Anonymous

Terrible Experience

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I had a terrible experience with iuniverse after the book was published.Money,Money and more Money was needed to advertise...I spent thousands of dollars and where's the Royalties??

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Reason of review:
Problems with payment
1 comment
Guest

I agree, after being disappointed in my royalties of 29.25, I looked it up. My net sales were 112 and my royalties were 29.25?

And my sales report said net sales were 468 and I earned 31.25, their math is off if 31.25 is 50% of 468! So glad I left them for Createspace. Switch to createspace, much cheaper.

Make a Facebook page, create a website. Write and do it yourself, the only sympathy Iunivers shows is when you say no.

Endya Sya

DO NOT publish with iuniverse

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First and foremost I am 99.99% convinced that they do not pay their authors the royalties they are due. I know for a fact that I have sold to friends and family than what they have paid me in royalties.

Not to mention the books that were and are being ordered from Amazon. Furthermore I was told (was also in the contract) that there would be transparency and I could go on their website in order to track all sales. This has never happened! I published my book in 2012 and the site has NEVER been up!

I like other authors that made the mistake of working with these crooks do not have the time or the financial resources to go after them legally but please heed our advice and DO NOT publish with these people! Good Luck and God Speed!

View full review
Loss:
$10000
Cons:
  • Misleading and fraudulent practice
Reason of review:
Problems with payment

Preferred solution: Full refund

3 comments
Guest

I lost 3,000. with these idiots. Never again from now on any Self Publishing company that contacts me will have to speak to my attorney before I sign anything!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1538287

Hello, we're sorry to hear that you've had a poor experience with us. Please feel free to contact our Customer Service department with your inquiry, or to email us at ComplaintsResponses@***.com.

Braeleigh Aga

Thank you very much for your message. We would definitely like to resolve this matter.

For Royalty inquiries, please contact the team at RoyaltyHelpDesk@authorsolutions.com.

They will be able to tell you exactly where to look in your iU account, and can also provide for information on how the Royalties system works. We look forward to resolving this matter with you!

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Anonymous
map-marker Bloomington, Indiana

Disappointed and drained

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Since initially submitting my manuscript to IUniverse in July 2017, I have faced one disappointment after another with the staff and content evaluation department. I have grown tired of having to explain my work to a department who does not understand the context in which I write. When content issues have been noted, they have always been taken out of the larger historical context and personal story and research. I have had to endure three check-in coordinators and five content evaluations; each time I feel I have to explain my original intentions as if for the first time. I cannot endorse nor support IUniverse for authors looking to publish.
View full review
Loss:
$1700
Reason of review:
Poor customer service

Preferred solution: Full refund

1 comment
Braeleigh Aga

Hello -- We're sorry to hear about the experience that you are having. Would you care to send more details about your situation to ComplaintsResponses@iUniverse.com, and we can follow up on that matter? Thanks.

Anonymous
map-marker Bloomington, Indiana

AVOID I UNIVERSE - INVEST IN INTEGRITY

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Updated by user Jan 08, 2018

I am still very disappointed and displeased with I Universe, A smart aleck comment that I should spell check my complaint is exactly that. A smart aleck, unprofessional and undoubtedly very unprofessional. That's a clear indication of the type of service you will get...

Original review Jan 08, 2018
Read the contact. Communicated with sales and submission cyber staff.

I reiterate I Universe is a total scam. I took the manuscript to a different POD company. This is not about the grammar in syntax i'm a printing agreement, this was about an agreement to print a copyright manuscript. It's unfortunate that I've spent so much money with IUniverse to deal with sarcasm, insults and even worst the sales staff who sold this agreement hides behind a group of joiners.

There is absolutely no support for the writers. Someone being a smart aleck is not a review. Just like their comments to this complaint not a customer service response a smart allek who has obviously cashed the check already. I have nothing good to say about I Universe but would strongly suggest you go with someone else, anyone else.

Read other complaints about this company. I should have know better.
View full review
Pros:
  • I liked the sales approach
Cons:
  • Want to re-write a poetry book
Reason of review:
Poor customer service

Preferred solution: Deliver product or service ordered

1 comment
Braeleigh Aga

We're very sorry to hear that you had a poor experience with us. If members of our firm have indeed been rude or disrespectful, this is definitely something that concerns us.

Please feel free to contact our Customer Service department and provide the names of the people involved. As mentioned, it is definitely a matter which we take very seriously.

Pamela M Qek

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

What Arrogant, What Nerve, Highly overpaid

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This is my 4th manuscript with I.Universe a print on demand company. In addition to getting attitude from a "check in coordinator" someone who probably just came out of high school is attempting to do a book review and tell me what I can not can not write.

Even worst, I paid a photographer to do photographs that I use for promotion and advertising and more specifically my book which they say I can't use. Do they know anything about copyright laws or freedom of speech. I've encountered one idiot after another and will probably refer this matter to legal.

They don't have a clue. They are not publishers they are a print on demand company and they are not very good at that.

View full review
Loss:
$5000
Cons:
  • Service is down hill after they get the sale rude conscending
  • It is all sale and no service
Reason of review:
Violations of the contract failure to proceed

Preferred solution: Deliver product or service ordered

1 comment
Guest

I have great difficulty accepting you as an author.

It does not appear that you proofread your complaint prior to posting it here.

You gave us very little in the way of setup, character introduction, goal expectation.

I can't find any reference to the subject of the book ; violation of Rule-1.

The punctuation and syntax are not well presented.

Complaint denied. Did you read the contract into which you entered fully and with complete comprehension ?

Anonymous
map-marker Bloomington, Indiana

The IUniverse Scam

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I commend the authors for exposing IUniverse to the public. It's time to stop them from stealing money and using incompetent people to "review".

This is a POD company the customer is the publisher. I Universe is making money on both sides of the table they are charging you for a service and selling your product for their personal profit. I know about the Royalty check issue. I have had a number of people call to get autographs on books they purchased on line.

Never saw a Royalty check for more than a couple of dollars.

If you have not done it already - GET FAR AWAY FROM I UNIVERSE. It's a scam and they "policy" is designed to deceive and steal.

View full review
Loss:
$3000
Cons:
  • Force contract
  • Did not receive royalties
  • Poor communicaiton
Reason of review:
Poor Service/Unqualified review

Preferred solution: Deliver product or service ordered

Anonymous
map-marker Bloomington, Indiana

Unresolved I Universe

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Please stop asking me if this is matter resolved. I Universe took the position that they were not going to publish my manuscript pursuant to the agreement unless I removed names, changed photographs or used a pen name.

That will never happen. So I'm sort of stuck giving them something to publish that has been sitting in my computer archives. That's not a resolution that's pacification. And I am much too old and my work is far to Afrocentric and Ethnic to allow them to commande I re-write the creative diversity in this book.

We have gone back and forth on e-mail communications and the alleged customers relations or arthur solutions department to no avail. It's all far too personal to be business.

View full review
Pros:
  • How they all stick together to challenge my argument
Cons:
  • I universe
Reason of review:
It's time to move on this is getting old
Anonymous

Constant COntact

When we first published with iUniverse in 2005, they were a good company. We felt we received what we paid for and were happy with the quality of the product.

A year or so later, we published with them again. However, in September 2007, iUniverse was purchased by Author Solutions, the parent company of hedge fund-owned rival AuthorHouse, a subsidy publisher with a lower reputation. During the past few years, we have been swamped with emails and phone calls from iUniverse. We keep asking them not to call or write.

We said we'd contact them if we needed anything.

Nevertheless, the calls and emails continue. I would never use them again.

View full review
Reason of review:
Annoying calls and emails
1 comment
Braeleigh Aga

Thank you for your comment above. We're very sorry to hear this. Please contact our customer service department and asked to be put on our "Do Not Call" list.

Chequita Tsh
map-marker Bloomington, Indiana

IUniverse "Chinese Cyber Crime" Stolen Royalty Payments Towards Hollywood Book-to-Screen PitchFest

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(iUniverse) https://infogalactic.com/info/IUniverse Now to make things clear, I never signed up my book "CandyCali" to be in "Book-to-Screen PitchFest" with iUniverse, but they put it in PitchFest without my permission.... *It's a breach of contract giving away my Intellectual Property Now the reason I chose not to put my book into "PitchFest" is because "CandyCali" was initially an indie project and I was just in it for the royalty payments, but instead of paying the author, they in turned paid celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Soulja Boy, Will Smith, Jay-Z, Rihanna & Paris Hilton (THE LIST GOES ON) for time spent reviewing my novel which I didn't sign up for....

*FBI & CIA Investigations leading up to the President are currently being preformed on iUniverse given that the company has been outsourcing to Shanghai, China....

*CURRENT FCC INVESTIGATION: An allege Chinese Woman has been giving me 247 Radio Frequencies while hacking into my Private Files, Phone, Webcam, Leaking Private Information from my Google Chromebook with Notable Celebrities.... USA: Obama and Xi Jinping agree to halt state-sanctioned Cyber Crime (iUniverse) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ana7EyWjdEg

View full review
Cons:
  • Did not receive royalties
  • Misleading and fraudulent practice
Reason of review:
Royalty Embezzlement

Preferred solution: Full refund

Anonymous

Iuniverse - Customer Care Review

I began not to trust them when they started to call too much. At least twice a week. Are you done yet? Are you done yet? Are you done yet? How about now? It was ridiculous and became very annoying. I cut off all contact and self published and I'm very happy with the outcome. I did it myself and it was free. I believe in time my work will catch the attention of the right people but until then, I'm sticking with self publishing and having fun doing what I love without being harassed to dish out thousands of dollars.
View full review
Reason of review:
Poor customer service
4 comments
Braeleigh Aga

Hello, and thank you for bringing this to our attention. We are sorry that you had a poor experience with us.

Please feel free to call our Customer Service department and ask to be put on our "Do Not Call" list.

This will be put into our sales software and ensure that you are not called again. Thanks!

Guest

If this is still posted BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!! This company is indeed a scam and when a competitor tried to warn me, I foolishly didn't listen.

US, China, India, French, Brits it doesn't matter where the scam is coming from, it is a scam. They want your money and do nothing afterwards and if they do the person, who is your personal rep, doesn't know your name, can't even pronounce it when you correct her and is reading from a script so if you ask a question that isn't on the script you will never get an answer. I actually called their "headquarters", which is a boiler room and when I start asking questions they told me they had NOTHING to do with publishing!!!!!!! Then she caught what she said and tried to back peddle what she said.

When I finally got a "vice-president's" extension number, it rang in his home and said he wasn't home just then.

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT USING THIS RIP-OFF COMPANY. I'm beginning to think they made up all the books they claimn they have published!!!!

Guest

I hear you my god ! I just published a book with iuniverse and I felt like I was dealing with vacuum cleaner sales or car salesmanship.

Annoying is kind I feel it was more like harrasement and relentless to the point of cutting off communications as well. Next book definitely with a Canadian publisher the U.S.D exchange is incredible agghhhhh!

live and learn eh ! Cheers

Guest

I had good experiences with IUniverse. Services in all department was great!.

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Anonymous

Iuniverse- screw artist marketers-NOT publishers

Endless, non stop phone calls and e mails from these vultures, trying to sell services, even if you've already made it very clear you aren't interested. One effective way to stop the calls is to cancel your agreement, at which time nobody will ever contact you again, no matter how often you call or e mail requesting information regarding your cancelled contract. If you want to publish your book and market it yourself, forget it. They can't make enough money from you that way, so they'll make it as difficult as possible, and ignore your phone calls and e mails. The only way to maintain continuous contact with this company is to be dumb enough to fall for their marketing schemes. If you try to market your book to a traditional publisher later, they will drop you instantly when you mention that IUniverse has had anything to do with your project. If you are an aspiring author, maybe slightly lacking in self confidence, they will complete the task, and drive every shred of self confidence right out of you. Stick with these people long enough and their actions will convince you to never write again. Any 'consultant' you are acquainted with will change at some point, as the constantly revolving door of changing staff spits your representative out, to be replaced by someone else who hasn't yet had their fill of deceiving wishful people. Most of your project information will rarely be passed on to your new representative, so they will have no clue what you have already agreed to, or disagreed with. Probably the most frustrating waste of time and money I've ever experienced.
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Reason of review:
Poor customer service
1 comment
Guest

I've completed my manuscript and I'm thankful for all the reviews. This company has contacted me numerous times to publish my book and I'm glad I called BBB and looked at all the reviews before making a huge investment. I'm a teacher in Oklahoma City and we do not have money to throw away like that.

Anonymous

I believe iUniverse under pays Authors.

This is my opinion. After publishing two books with iUniverse, I can only believe I made them a lot of money which they did not pay me royalties on. I know people are buying them. I get reviews, hits on my facebook pages etc..., yet the royalty payments do not match the level of interest. It would cost me a fortune to hire an attorney and push for a full audit of this companies books, something I'm unwilling to do because despite the fact I believe they owe me money, I can't be sure that money would cover the legal fees. What I will say is author beware. Proceed with caution.
View full review
Loss:
$10000
Reason of review:
Non-payment of Royalties

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

2 comments
Braeleigh Aga

Hello, and thanks for your comment. As always, we hope to resolve any discrepancy pertaining to royalties.

Have you tried contacting our team at RoyaltyHelpDesk@authorsolutions.com?

They can provide all information regarding your royalties, and show you where to track your royalties in your iU account. Please send them an email -- we'd love to resolve this matter for you.

Guest

Agree! I had the same issues. I'm trying to locate a different publisher, but don't know who to trust after being burned by Iuniverse.

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Eyoel Ooa
map-marker Spring Hill, Florida

These people are the worst ever

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Iuniverse - These people are the worst ever
First off let start by saying I wish I had read the reviews before i wasted my money with this company. Although ya might say to yourself you can't please everyone so maybe it's just those few. well I wish that was the case because a lot of what other people are saying happened to me also. First they have someone call you that has all the right answers. Then after you sign up you never get him again. Instead you get one foreigner after another. Then they tell you it takes three months to publish your book. Yet another one of their lies. If that wasn't bad enough, although half my fault for not checking better. They have a bunch of typos and missing words. I didn't think i had to read over what I had written. It had gotten to the point where i was so sick of these people calling me all the time asking for more money that I had to threaten one to get him to stop calling. I you are thinking of self publishing your book please take heed of our warnings and find a better company.
View full review
Loss:
$1300
Reason of review:
whole experince
2 comments
Guest

Well thank you folks. I have been receiving such calls from a really nice gentleman.

The fee immediately scared me away. However, after several calls, I thought i check out reviews. Thank you for your review. I plan to run for the hills.

I will get my books published another way. Any suggestions?

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1254393

Running like Forrest Gump AWAAAAAAAAY from IUniverse!!!

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Anonymous

Iuniverse - Publishing Service Review

The drove me insane.... Stole all of my sales.... Ruined my career and business. And bankrupted me.... I spent over 50,0000 messing with them and trying to b a writer... My GM settlement and SSDI money is down the drain and im old with nothing but a crazy check from the government....
View full review
1 comment
Braeleigh Aga

Hello, and thank you for your message. We would certainly like to resolve any discrepancies or eliminate any confusion.

Please contact our Customer Service team and explain what happened in your publishing experience.

If someone from our firm acted in an unprofessional or unscrupulous manner, it is definitely something we want to know. We hope to resolve this matter for you!

Ahkeem Pkz
map-marker Bloomington, Indiana

Royalty reluctance

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I received royalties at first when friends and family bought on their (IUniverse) website. Amazon, Barnes and Nobel all sold my books (published 2 in 2014).

These books were supposedly purchased by Lightening but this quickly dried up. I purchased 6 on line myself from Amazon and low and behold no royalties. I purchased 200 kindel cards to give away at shows and no results. I confronted IUniverse and they wanted proof of my purchase so I went to my account from 6 months prior and printed the purchase an delivery.

They were shocked but again said they would take care of it and never did even after repeated inquiries by me.

People I meet still buy from Amazon but I never receive royalties now. They still call me for promotions and I foolishly spent well over $30,000 and since 2014 my total royalties are less than $300.00.

View full review
Loss:
$33000
Cons:
  • Poor product marketing
  • Did not reveive royalties
  • Did not receive royalties
Reason of review:
Bad quality
1 comment
Guest

wrote a book in 2009. Never heard from them afterwards.

Finally in 2017 I get a call from someone from IUNIVERSE stating my book was nor selling and they wanted to promote it for $1,500.00 .

I told them I had never received any royalties for my book since 2009. They ignored that bit of important information and continued an immoral and despicable sells pitch.