale" watermark on the cover but no ISBN. During printing, we place a unique barcode in the lower right-hand corner of the back cover. If you have images or text on this part of the cover, the barcode will cover them.

How to order proofs
Shipping options
Supported languages and marketplaces
Pricing and discounts
Track your package
Cancel items or orders
Change your order information
Problems with proof orders
Damaged, lost, and wrong items
Defective copies

How to order proofs

You can order a proof for a book in "Draft," but you'll need to approve it in the Print Previewer first.

Go to your Bookshelf and find the paperback for which you would like to order a proof.
If your paperback is in "Draft" status, the option to request a proof will be enabled in the ellipsis ("...") menu. You don't need to approve to submit your book for publication. However, if your book doesn't meet our quality standards, you'll need to edit your files and resubmit them.
Click Request Proof Copies.
Select the order quantity. You can order up to 5 copies at a time.
Select the Amazon marketplace closest to your shipping destination. The cost will then be displayed. This cost doesn't include shipping and applicable taxes.
Click Submit Proof Request.
Within 4 hours of submitting your request, you'll receive an email with a link to complete your proof order. You must complete your purchase within 24 hours of receiving this email.
Once you receive the email and click on the link to complete your order, you'll be sent to the Amazon cart/basket. You can use your existing payment information and delivery addresses or add new addresses to send proof copies to reviewers.

Shipping options

Proofs are eligible for all paid (standard and expedited) shipping options available to Amazon customers except Prime. You can ship proofs to multiple shipping addresses by placing separate orders for each destination.

Supported languages and marketplaces

Proofs are currently available in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Dutch. Japanese will be added later.

KDP doesn't currently support paperback distribution to Amazon.com.au, Amazon.com.br, or Amazon.nl. You can buy retail copies of your paperbacks through a Global Store option on Amazon.com.au. However, we can't ship proof copies to Australian addresses. Portuguese language users can place orders from Amazon.com. Dutch language users can place orders from Amazon.de.

Pricing and discounts

When you order proofs through your KDP Account, you'll pay the author price for your own books. The author price is the printing cost for your selected marketplace times the number of copies. The trim size, interior type, page count determines this price and does not include shipping charges or taxes. On Amazon.com, any applicable sales tax will be applied at checkout. For European orders, local VAT will be applied at checkout. This price is the lowest price we can offer for your book; we are unable to offer additional discounts.

Track your package

After an order has shipped, you can track your packages on Amazon.com or in the Amazon mobile app. From Your Orders, you can find tracking information in your order details. To track your package:

Go to Your Orders.

Go to the order you want to track.
Click Track Package next to your order (if shipped separately). If your package or tracking information is missing:
About missing packages that show as delivered
About missing tracking information

Cancel items or orders

You can cancel items or orders that haven't entered the shipping process yet by visiting the Order section in Your Account. To cancel an item or an entire order:

Go to Your Orders.

Click Cancel Items.
Select the check box next to each item you wish to remove from the order. If you wish to cancel the entire order, select all of the items.
Click Cancel checked items when finished.

After submitting the cancellation, we'll send you a confirmation message to the email address on your account. You can also confirm that the order was canceled by visiting Your Orders. If you see the order in the "Canceled Orders" section, it was successfully canceled.

Change your order information

You can update your order quantity, billing address, shipping address and payment method on your unshipped orders by visiting the Orders section in Your Account. To edit an order from the Order Summary in Your Account:

Go to Your Orders.

Click the Order Details link for the order you wish to change.
Follow the on-screen instructions to change the desired information.
Click Change beside the information you want to modify.

Problems with proof orders

Troubleshoot common problems with proof orders.

I deleted or didn't receive the proof request confirmation email. Within 4 hours of submitting your proof request, you'll receive an email with a link to complete your order. Once you receive this email, click on Proceed to Shopping cart/basket to complete your purchase. If you don't complete your purchase within 24 hours of receiving the email, the proofs you requested will be cleared from your Cart/Basket and you'll need to reorder them from your Bookshelf. If you can't find or deleted the email, check your cart/basket for your proof order.
My cart/basket is empty. If your cart/basket is empty or items are missing from it, it is likely that you are not signed into your account. If you add items to your cart/basket while signed into your account and then log out, your items will seem to disappear. If this is the case, you should be able to retrieve your cart/basket by signing back in to your account.

Damaged, lost, and wrong items

If you received damaged proof copies, or if the copies were lost in transit, contact us about a refund.

If you placed an order but received the wrong item, you can return the wrong item for a refund of the item you did not receive through the Online Returns Center by selecting the "Wrong item was sent" reason:

Defective copies

As with all books printed on demand, a small amount of printing and color variance in a given book is expected. Someone comparing more than one copy of a book may notice small differences between two copies. These differences aren't always defects and are not eligible for refunds.

If you think the copies you received are outside the variances we allow, contact us and we'll investigate the issue. If the mistake was on our end, we'll issue a refund.

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