Xlibris - WHAT A LOAD OF SCAMMERS
I was bombarded as I was writing my latest book, by an Asia/American (every member of Xlibris seems to be!!) woman called AMANDA. I told her I had only just started writing and didnโt want to sign up with XLibris.
I was then bombarded regularly by her. This woman would not draw breath and didnโt allow me to ask any question. She just spoke over me. When Iโd finished my book in September 2017 she rang me and I couldnโt get a word in nor get her off the phone.
Eventually, as sheโd been trained to do, I could put up with no longer and instead of hanging up on her she persuaded me, very cleverly, to give her my Credit Card number. She told me the package I was buying was 50% discounted and would only be (!!) $2800 Australian dollars. But as โfavourโ to me, she was going to charge me in 3 instalments, so immediately took $702 from my card. I was immediately sent a long contract which I was told to sign and send back by email immediately.
Stupidly I did (what a fool!!!) Half an hour later we found this page saying what a Scam XLibris are. Poor quality paper, one copy of your book sent free to you instead of the 52 promised, promotional material,leaflets etc that are promised never turn up, extra charges for every little thing. I was immediately angry that Iโd been duped and found, with great difficulty, a US phone number for them. Immediately cancelled, this was within the hour of signing up.
After 2 months of almost daily arguments and threats by me, and phone calls, I finally received a cheque for HALF of what Iโd paid. Many more calls and arguments later and their response is YOU SIGNED THE CONTRACT. Nothing more to do. So they have $304 of my money for doing absolutely NOTHING except take me phone call to cancel (within an hour of signing up).
DONT EVEN LET THESE SCAMMERS START TALKING TO YOU. IF YOU DO THEY WONT STOP TILL THEY HAVE YOUR MONEY. THEY PROMISE AUTHORS AN EASY RIDE BUT ALLS YOU GET IS A BIG FAT NOTHING.
I DESPISE YOU XLibris. Trish
Reason of review: Not as described/ advertised.
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Please avoid publishing any personal information and promotional content
Their aggressive telemarketers duped me for $25,000.When my book was redesigned by an expert cover designer from Kevin Anderson & Associates in 2018, it looked ten times better than Xlibris, 2015 version according to the commending feedback I saw online by other organizations after Book Buzz promoted it in June.Theyโve also sent copies of another authorโs book through e-mail when I was expecting my edited version. Plus, they overpriced the paperback at $24.99 & the hardcover for $3.99 when I tried to tell them Iโm looking at pricing it between $8.99 to $11.99.
They set the price for my e-book at $9.00, it took me more than two years to finally bring it down to .99 when all along Xlibris told me all three formats are low-priced. Would anyone consider $35 for hardback and $30 for Softcover a reasonably priced manuscript? I donโt think so!Their answer was we donโt print by bulk like other publishers. I understand that but books Iโve seen elsewhere had more pages than mine and half the price.
Itโs no wonder their explanation was hard to believe, especially when their publishing consultant tried to sell me the same service of Returnable Books which retailers can return copies not sold, I reminded that I already paid for such service which wonโt expire until 2 years later and she instead said if so I need to renew it. I replied to her that the way you were selling me this had nothing to do with renewal since she told from the beginning about her sales pitch that I no longer have an active Returnable Book service.Another thing that bothers me is when they exploit all their Filipino female operators which in some range make around $3 for twelve hours of work at a giant Call Center. I donโt know for sure the exact hourly rate but what I read online corporations take advantage of third world countries with meager wages by paying them less than even McDonald workers and other public franchises in the US who make minimum payments.To clarify it, Iโll speculate that the destitute latter in the Philippines shall have to work a whole year to match what American minorities make in less than three months. They filled out my copyright in 2015 for only five years which will expire in 2020 which looks like after this term elapses, theyโll take over to retain full ownership of my bookโs royalties.I had to redo and update my manuscript through Bowker Identifier and had hired an intellectual property attorney since much has changed in my book.
Thus, this time around itโll last over 75 years which is far from the suspected Xlibris five years. Most of Xlibris promotional costs between $1,500 to $3,000 whereas Bowker Identifier cost is one quart of that and better quality.My Contact is: info@***.com