I started a thread about this last week, but it quickly got buried.
So you did!
Here's a link. I'm sorry it didn't get a response, and hope you weren't discouraged.
I understand this publishing ecosystem and how it works or I wouldn't put myself out there.
Katie, I'm sure you know how publishing works
for you, in your particular niche. But that doesn't mean that it couldn't work better if you were more aware of various aspects of publishing, nor does it automatically extend to you knowing how publishing works in a wider sense.
I don't think people buying ISBNs are doing it for vanity.
I do think ISBNs are a waste of money and that no one will be using them in the not-so-distant future.
I doubt they'll fall out of use any time soon: they provide too much information and assistance to the book trade. And I agree with you on the "vanity" thing. There are too many good, useful reasons for using them.
I wouldn't recommend anyone buy ISBNs if you're just starting out. They're not necessary in this new self-publishing climate, and unless you have lots of cash to throw around, take the free Createspace one.
I'm not sure that ISBNs aren't necessary to everyone who self publishes: as Medie has already explained there are lots of instances where self publishers need ISBNs to achieve what they want to achieve. However, I do think that for some subsets of self publishing a paid-for ISBN might not be strictly necessary.
When I started self-pubbing in 2009, people said you weren't a "real" self-pubber unless you bought them, so I got a block of ten. All that did was eat into my profits for the year. Totally useless.
That's why I get so riled up when I see people spouting misinformation. It doesn't help, and it can hurt the writers who believe it in all sorts of ways--in your case, the hurt was financial. It's infuriating, isn't it?
Exactly what I'm saying. Most of us are never going to be making the best seller lists and the best option is to minimize costs.
Minimising the costs is only the best option if your primary motivation is not spending much at the outset.
If you want to maximise your income and profits, then you might want to invest in the quality of your books in all sorts of ways and maximise the number of sales outlets your book appears in: and for that, you might well need ISBNs.
As I said, one size doesn't always fit all, and your way isn't necessarily the best way for everyone.
I apologize for using quotations around the term "self publishing." It was an attempt to comply with the rules for required terminology on the forum. I will cease and desist.
All we ask is that you use the term "self publishing" rather than the term "indie publishing". By putting quote-marks around it as you did you were making a point, Katie, and a pretty shabby one at that.
Still, it's nice that you've apologised for the quote marks, if not the attitude.