Balboa Press Reviews 

Expedience, concern for partnering with the author to produce a quality product

From just about the very beginning the whole process was a nightmare. From being bombarded with phone calls trying to upsell me (although I purchased the right plan for me initially), to not understanding I was working 12 hours a day before I could work on this, to getting 'urgent' phone messages when there is no urgency, to bombarding me with up to six phone calls within a three hour period so I stopped taking their calls, to switching their phone number to try and contact me another way, to being spoken over by Allan continuously, to not being listened to, to being totally ignored when I told them I didn't want any more upselling (and then I didn't receive any news about my book)....truly the worst service I could have asked for. Managers wouldn't contact me so I then went to Hay House to voice my opinions. They communicated with Balboa Press then got back to me saying since my book had now been signed off, then everything was ok. No, it wasn't. Poor service, inability to empathise with this author, demanding consultants who obviously get paid when they 'sign off' their part of the process. It would have been different if the managers would have listened to my concerns. I do not trust them and will not use them again. I am already in consultation with another publisher.

Pushy and salesy.

Unfortunately, my experience with Balboa Press was one where I felt inferior as an experienced Writer and Author.

Carl, was pushy and salesly. He continued to give me timelines and continued calling for an answer. When I decided that they were not the publishers for our book, he told me it was 'not a loss to them'.

What a disgraceful way to treat someone.

We are not numbers, we are people.

Shame on Hayhouse for allowing this to happen under their name and brand.

Everything from start to finish was a disaster.

Excellent experience!

Exciting and encouraging!

It was a very pleasant experience- it is my first publication, and the level of cooperation and assistance is superb! Staff very prompt and so positive I am encouraged to start writing my next book!

Thus far, using this company has been a major disappointment. I wish I had read more reviews and trusted my instinct when I was told I was getting a one day special on my package. At every step and interaction, instead of what was supposed to come with my package, I got another salesperson trying to upsell me. Worst of all, they barely do, or don't do the things that are supposed to be included. The so-called marketing proposal is nothing more than a template. The so-called press release looks like an AI driven write-up. The fact that I actually got the book is only because I had to push and push to get each piece done. Above all, the communication is a disgrace. Plenty of emails from "team members" that may not even exist! Most ironic of all is that they're constantly sending out surveys on customer satisfaction - what a joke. Save your money and go elsewhere!

I will add to this review that the day I published this, they put in this reply. They have done nothing to rectify the situation. In fact, I called and wrote to several more departments. No response. I will be reporting them to the Federal Trade Commission, Attorney General of Indiana and literally anyone else who may have an interest in their "fraudulent business." Let me be clear. This is not a business. This so called company is little more than a bunch of salespeople and people with less experience publishing than first graders with a coloring book.

Great finished book Great people to work with

Why do I need to be coached as what to say
I said what I said meant what I said.

I had a wonderful experience with Balboa. The whole process was simple and fluid. Each assistant was super helpful, friendly, and responsive to any questions I had.

I really appreciated the extra help with marketing ideas.

From other reviews I was worried about hard selling on extra add ons, but that wasn't my experience at all. I had a great call with a marketing director who offered awesome ideas + a great marketing package that I will do later. So they will try to sell you on extra marketing but they respected my decision and I felt no pressure.

Also for first time authors... My book had been revised several times and edited before I started the process with Balboa. They didn't make suggestions on any edits - so you need to feel very confident about your manuscript.

My publishers were friendly, helpful, understanding, and the process went smoothly. I felt very appreciated and they were kind to me. Balboa Press is pretty easy and simple and I am thankful for my team. Thank you for this opportunity and overall I am very happy with my decision to go through them. Namaste!!! Kat

This company is beyond a joke. They take your money and want nothing to do with you ever again. Save yourself and go elsewhere.

Balboa Press and their associated companies fell short in many respects. A long time to reply to requests for information and to follow up and implement what was agreed. Books arrived weeks after they should have been shipped. Changes to book internal and external finalised months after changes submitted and only with several rounds of follow up. Spelling mistakes found due to low English skills of those working for the firm. Constant calls from high pressure sales people to keep selling marketing packages costing thousands of dollars with questionable impact given how many books are on sale around the world. The company appears to be taking advantage of people’s dreams particularly those of older customers writing their life stories.

I have spent a lot of money on publishing with Balboa press and have had so many promises about how amazing my books are. Unfortunately, it is becoming clear that I have wasted a lot of money. I feel that Balboa is simply sales and does not think about the author. I am in Australia and after having to pay Balboa to purchase my own book to market locally, I have made next to nothing. Be careful about signing up.

My experience with Balboa has been smooth sailing from start to publication. It was like belonging to a family who cared about my work. I felt at all times, I was dealing with caring individuals. The cream on the cake was the extraordinarily artistic individual who handled the layout of my pages. Could you take a look and see for yourself? My book is titled "My Feng Shui".

Balboa has produced 2 beautiful products. Balboa has been very supportive and helpful. The process has been thorough and I have been grateful that Balboa was able to include my revisions.

The help and patience of Jad was excellent because I kept repeating things.

A very disappointing experience. Expensive from the start. Offering a 'full package' and then continuing to ask for more money. I cancelled with this company several months ago and am entitled to 50% of my money back and I'm still waiting. I only wish I'd researched them more thoroughly.

I had a wonderful time working with Balboa press , everyone was extremely professional and helped me every step of the way 🙏🙏

My book was published by Balboa in January 2023. I have been waiting all year to receive the promised royalties from the sales of my book. I spent thousands on publishing and thousands on the extra marketing, they hounded me for more and more money saying they saw huge potential in my writing.
Im now MASSIVELY disappointed with the journey thus far, Balboa outsources straight over to Author Solutions.
My book has been for sale all over the World for 10 months. incase you are wondering how much money have I actually received back into my bank account to date? $106 - thats it!
A great quality book is in my hand, compared to Amazon printed books. But the promises, the wait times, different consultant every call! All the marketing hard selling is not worth it. Australian authors BEWARE seek out someone local!! Balboa is not associated with HAY HOUSE its more involved with Author Solutions, you are just another number.

I love the Balboa press concept but in practice it looses the client which is not a publisher.
loose attention to detail , probably a mis communication between departments of human turnover .