Why We Publish Under Our Own ISBNs

If you’ve looked into self-publishing, you’ve probably seen the debate: use Amazon’s free ISBNs, or buy your own?

At T28X, we purchase our ISBNs through Bowker and publish under our own imprint. Here’s why that matters — and why it should matter to authors considering working with us.

What an ISBN Actually Does

An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a unique identifier for your book. It’s how retailers, libraries, and distributors track inventory and sales.

When you use Amazon’s free ISBN, Amazon is listed as the publisher of record. Your book exists, but it exists inside Amazon’s ecosystem.

When you use your own ISBN, you control the publisher identity. Your book belongs to you (or your publisher) — not to a retailer.

Why T28X Uses Our Own ISBNs

1. Distribution flexibility. Our ISBNs work everywhere — Amazon, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble, independent bookstores, libraries. We’re not locked into one channel.
2. Professional legitimacy. Librarians, reviewers, and serious booksellers look at publisher information. A real imprint signals a real operation.
3. Long-term ownership. If we ever needed to move a title to a different distributor, our ISBN travels with us. Amazon’s free ISBNs don’t.
4. Catalog consistency. Every T28X book shares the same publisher prefix (978-1-971647). That’s our identity in the global book trade.

For Authors:

When you publish with T28X, your book gets a T28X ISBN. You benefit from our imprint’s legitimacy and distribution reach.

If you’re self-publishing independently, consider buying your own ISBNs through Bowker. Yes, it’s an upfront cost. But it’s an investment in owning your work completely.