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2.2 34 Reviews

iUniverse Complaints Summary

10 Resolved
24 Unresolved
Our verdict: When using services from iUniverse with a poor resolution rate, be vigilant. Understand the common pitfalls other customers have faced. Prepare thoroughly for any interactions with their customer service, and consider alternative solutions if your issues are not addressed satisfactorily.
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iUniverse reviews & complaints 34

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5:01 pm EDT
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iUniverse services not delivered, fraud and lack of honesty from employees

RUN, don't walk away from this company that practices fraud with no shame!

In 2009 I purchased and paid for in full a Premiere Pro Publishing package. Since my book was not complete at the time, I did not immediately utilize it. In 2012, my book was complete and I initiated the process of submitting the manuscript. After submitting, I was almost immediately contacted by Krista Hill in the Editorial department saying my book had potential but that it needed a "thorough content and typo edit." This would cost me an additional $3200. I paid this in 3 installments. I received my revised manuscript with a list of changes to be made. i made the changes and re-submitted it only to be informed that they had found more errors and I needed to spend another $3000 to remedy them. I said I could not afford it and that I would go through again and check it over. Meanwhile, iUniverse had one of their publicity agents contact me about the publicity for the book. At first I assumed he was talking about the publicity package that was included with my initial publishing package purchase. No, he was talking about getting me to spend over $24, 000 additional dollars for publicity. In my stupidity I agreed but was up front with him that I could not pay it all at once and would could scrape together $4000 for an initial payment. He said that was fine and that they would work with me on other payments.

Working with me on the other payments meant only that I would get two, sometimes three calls a week from their "Collection" department demanding that I pay in full plus collection fees, since when they submitted the charge to my card it was declined. I spoke with Nolan and he said he would take care of it. Taking care of it means nothing except there are more collection calls and that my manuscript is put on production hold. Not only are they refusing to move forward with my manuscript, they have also locked me out of the author's part of the website.

I have left multiple messages for Nolan regarding this matter and no responses. I have informed my bank that iUniverse is not reputable and that no charges were to be allowed from them on any of my accounts. Further, I plan to take this matter to our state's attorney general as well as Indiana's. I also plan to look at going after them for fraudulent business practices and for theft by the fact they have my money and will not give me the services I paid for, nor have they refunded it despite my request for them to do so.

This matter has been escalating since January, 2013. Bottom line, RUN, do not walk AWAY from iUniverse. These people will do anything, with no conscience whatsoever, to get your money. This needs to stop. Anyone who has had similar dealings with iUniverse needs to go after them to the full extent of the law. That is what I plan to do and will not stop until something happens to resolve the issue in a positive manner. If they do not resolve my issue with a full refund of the money paid and resolve the book production issue, I plan to take as much legal action as I have to in order to get this issue resolved.

Best of luck to anyone considering publishing with iUniverse, but your best bet is to run elsewhere!

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2:41 am EDT
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iUniverse - royalities

I published my novel with Iuniverse back in 2000. My book The Souls of Dumah is now available to order in Barnes & Nobel. And online at Amazon. It is available in hardcover paperback and as an Ebook. When I search my book online I find it for sale all over the world but in 12 years Iuniverse has paid me less than $20. Friends and family have bought over 50...

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1:25 pm EDT
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iUniverse half truths

I just published a book through IUniverse. I am quite disappointed because of the "half truths" they present. I purchased the book buyers return package and found out I am the one that needs to go to the bookstores and try to get them to stock the book. Like I have time to do that. The editorial review was an outsource that used a cookie cutter approach. No one at IUniverse even read my book. I had multiple people as "Personal Sales Assistants" and was passed from person to person to person who most did not speak english. After spending several thousand dollars, I have a book that looks great, cost way too much, and likely won't go anywhere. Why can't someone just provide good service as advertised?

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Justin Nutt
, US
Jul 02, 2012 5:58 pm EDT

I had a similar experience and so have dozens of others I have been talking with recently and the truth is that iUniverse doesn't report their sales to the author accurately. I and others are planning a class action suit and if you are interested in joining please email me at nutt.justin@gmail.com. Also here is a interview I gave that you might like to read http://blog.emilysuess.com/2012/07/02/iuniverse-complaints-interview-with-justin-nutt/

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12:28 am EDT
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iUniverse unfulfilled order

iUniverse advertised a special price for a bulk order. I ordered 500 copies of my books (250 of each title) in 2010 October to be sent to two addresses--one in Idaho, one in New Hampshire. I was on overseas assignment, and when I returned in April, the books were STILL at neither address. When I called iUniverse, they kept bumping the matter around from one employee to another (the employee who had mishandled the original order was no longer with them, and the employees still there wouldn't fulfill the order). And of course they had charged my credit card.

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8:42 am EDT
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iUniverse away to fight back

A way to effectivily fight back against Iuniverse and all other publishers is to never sign anything with them until they give you the name of the resident agent working for them in your state. Once you get the information check the Attorney General's consumer protection agency to se if they are listed with them, if not don't sign anything.
If you can't find or they don't have a resident agent in your state, then Iuniverse or any other internet business is operating illegally in your state. They are most likely evading paying taxes (state, Federal) and can be held accountable. The best thing to do if you are already ripped - off by them is to get a form from the State Attornet General's Office of Consumer Protection in the head quartered state the publisher is operating in and one from the state you also reside in and explain and send all incriminating information Also contact the Federal Trade Comission FOR MORE INFORMATION, and then contact The IRS AND REPORT THEM. YOU CAN FILE CHARGES THROUGH YOU STATES CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY AND TAKE THEm TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT (5, 000 OR LESS) IN YOUR STATE, AND THEY HAVE NO DEFENSE!

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Oscar Bamuhigire
, UG
Jun 30, 2009 5:49 am EDT

iUniverse appears to have finally solved the problems I was having with my book cover. They are sending me some copies of my book in a week's time.

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Richard H. Rupp
Boone, US
Apr 09, 2015 4:38 pm EDT

Problems: you pay up front for everything; the editing process is spotty and incomplete; no one seems to be a native speaker of English, the language in which most of us write; you do not get a contract that spells out the royalty agreement; once your book begins to move towards completion, you get a fast-talking, heavy-breathing Hispanic who is going to get your book on the New York Times Best Seller list, favorable notice in Publishers Weekly, a video crew at you home to promote the book, a trip to Hollywood to rub elbows with producers and directors and to speed-date your way around the room. Just keep you pitch to ninety seconds, and here, I'll coach you on it.
Only . . . sign the contracts, send the money, send the money. How much for this Hollywood treatment? Fifty thousand. Up front, on your credit card, no guarantees, sign here now, we are in a hurry. You pay all the money, you take all the risks (air fare, hotels, taxis), and we don't put up a dime? Sweet deal? Can't beat it.

AND INCREDIBLY, NO ONE AT iuNIVERSE HAS EVEN READ THE BOOK.

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Norma Velasco
Knoxville, US
Mar 21, 2014 12:33 pm EDT
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I had the same experience! Communication was poor and the agreement as they called it, once I read it, was unacceptable. I requested my money back within hours of reading the agreement and was told it would be refunded. That has not happened. I made multiple phone calls that eventually were returned, but no one who was to help me ever called.

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12:10 am EDT
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iUniverse author book order

I tried to order 50 books from iUniverse with what they called the Author Event Discount at 45%. The representative told me if I ordered 100 books, I could get a 50% discount. I told her I didn't need them. She said I could order my other two books to equal 100 and get the discount. I asked her a couple of times if the 100 books could be books for the 50% discount. She said "yes" each time. I ordered the 50 plus 25 each of the other books, but when I got the invoice by email a few minutes later, I found out I was charged 50 books at 40% and 35% discount for each of the other. When I called back, I was informed the office was closed. When I finally got ahold of the representative, she told me that the order had already gone in to the publisher. I called my credit card to dispute the charge and will refuse the order when it arrives. Authors beware of the "bait and switch" at iUniverse. They do not do good business.

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10:26 am EST

iUniverse I have not received royalties which are due in over year

I published a book with iUniverse in 1008. Received firest scheck. Had to call for second. Now have not received nor can gain information on my book in a year 1/2. Have a seond one ready, but need to know status before I do this again with this company. Iknow my book has been purchased by family and at least friends, and even adio overseas in Australia. I have been advised of none of this and cannot even access my account. No check has been sent. Yet I get e-mail everday for my next book (s). I hae some ready, but don't know what's going on with this company.

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Biltmore
Detroit, US
Dec 26, 2012 8:21 pm EST

I published my book 2007/October only rec'd $3.69

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Justin Nutt
, US
Jul 02, 2012 6:05 pm EDT

I had a similar experience and so have dozens of others I have been talking with recently and the truth is that iUniverse doesn't report their sales to the author accurately. I and others are planning a class action suit and if you are interested in joining please email me at nutt.justin@gmail.com. Also here is a interview I gave that you might like to read http://blog.emilysuess.com/2012/07/02/iuniverse-complaints-interview-with-justin-nutt/

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5:31 pm EST
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iUniverse false advertising, lack of performance, breach of contract, ectera.

I up - signed for a "premier pro package" with iuniverse and they have taken over two years to yet publish my book. I have had one of their "award winning" editors who edited my book (cathy witcamper), while transferring my call to another department condescedingly, telling them that "his book is not going to sell" while she knew I could her her. She read my book and didn't like the content and must have smugly but incorrectly thought that by doing this that I was indecisive if my book wouls sell, and that making this comment would discourage me. She was wrong. I have a large group who can't wait to get a copy, especially overseas, england, australia, viet nam, ect.

Then under the first psa they assigned to me, my manuscript was altered to make me sound like a steppen fecthit stereotype ("I is comming") and when I complained about that (by email) they told me she no longer works there anymore (she didn't like the book either).

They assigned me another psa, (this one is also an "award' winner) andrea long" and for over two years she can't get the book finished yet! The psa is supposed to guide through the process and I have told her countless times that I have never wrote a book before and that I am totally unaware about the process. I had just started teaching myself to type and use a pc. After I had completed the editing process, she asked me if the editing was correct. I had gotten to what she claimed was the "cover polish stage". I told her what they did was good, but I still wanted to follow the editors suggestions to breakdown larger paragraphs only to find out the next day that I was denied access to my manuscript by iuniverse. I called andrea and she only then told me in retrospect (after the fact) that when you get to this stage you have to pay for any further changes! I protested to no avail, she told me that "it was too late" like it was some kind of a game, andd since I had many changes to make, it has cost me thousands of dollards to get it right!

When I would make corrections to the manuscript ($100.00 for 25 corrections), I would check them and let her know if they were done right. Then when I was about to go to print again, I asked her about them making sure that the edits they did were good, since I had found (stumbled upon) mistakes they made and that I have all copies of everything they had ever gave me, and this is when she tells me that I am responsible for reviewing (proofreading) the whole 475 page book! I told her that I am not a proofreader, that if I were, then I wouldn't have had to pay iuniverse to proof read the book.

I told her that I only checked the edits they made at my request and that I shouldn't have to proofread the rest of the book, because besides my corrections, it should still be the same as when iuniverse proofread it and if there are anymistakes they make that causes me to get sued, then they are responsible for that, not me! Then andrea does something real stupid in trying to influence my mind (just like cathy wittcamper did) that in all affect shoed me how stupid they are. She kept stressing to me that iuniverse is a "self-publishing" company, as if I were robotically supposed to all of a sudden, become stupid and interpet her saying the phrase "self - publishing" to think that it means that because I was self-publishing my book, that I am responsible "for their mistakes". I told andera that when I was 25, I turned down a law scolarship that knowledge of the law runs in my blood, and that I have a sister who got a scolarship to vassar and is a partner in the largest corporate law fim in the world (plunkett & cooney - "the super lawyers") who has practiced well over 25 years and never lost a single case in her life! I told andrea that when they do anything besides and go beyond just printing a ready-made book, and provide services like editing and proofreading that they are responsible for what they did, and that no business is exempt for what they do! I threatened to sue them.

I decided to take my book to another publisher (but I haven't told them yet), but I need to have it proofread again and needed to have it in a word document form (instead of a pdf doccument) and and told them that their rates were too high, and asked them for my manuscript in word. They gave me a word doccument that was unable to be processed and I went back and got another that was a little better, but is still unacceptable to the prooreaders still. They are trying to hold me as a hostage by giving me such an unacceptable version. All the people who have problems with iuniverse, need to come together and file a class-action suit against them! Contact me at ([protected]@verizon.net).

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Jad Davis
, US
Jan 28, 2019 1:06 pm EST

I too was scammed. Stupidly I gave them close to 8K for work they never performed. I asked for a refund due to the fact that no one could ever give me a report as to how many books I had sold. When I pressed the issue with the company I was sent to "customer service" specialists who made many promises of which, none were delivered. Honestly, can't we do something about these folks? Several class action suits in past (2013) have been launched but to no avail. Are there no publishing organizations who wish to keep their industry free from these predators? In my opinion, there is a vast difference between "legal" and just plain "wrong". Jad Davis (Running Hawk)

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Affection
, US
Jan 29, 2018 4:55 pm EST
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Warn your colleagues, warn your friends, I universe does not produce and they make all kinds of excuses for not doing the job they agreed to do and then keeping your money., it is difficult to believe that they have so few posted complaints. they are deceptive and will lie their butts off when they are reported to the authorities in indiana. keep your documentation, make your conversations in writing. and the nice sales person, kimberly west isn't so nice or pleasant after she gets your money., define print on demand and do your job iuniverse. stop trying to re-write other author's work, write your own and publish it. sometimes it seems like iuniverse is trying to create something for themselves. rewriting and using a different name is pretty deceptive and boarders on fraud. more people should report them to the attorney general in their local. this is so much more than deceptive practices, contract breaches and fraud.

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Affection
, US
Jan 29, 2018 4:47 pm EST
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I experience some of the same problems. They are not very professional and lack ethnic diversity in some of the comments which they only refer to as slander. I thoroughly understand the plight of this individual since I have been in a similar battle with IUniverse suggesting that I use a pen name, This is a POD company not a publishing company. Print on Demand does not give them the authority or solidify that they have knowledge to do an edit especially since it was not requested. So now we play the waiting game. I have dealt with Andera who I believe might now be Andrea Adonis. It is believable that I universe is a very small group and the deception is overwhelming. Their work is more personality than professionalism. I thought I was the only one who saw that. If Andera Long or Andrea Adonis or who ever else does not like your book or mine, the do not have to purchase it. They do not have to market it. All they need to do is print it.

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1:19 pm EDT

iUniverse publishing a plagiarized book

In 1999 a novel entitled "Out of Egypt, A Letter to Sophie" was completed. A man took the original manuscript (Copyright TXu001358129), changed it from third person to first, changed straight quotes to curly quotes and commas, changed a few words, added an epilogue and published it through iuniverse.com under his own name as a TRUE memoir (although many of the incidents are fictional).

When iuniverse.com was contacted in 2007 they removed the book from the shelves. Inexplicably, it is now back again--available at amazon.com. This book has violated federal copyright laws and should be removed.

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Abalone
, JP
Dec 31, 2010 11:07 am EST
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Hi, Conan, here is a fugitive link back home : http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51534
Unfortunately The Revised Version is unavailable!

But funny shuffles to your thread' s answers...The "motor of research" crew must be busy, LOL!

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Abalone
, JP
Dec 24, 2010 11:23 pm EST
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I bet the " revised version " mushroomed during the night ?

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Abalone
, JP
Dec 24, 2010 11:13 pm EST
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Mysterium tremendum, mysterium fascinans-Literature Network Forums

The link does NOT work any more ; search manually, the old fashion way...

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Abalone
, JP
Dec 24, 2010 8:22 am EST
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Hi Conan, look at this http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51534

How can someone comes back to such a site WITHOUT being manipulated OR impersonated?
I vote for the impersonation because I would have asked/permitted the deletion of such an infamous thread.

But I am human therefore ...

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8:24 pm EDT
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iUniverse pod

iUniverse has published my book with sixty blank pages. Their marketing ploys result in zero sales. Now my book is on Amazon under my real name and not my nom de plume like I requested. The once flagship of the vanity/POD industry, has turned into a black joke staffed by poltroons.

Snafu the Elder author of "Illustrated Love Stories For Men (Bedtime Stories)

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iUniverse poor customer service

I signed on with iUniverse with my eyes wide open: I had my cover professionally designed by another source, I utilized an outside proofreader, and paid extra for the "express" Premiere Pro package to ensure my book went to press in a timely fashion.

As a result, my book was completed quickly and looks excellent.

My complaint with iUniverse is regarding their atrocious customer service and all the details they don't tell you on their website. Here's a "writer beware" list of everything that has happened since the publication of my book:

1) iUniverse is unreachable by phone, without exception. I've been forced to leave multiple messages, which are only occasionally returned via email.

2) When I send a specific question to their general support email (don't even think you'll ever get a direct contact at this company), I receive a nonspecific response 24 hours later that doesn't even come close to addressing my question. BONUS: when I resubmitted the same question three different times, I received three entirely different responses from three different people.

3) While their Booksellers Return Program is valuable and useful to get your book in stores, what they do not tell you is that is takes up to 60 days for it to go into effect.

4) Customer Service will tell you that it takes 45 days after your publication date to list your book with Books in Print. This is inaccurate - Books in Print takes 5 business days to list new titles when they're submitted. The delay comes from iUniverse, who will not submit your book to BIP until after you have received your contracted promotional copies, and you won't receive those until after you have reviewed your test copy. In my case, I still haven't received my promotional copies, because the "Book Sales Consultant" that was assigned to me quit his job, and lied to me about sending the copies. It took two weeks for anyone to even get back to me about my lack of review copies, and I'm still not listed in Books in Print.

5) Your "Marketing Consultant" will not offer you valuable marketing suggestions. Mine only tried to upsell me outrageously priced publicity services and ad rates in their partner magazines. THIS IS UNNECESSARY. You can do everything they do and more to market your book yourself - just do your homework to find out how.

6) Beware of inappropriate behavior. I copied several of the "Publishing Services Associates" I'd worked with on an email to Customer Service begging for assistance. One PSA happened to click "reply all" and unwittingly copied me on a not-so-nice reply about whiny authors.

7) If you purchase the "see inside" Barnes & Noble feature, be aware that it can take B&N several months to post it. iUniverse will not tell you this up front.

That's my story to date. While I have absolutely no complaints about the quality of my book, I cannot abide by the shoddy customer service I have received post production. It is unconscionable.

Should you decide to publish with iUniverse, be prepared to do EVERYTHING yourself, and expect no help along the way.

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KLPhair
Spanish Fork, US
Jan 07, 2011 8:56 pm EST
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I was a past published author of iUniverse in 2000 and 2001. My book is still in print and I am doign another book underneath my own company this time. I am grateful fo the iUniverse experience because I thought they would handle publicity etc. for my book but then in those days they did not have abook return policy or any of the things they have now. Still, I managed to get pbulicity, sold enough books to get agood sales ranking and even ddi book signings when other iUniverse authors could not even do that. I am grateful for doing all of the work because these two books helped me set up distribution for my owntitltes that my own company will publish.

I agree, if you are about to publish with ANY company like iUniverse take these things into consideration.

1) Bookstores may not take you aeriosuyl because ANYONE can be published these days as long as they pay afee.
2)It costs me an average of $2.20 a book to self publish a hard copy book that I would receive $1-$2 royalties on from going through a company like iUniverse and I could sell that same book for $10 and even after discounts for astore to sel it I am still profiting $ a book and it is published underneath my own companies name.
3) The $500-$1, 000 it costs you to publish through iUniverse, you could hae set up abusiness license and made copies of your own book.
4)IYou do nto need to eb a big name to get a book published independently. (Through my research I foudn authors who sold 6, 000-10, 000 copes a year self publishing under their own company that they profit anywhere from $6-$10 a copy.) My books will be distributed through iBooks (for my eBooks), Amazon, as well as Barnes and Noble.
5)Do your research and you will put money out to do it yourself but will get way more in return. I am startign off making aeBook which ony costs about $300 to format and then with the money being made form that I will apply it to coming out with the hard copy later.
6)You're making them rich off of your book. you're better ff making aeBook and making more money with that.
7)You're just anohter person publishing underneath a "vanity" publisher. People will not most likely look at your work as professional and will most likely look at you as being published because you paid for it.
8)Publish underneath your own company and no one will know. There are so many publishers they will think you are published with a real publisher and will not count you as one of the many who go through these companies that willpublish nayone who pays the fee.

Hope this helps and as self publishing i not easy I have found that you will make tons more money. I have dealt with iUniverse and they are like all he others, just trying to get abuck in sellign you a dream that you will be the next Stephen King or Stephanie Meyers. If that were the case then why are there not many or any best sellers form these vanity companies?

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appalachianemmitt
Belpre, US
Oct 14, 2009 10:04 am EDT

Another unsatisfied customer, and I agree
I was a military recruiter, so I know everything about sales. In my line of business, success depends on honesty, putting all the cards on the table and be willing to accept rejection.
In any sales promotion, these are the attributes I look for; honesty, spell everything out and discuss the needs of the client.
There can't be any communication if a real person can't be contacted. All sales is driven by quotas, not in being honesty. This is very frustrating when sales persons are so unwilling to compromise or understand that sales involves so much more than quotas.
I had an incredible experience with IUniverse up to the point of marketing and customer service.
As a military recruiter, I am having to retrain these sales people the correct way to sell in an economy where even spending $100.00 in a promotional project is way too much. But still they persist in offering promotions over the $5000.00 mark.
In writing a book as in gambling, know when to quit and just break even. You are a lot smarter than these guys, so negotiate to the point to where they want to quit. An if they quit, Oh Well! If you want something done right, do it yourself.
John W. McSherry

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iUniverse poor quality book cover

I am having a lot of problems with iuniverse and its poor services. Dealing with iuniverse is, like you said, very frustrating. I have one big problem after another in my dealings with them. When I thought all my troubles were over, I was shocked to recieve two test copies, which had terrible book covers. I have never seen a book with such a bad cover. The colours were all mixed up, and the text, plus cover photo were misplaced!

The worst part of dealing with iuniverse is that they are rude and unprofessional. I have written to the vice president, CEO, and many consultants about the poor covers of my books, and they have all ignored me. I have even written to the CEO/ Vice presidents of authorssolution, and authors house, but they are all silent about the issue.

And as if that were not bad enough, the only guy who had the courage to reply said that this was the first time they had ever had a problem like this!

it is obvious that what iuniverse writes on its website, is miles apart from what it actually offers. i would not advise any writer to risk invest his money in iuniverse. I wonder why no one had sued it yet!

Oscar Bamuhigire
E mail: [protected]@yahoo

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Christopher M
Phoenix, US
May 22, 2012 10:46 pm EDT

Check out Kaliedascope books be warned you may not like what you find. I didn't... Also do a price comparison search then in the UK and one for Europe... Run from Amazon run like Hades

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killmenow
, IL
Mar 09, 2012 1:20 pm EST
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I have started a facebook page and gathering authors who have been screwed
http://www.facebook.com/groups/iuniverse.issues/

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kjforce
, US
Jan 12, 2012 7:11 am EST
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I too published with i-universe..after several attempts to correct problems with them..editing of the book/front and back covers/( which I ended up doing myself) no return on the monies ( over $1200.00) even though they didn't live up to the contract..I have contacted them thru e-mail and their website has not worked for me under my account since day one..WEB ERROR..never have rec'd a penny for sales of my book..and I know for a fact there were some sales ! I have no way of moneturing them..very unprofessional company..but..they have continued sending me e-mails to purchase more services...

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Anonymous
, UG
May 30, 2009 7:16 am EDT

We must mobilize each other, hire a good lawyer, and take legal action against iuniverse before it reaps off other people. They should pa heavily for their beach of contract.

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Seeing Red
Orleans, US
May 28, 2009 5:49 pm EDT

You are SO right. I think people who have experienced the same subprofessional service with iUniverse should team up and sue the company.

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iUniverse service, delivery

The (bitter) iuniverse experience
I purchased the premier pro book package which promises "one-on-one author support". But my assigned publising assistant was inexperienced and incapable of effectively guiding me through the publishing process in a way that supported what I was trying to achieve. The iuniverse publishing experience is an extremely frustrating one, characterized by sub-professional output, endless delays, the one-on-one author support is in reality conducted by a pool of publishing assistants who stand between the author and the technical and creative staff that actually produce the book. It is not possible - except on rare occasions - to communicate ideas directly to production staff and work out solutions to problems with layout or design. Calls are never returned. Communication is conducted by email. When you are involved with a throny creative issue the waiting can seem endless as days and, in some cases, even weeks pass by. Publishing assistants work with a 9-5 mentality and seem to have little genuine passion for their work. The politeness and "have a wonderful day" positivsm do not constitute true professionalism but are geared to softening customer anger and weakening the resolve of frustrated authors to confront iuniverse in its failure to deliver on promises made in the marketing text.
I had to do virtually all the work on interior and exterior and work extremely hard to get my ideas into print. Post production assistance is virtually non existance. For the last two weeks I have tried to get information from my assigned book consultant. To no avail.
In fact to date I have never received a written response from this book consultatnt - I was forced to call in to find out why it took two months for me to receive a copy of the book I published after it had been sent to the printer.

The iuniverse marketing promise:
Only iuniverse has professionals with extensive industry knowledge who make it easy for you to affordably publish your book. Our "learn as you publish" approach combines specialized author support with value-packed publishing packages and a variety of high-quality, competitively priced editorial and marketing services

The iuniverse difference: with experienced leadership from the worlds of publishing, sales and marketing and technology, our management team is dedicated to helping you achieve your publishing goals

You've written it. Now it's time to begin production! Iuniverse has made this process painless by providing you with great tools and the professional advice you need to produce a flawless book.

Custom cover design - actually sub professional.
Book design and page layout - were template driven and unsuitable to the book.

Ultimately, from my experience, the premier pro package was neither premier, nor pro. It was a slap in the face. A slap which continues to resound and which I hope comes across here. My advice to anyone interested in selecting iuniverse is: don't believe the marketing text. Look at other publishing companies. Get author feedback.

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BKD57
Prineville, US
Feb 06, 2010 3:59 pm EST

We paid for two different books. The first book we did just as you did, bought the Premier Pro package. The cover looked okay and the book looks o.k. But iUniverse said they would help with the marketing (or at least this is what it makes it sound like so that you'll put your money into the Premier Pro package) They did nothing! It took us months to get the first book, but we thought this was the way it should be. We were wrong. We go another book published but we didn't go with the Premier Pro because we had spent so much money already. They did a terrible job, no editing (even though we paid for the service) There was a number of typo's that have been found, and even a mistake on the back cover! We spent close to $10, 000.00 for both books...and we have nothing to show for it! iUniverse is a SCAM! Don't use them.

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hrhnet
West Palm Beach, US
Nov 07, 2009 1:33 pm EST

I am glad that I have not signed with them yet...Would you advice any other Self-publisher. Did you have any success with any other self-publishing company.

Thanks...

Hector
hrhnet@gmail.com

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Oscar Bamuhigire
, UG
May 28, 2009 5:56 am EDT

I have had a similar experience like yours. Dealing with iuniverse is, like you said, very frustrating. I have one big problem after another in my dealings with them. When I thought all my troubles were over, I was shocked to recieve two test copies, which had terrible book covers. I have never seen a book with such a bad cover. The colours were all mixed up, and the text, plus cover photo were misplaced!

The worst part of dealing with iuniverse is that they are rude and unprofessional. I have written to the vice president, CEO, and many consultants about the poor covers of my books, and they have all ignored me. I have even written to the CEO/ Vice presidents of authorssolution, and authors house, but they are all silent about the issue.

And as if that were not bad enough, the only guy who had the courage to reply said that this was the first time they had ever had a problem like this!

it is obvious that what iuniverse writes on its website, is miles apart from what it actually offers. i would not advise any writer to risk invest his money in iuniverse. I wonder why no one had sued it yet!

Oscar Bamuhigire
E mail: obamuhigire@yahoo.com

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iUniverse scam

I signed up with iUniverse Publishing last 8th of July 2008 to get my manuscript get edited, and published professionally, affordably, and fast (per Get Published! Professionally, Affordable, Fast - a book written by Ms. Susan Driscoll, Author, President and CEOof iUniverse). My manuscript was submitted and accepted by iUniverse, Inc. after payment of the required fee and was assigned two personnel by the name of Liesl Shapker, my appointed Publishing Services Associated and Amy He, my appointed Publishing Consultant.

I was informed that my manuscript would have to go through several stages, under 4 different authors, one author responsible for correcting grammar and spelling, one author responsible for ensuring it is in the right format, etc.

After over 3 months has passed, I kept sending emails to Liesl Schapker on the status of my book. Then about the first week of Oct. 2008, I received a telephone call from one Eugene Hopskins that he was canceling my contract with iUniverse and get the money I paid for, be refunded. According to Eugene Hopkins, (He is the client services manager per Liesl Schapker) my manuscript was not the kind of story they would publish. I asked him why it took him over 3 months to decide and tell me that. Eugene was apologetic and
said, 'I'm sorry.'

As per several e-mails from my assigned PSA, Liesl Schapker, the amount of $899.00 will be refunded. I have checked my bank for electronic transfer but there was no record of any transaction coming from iUniverse Publisher.

iUniverse wasted my time for over 3 months and delayed my going over to another able and capable publishing company. It was a mental anguish for me to wait over 3 months and to be told that my manuscript was not the kind of story they wanted to publish.

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Felicia Owadara
, US
Feb 21, 2023 8:46 pm EST

IUniverse owes me the initial deposit I paid to the agency. I declined the baiting method to take money from my account. Our initial agreement was to revise the draft and offer suggestion before printing. However, after taking initial deposit of $850.17 from me, the agency went back on our original agreement, I received a call informing me that I needed to make an extra payment to request for that type of service. I declined and requested for a refund. By 23rd Feb. 2023, it will mark three months when I entered the self-publishing agreement with the agency. IUniverse even stopped responding to my email. I wish many new debut authors would find out more about this agency to know what they are entering to, before committing to it.

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Rick Jay1
, US
Oct 02, 2022 3:49 am EDT

My universe is holding my royalties and won't release them at first they said they had to hold $50 for taxes then they said I had to have $75 before they would cut me a check

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Steve Lesko
, US
Aug 23, 2022 1:11 am EDT

I submitted a manuscript "Guide book to a New World Order against insanities" to iUniverse in early March 2022. First, I paid $2593,72, C, on March 18th. The second payment was made on April 13th.2022. $1439.87. The publishing deal was canceled on May 17th, because the evaluator found the book not politically correct. Contrary to the fact that most of the book is based on the "Holly Bible", they have judged some of the quotes "Hate literature." I have already made many phone calls as to the refund due to me. The last time I spoke with Erin Cohen, she told me that I will receive $1750.00, U.S. dollars in the first week of August.2022 That is somewhat over $2000.00 CA. Not only that, so far, I have not received anything, BUT, what have they done to charge me nearly $2000.00, when the only thing they did, they read the manuscript? Right at the beginning, I told them that the manuscript is already edited, but it was also DIGITILISED and COMPUTERISED because it was already published on the Internet on Google Chrome, Facebook, and Twitter. Therefore, they could have done anything else because there was no need for it. Is there a law against such criminal behavior? Please, advise, what is the best place to launch a complaint against these people? My E-mail address is stevelesko@shaw .ca. Thanks in advance .

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Capt E.S. Geary
, US
Mar 10, 2020 11:46 am EDT

I am repeatedly receiving phone calls from iuniverse sales people trying to sell me iuniverse marketing programs. I repeatedly tell them to STOP CALLING ME but a few days later I receive another iuniverse call. Bcause I teel to Europe frequently the calls are anoying and are expensive.

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PDavidF
, US
Oct 08, 2018 3:49 pm EDT

iUniverse mismanaged my account to the point of an $890.00 over draft.
They took the payments of two contracts BEFORE due date.
The parent company for iUniverse and Exlibrus is Author Solutions.
Steer clear of these publishers.

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James Rasmussen
, US
Feb 17, 2018 10:25 am EST

Don't use IUNIVERSE. They are not truthful about their services. I have sold dozens, maybe hundreds of books on-line and haven't received any royalties. They take advantage of people, especially first time authors, who have a dream of becoming a novelist. They keep calling asking for more and more money. They are only interested in draining your bank account, not the success of your self published book. These people are horrible! DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!
Any positive comments above are written by IUniverse staff. There are numerous legitimate complaints. This company IS a scam!

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Mikoha@comcast.net
, US
Feb 12, 2018 5:26 pm EST

I am also a victim of Iuniverse. I wished I read all of these comments and experiences before I dealed with them. After I paid my fee and sent them my manuscript, they refused to publish my story if I don't change the contains in my story from true story to friction. I was imprisoned by the communist four times, after I tried to escape by boat, each time I was imprisoned, they tortured me and nearly got me kill. I finally sucessfully in crossing the ocean by a small boat without foods and waters for seven days and people on my boat were robbed and raped by the Thailand fishermen, which were called pirate by the Vietnamese boat people.
Iuniverse wanted me to change the name of the prison guards, the locations of the prisons I kept at and change my name. Why Iuniverse Inc. wants to protect the communist? They finally returned my money after took $400 of it and never tell me what is the $400 charge for.
I was a victim of the coomunist, a victim of the pirates and now a victim of Iuniverse!

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Clarice W. Baker
, US
Dec 20, 2017 2:45 pm EST

iUniverse was very upfront with me when my book was accepted for publishing. I was thankful for the support; the choice of upgrades was always mine. Thank you, iUniverse, for the professionalism.

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Derri Spahn
, US
Jun 20, 2017 5:21 pm EDT

Congratulations to those authors who had some success with this company. That has not been my experience at all. In fact, I wrote a book in 2009. Never heard fro them. In 2017, I get a call from someone saying they were from IUNIVERSE (or some universe) and indicated that my book was not selling but for 1500.00 they could promote it. I told them that I had not received any royalties from my 2009 publication. They ignored that and proceeded with this immoral and despicable sells pitch. I suppose that the authors who are satisfied with these people paid big money to get their work published and promoted. I spent the minimal on this group and I am glad I did.

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Blessed4life
, US
Mar 21, 2017 1:23 pm EDT

Iuiverse is a scam company who has a base here in the United States but is from the Philippines. Most of the employees is in the Philippines, however they have few employees here in the United States. They are a scam company that's out to rip people off. It doesn't really matter that they are from the Philippines, but if they are going to do work for the people here in the United States, they need to conduct themselves as professional business people. I threatened to sue the company due to all the unprofessional work, and stealing large sums of money from me, and i was told by Eugene Hopkins, who is very rude, and one of the high authority people over there, that i must plan on coming to the Philippines to file suit. Beware of this company, they are not people you want to get involved wiith. It doesn't matter if that person you spoke with was nice when you first spoke with them, it's all game, and they are all down together.

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