Support for Indie Authors discussion

I am wondering if anyone can share their experience with getting autographed books to readers. Do you buy copies autorgraph and then mail them, and if so, don't you lose money on those books? I hope this doesn't sound crass , I do not intend it as such.
Delores

If you order books from your distributor, you pay wholesale. You can then set your own price for an autographed copy. You can also decide if you want to cover shipping or have them pay. Typically, my books cost me less than 50% retail including all shipping charges, so any sales are a profit.

It depends on how your books are published, I guess. Mine are printed by Amazon, so I have to buy them the same way a reader would, which means losing money.
I just bought three copies for a giveaway on my mailing list, so that ended up losing me money, especially with postage on top, but I hope it will gain me followers in the long run!

I use Createspace. I buy books in cases of 50 minimum from Createspace (Not Amamzon). $5 per copy or so. I sell signed copies for $15. Even if I pay shipping I still make some profit.

I get createspace books as well to sell physical copies.

I also have a stamp. If it doesn't have a stamp, I didn't sign it!

C.B. wrote: "I also have a stamp. If it doesn't have a stamp, I didn't sign it!"
I am absolutely stealing that idea.

Perfect! Please do.
I used my main character as the stamp. He's been around!

I order my paperback books from create space. I can ship books anywhere in the U.S. for about 3.25. I wrap them in cellophane and cardboard from boxes I get in the mail.

I sell the books (shipping included) and make about five dollars a book. The only negative is that the rankings for my book do not rise when sold this way.
On a separate note, not being a famous author, I feel weird when I'm asked to autograph my books. It makes me wonder if the buyer hopes the value of the book will go up if I were to commit a heinous crime. They will be waiting a long time. I gave up gun when I left the Army:)

C.B. wrote: "Perfect! Please do.
I used my main character as the stamp. He's been around!"

I'll probably just use the logo that's on all of my current books (and likely all books for the next year or two).

Do you have a picture of your stamp, or would that be hijacking? And if you do, but it is, can you show me elsewhere? xD

I'll take a picture of it and figure out a way!

I figure if someone is sufficiently interested in obtaining a signed copy to contact me, I can afford to give it away without making any money on the deal--or even taking a loss for postage. I'm not writing best-sellers, but niche science fiction, and creating a cast of solid followers is good marketing.

For me it depends. If the person asks for an autograph of course I will gladly include one. If I do a giveaway I will usually write an autograph and congratulating them on winning. If they wish to get one and contact me I will usually be happy to do so. I'll even do Authorgraph although I haven't even got many on there either.