BookWhirl.com

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
 
It has been proven based upon the recent submission of my website's Search Engine Optimization Statistics that BookWhirl has not been honest about the services that they have provided to me. In light of these findings and other issues (i.e. [redacted]'s claim that BookWhirl was accredited with the Revdex.com) that I have raised concerning BookWhirl's business practices, I do not wish to do any business with BookWhirl and do not wish to receive ANY services from this company. I am requesting a full refund of my money.
Regards,
[redacted]

I was aware of the charges that Bookwhirl was a scam, but I took the risk anyway. Every promise they made was fulfilled promptly. The work they did was quality work and my book is now available. I highly recommend these people

Review: In 2013, I was contacted by BookWhirl employee, [redacted], who presented a wonderful marketing campaign designed specifically to help me launch the release of my second book, 100 of the Most Influential Entertainers, Volume II. Ms. [redacted] stated that her company had one million active book buyers all over the country who would be interested in purchasing my book. She guaranteed that her company would send out one million emails and they guaranteed that there would be at least a 10% rate of return and from this email campaign, a 10% increase in book sales. On April 28th, I made my last payment totaling $1,139 for the campaign to begin. By May 22nd, I had not heard from BookWhirl or Ms. [redacted]. I thought that this marketing campaign would take several months. When I finally made contact with [redacted], I was advised that Ms. [redacted] was responsible for handling my marketing campaign. On May 27th, Ms. [redacted] sent me a marketing campaign report. To my surprise, the 1,000,000 email campaign was completed. The results show a 10.01% open rate but nothing to substantiate that 100,000 people of the supposed 1,000,000 actually opened the email. What does show is six links that were provided by me to indicate where these active book buyers could make their purchase. Three thousand seven hundred and eighty clicks were made. Shortly after receiving this report from Ms. [redacted], she was no longer an employee at the location. After speaking with Ms. [redacted] on December 15th about the situation and attempting to get clarity about my issues and concerns, she finally spoke to Mr. [redacted] and connected me with him after I mentioned contacting the Revdex.com. Before speaking with Mr. [redacted], several emails were sent to him that were obviously ignored. After speaking with Mr. [redacted], he explained the same information and also stated that the Open Rate of the magic number of 10.01% was reached and accomplished although there is nothing to substantiate this claim. Another concern I have is the fact that the Clickthrus per Link add up to 3,780 which is a far cry from 1,000,000. From May 31th to October 31th, 2014, only six (6) books have been sold. My final concern is the fact that the employee who was in charge of my marketing campaign no longer works at the company and I can not be certain that she did what she was supposed to do as it pertains to my campaign in such a short period of time. Lastly, when I decided to do business with BookWhirl, their company website carried the Revdex.com's logo indicating that they were an accredited business. After contacting the Revdex.com, it was brought to my attention that this is not true. When I spoke the Revdex.com in Green Bay, WI., I was advised that BookWhirl.com, in fact, is NOT an accredited business as Mr. [redacted] indicated verbally and as the company's website indicates. For this fact alone, I believe that a FULL refund of my money should be ordered. I have no desire to work with BookWhirl any further, and I am highly disappointed at the amount of time it took to even speak with someone other than [redacted] about my concerns. I was advised by [redacted] to wait at least a year or two to see the results of what BookWhirl guaranteed. I find this statement preposterous.Desired Settlement: Full refund of $1,139

Business

Response:

In this letter, the term “complainant” and/or “client” will be referred to Jenettha June Baines, and the term “company” to BookWhirl.com.

Over a year ago I self-published my book BAD RAP, The Truth About the Tragically Misunderstood Pit Bull, with Bookwhirl.com. I paid Bookwhirl (up-front - silly me) $2000.00 to publish two books for me. I have not submitted my second manuscript to them due to my experience with my first book:
Bookwhirl promised me a full page ad in a popular internet magazine which I have never received,
After having received no royalties and having found no book sales listed for my book on their website, I wrote to them stating: "Even if my book were the worst book ever published, I have to believe that there would be at least one dummy out there who would buy it!" A couple of days later I again reviewed my list of books sold on their website, and they had added the number "1" for the number of my books sold. I never have figured out just what kind of game they were playing with this one.
I have sent numerous e-mails and made phone calls to Bookwhirl and they have completely ignored all of them.
I have informed Bookwhirl.com that I would like them to return my money for the second book I had originally planned to publish with them as a result of my bad experiences with them (I have not sent them my second manuscript). They have completely ignored my requests.
I have warned Bookwhirl.com that if they continue to ignore my requests, I will file a formal complaint with the Attorney General's Office. This doesn't appear to concern them at all, as they have not acknowledged any concern nor desire to refund my money for the second book. Thus, my next step will be to file this complaint to the Attorney General's Office. In closing, it has been my experience that one cannot be too careful which self-publishing company one chooses!

BookWhirl.com is a SCAM! Unfortunately I've been doing business with them since last September 2012 when they contacted me to assist with marketing my book. Of course, I got excited and started sending them money for the services offered to get my book super marketed across the country and around the world according to them. However; they never sent me any proof, or followed through on any of the packages I paid for. Nevertheless; God is good, because after I didn't receive the "August" edition of "Ingram Magazine" by the END of August, I emailed them and requested a full refund of ALL the services I'd paid for! Again, they promised I would receive it by next week. But by then; I knew not to take any more of their calls, or respond to anymore of thier emails, especially since I really knew the truth when the Holy Ghost woke me up that night and led me to call my credit union. It was then that I'd learned that they had taken an extra $700 out of my account earlier that year when I'd just deposited a large amt. of money that I'd borrowed from my retirement, that I didn't notice it was missing, without my consent! Again, I thought they were legit b/c I'd googled and checked all the various services (bookfairs and links they sent) and they appeared legit. But I'd been taken to the bank,and beaten up along the way :(. Now I hope my report will help someone out there not make the same mistake I did, by sending them money and hoping for great book sales and profit from this hoax of a company. I know my God will vindicate me & I will receive a full refund, b/c the book they were supposed to market was entitled "Will A Man Rob God?! The Purpose of Tithing and the Power of Obedience...written for the glory of God. They may not realize it, but as a woman of God, I was sent by Him to write to warn His people and He will judge them. God bless you all.

In His Service,

Published Author