Balboa Press Reviews 

I would honestly put zero stars but that isn’t an option. This company is a legitimate scam and should be investigated. I was so excited to find someone to help me publish my book. They seemed very helpful in the beginning. My book was a finished product when I brought it to them. Everything was polished and ready to go, they just had to help me actually plug it into the system and publish it. I paid $10k for this book to be published and marketing and I haven’t even heard a sniff from their marketing team. You cannot get anyone on the phone or a response from email. They have lost my paperwork multiple times over. I have demanded to speak to someone for a refund and they literally ignore me. I came to this company because I knew nothing about publishing and have multiple books that I’m writing. I wanted to publish through Hay House as it is one of my favorite companies to buy from. This process has made me realize the dark underbelly of the publishing world. They’re only after their profits with no regard to establishing and growing a relationship with an author. They took my money and did NOT deliver. I actually have my lawyers looking into suing this company for my money back. It’s been over 2 years since my book was published, which I could’ve just done myself through Amazon KDP for free. They’ve not sent a single royalty check or done any marketing which was part of my package. Garbage company, garbage values and ethics. Should be burned to the ground. I’m overwhelmed by how horrible this experience has been and will self-publish the remainder of my books. Flaming hot garbage.

I published a book with Balboa in 2018. Balboa's graphics people created a cover at the time, but I didn't like it and used an independent artist for the cover. Today I called Balboa to see if their cover design was still available as I am considering changing the book's title and cover art. I was told: "we don't keep unused files," but when I suggested that I wanted Balboa to do the new cover the customer service person did an about face, indicating the cover art might still be available. She also made it clear that Balboa owned the cover art and it would only be available if Balboa did the new cover. I got a bit impatient as a result of the about face and said: "you told me Balboa doesn't keep unused files and you've also told me you may still have the file." She said I was being antagonistic. Won't be dealing with Balboa in the future.

This company is a scam. It is a pyramid scheme and preys on would be authors desiring to publish their stories. The service is negligible. The business policy is sell the sizzle and forget the steak. Unless you pay more and more and more, and, even then, it is questionable. Customer service or individualized attention - do not expect much and forget quality customer care. Balboa Press uses Louise Hay's good name and besmirches it, although she may have made a spiritual u-turn and she, too, became all about the money. Balboa Press is a low class, greedy, sociopathic company that lacks character
and integrity. Buyer Beware!

My book has been published, eventually, it took over 6 months since I signed with the Press. Very supportive coordinator and professional dealing with the concerns but cannot keep the work in a timely fashion.
I think it is an expensive service which they provide. I request an editorial service from them, given to a third party, with poor or rather not much editing. The publishing itself took over 6 months with no clear reasons. Currently, I am in the marketing process and I this also felt alone since 16 May, the date of the official release of the book. I have not had tangible marketing to assist the sale.
It is important and fair to say that the team I have been with are professional and responding to emails.

This is the most unprofessional despicable outfit I have ever dealt with in my long business career. They are always trying to upsell and cross sell. They do not make good on any of their promises. They slow roll you into making sure that you never are able to take advantage of their money back guarantee. Stay as far away from this organization as you possibly can wish they had a place for negative stars they would certainly get them from me.

I wanted my deposit back I was lied to about my refund Balboa never called me to discuss my book only emails and i needed to talk to someone I emailed them numerous of times to call so I canceled Balboa didn't work on my book lied to me saying I would get my refund and I haven't received it yet I've called everyday to talk to someone in charge no one had returned my call yet I need my refund I own all the rights that what I kept telling her I never got a contract or no written form telling me anything about what it cost to do what u did and another thing how could the amount all of a sudden come up to the cost of my deposit by the way I still haven't gotten a call from your company yet

I have just started on my journey with Balboa. After the initial stage of excitement in knowing I have taken the first step in publishing my book, just 1 week into signing my contract, I am now regretting not doing more research into Balboa before signing up. Reading a comment below, by Samantha Zastera where she mentions their sales pitches as "bordering on harassment", I can very well contest to that. After already signing up for the seeker package, which already includes promotional aspects in it, I am called by a very rude, very pushy salesperson, trying to sell me an additional marketing element, in the tune of $4,000+. I had already signed up to the Seeker package, which is already in that ballpark. I told him (many times on the call) that I was not willing to invest more in a book that I have not even published yet. He continued to be very pushy and very reluctantly and rudely hung up after he finally realised that I was a HARD NO on spending more on marketing on a book that hadn't even been published yet.

He did mention on the call that he could get his manager to call to explain the benefits to me again. I said no. Then, a few days later, I receive a call from his manager! Selling the same thing, again! I told him, again, my reasons for not wanting to spend more on marketing for a book I hadn't published yet. Just like the initial contact, he very rudely hung up.

Now I am worried about my investment with Balboa. Will my book get published? Will I keep getting harrassed by their very rude salespeople?

Anybody else had a bad experience with Balboa? How did it turn out? What did you do?

I signed up with Balboa Press, after having second thoughts I cancelled the very next day, after paying an instalment.
21 days after I am still waiting for my refund. Not happy I won’t be signing up with Balboa Press in the future 😡

This Company is a SHAM. Avoid at all costs

My book was published and I am very happy with the finished product. I did experience some obstacles along this journey but mostly it was due to my unawareness of what was involved and how more money could be helpful. However as I was on a tight budget I couldnt be persuaded to any sales pitches, which were bordering on harrassment. However this is a business and I am better equipped in my knowledge of what is needed to publish AND market a book. During the journey I did sometimes get frustrated but overall, I am very very happy with my beautiful book and the money I have spent has all been worthwhile. I may not be the best selling author I dreamt of (yet) but I love my book. Check it out. "The Key. Memoirs of a Spiritual Awakening" by Samantha Zastera.
Balboa Press assisted in my dream coming to fruition.

DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT THIS DISGRACEFUL COMPANY TO PUBLISH YOUR BOOK.
They will lie to you to get your money, give you FAKE names so there is NO record of who the actual account manager is, when you tell them to stop work, they will continue so you cant get a refund. DISGUSTING, DECEITFUL BEHAVIOURS…UNPROFESSIONAL.

I started what I thought was my journey towards getting published. I told the person I talked to that I was using my income tax return and that I wanted to start at the lowest tier as money is VERY tight. I was told that they would help me with my children's book and that they would match me with an illustrator. I made two of three payments and nothing happened on their side. I refused to pay my last installment. I was promised a team that would help me bring my book to life. No one answers my emails and when they do answer my phone call it is the same thing we have no idea what is going on. I was actually VERY transparent with them telling them that I care give for my sister and money is tight but, I was hoping to get published and have another income coming in. What kind of company steals from people??? So now I am looking into getting my money back and they have a copy of my manuscript which was about my granddaughter. I am SERIOUSLY devastated

FRAUD!
I have not received any royalties. They refuse to pay royalties in any other way than by paycheck. In my country, Norway, paychecks were outdated five years ago, and the banks completely stopped processing paychecks three years ago.
This issue was not addressed when we signed the agreement. It is essential to be able to pay royalties to their authors. Their ignorance is shocking. They show absolutely no interest in solving this problem. If they create contracts without being able to pay, I consider this to be FRAUD!

This is an unethical and unconscionable company. I have chosen to withdraw my publication because I refuse to put my name to such an incompetent and attention to payment driven business full of extra cost for something they can’t deliver.

Disgraceful! Quick to take your money. Book quality is really poor and then they try and sell your book at a ridiculous price that will ensure you will never get any sales! The only efficient service I received was when they eagerly took thousands of dollars from me! NEVER use Balboa to publish your book!

Efficient, professional and gives you what you want. This is my 3rd order and I’m happy. 😃

Virginia, Brandon, and Jose each and all went out of their way to assist this old woman who thinks she's got something to share with the world, or at least with some in the world of simple spirituality.

Horrible company. Overcharging and lack of customer service

Exciting to have my books in print. Thank you to everyone who helped along the journey. I wish each of you a truly lovely life on every level.
Best wishes,
Ann Marie

I gave Balboa Press the cover, and they messed it up. The person I was dealing with misunderstood what a “cover page” was.
I gave Balboa Press the manuscript and they put a bunch of spaces in between a lot of words. I had to proofread it all over again and find their mistakes. Which took hours.
I gave Balboa the book the first week of January. now it’s the last week of February and they still don’t have my website up or my marketing complete.
The distributing error February 7 Balboa put it on Amazon but didn’t release it to them, by accident. Or it could’ve been the fact that they gave them the wrong “about the book” & the wrong “about the author”, and had to re-release it.
So the first 10 days worth of orders people were told their Book wasn’t coming until August. Then people were unable to order at all. This was unknown to me and I was still marketing the book. It was a very embarrassing situation for me.
Then yesterday, February 20, Some people that fell through the cracks had their Amazon orders fixed.
But some people are still showing their books don’t arrive for seven more months.
And I single-handedly discovered all the errors and made the emails and phone calls to have them fixed. It was a 45 day daily nightmare. The senior publishing consultant completely abandoned me during that & the only one who could get things done was the operations manager. Even though I was the victim and paid a lot of money for their service, their people have been rude & even treated me as if I am the problem. I’ve never seen a company so negligent.
Now that I have discovered the Operations Manager I hope my customers books will be shipped to them from Amazon next month instead of in seven months. But some people say when they view, the money they Paid, on Amazon it still says August delivery.
I should’ve self published. It would’ve been so much easier than dealing with the stress of this awful publishing company.