ACX Reviews 112

Everything was going well working ACX until I made an offer to the narrator and he accepted the offer. Then, a day later he decided to back down from it and just sent me a message through ACX saying he can no longer do the narration.
I found a different narrator but I cannot move forward because my first narrator needs to send an email to acx approving the contract dissolution. It’s been a few days and he doesn’t respond to my messages. So now I am stuck.
I reached out to ACX and they basically said I am stucked until he decides to send that email. They did not trouble going through our communication via ACX and confirm what I am saying. They did not bother trying to reach out to him on my behalf. They just told me, the customer who is paying, I am screwed. I think they can do way better. I am super disappointed with this whole process now.

A one star because it is not possible to leave no stars. ACX cancel accounts without good reason and even if reinstated refused to pay royalties. They don't care about contributors and have the worst customer experience of any company that I have ever dealt with. They show disdain to their contributors and hide behind opaque, unethical terms and conditions which they use to falsely penalise decent contributors. I would avoid them if you can. Although badged under Amazon, they are nothing like Amazon. They are very unethical. You have been warned.

Easy to upload and straightforward; I've done 4 audiobooks with them so far. However, approval of a project takes a long time--usually the same audiobook has been on sale for weeks at other outlets!

Their policy that a title must be on sale through Amazon is cumbersome; I carved out audio rights for my last novella but the publisher took a while to post the ebook, so that hindered my start date.

ACX will not assign any giveaway codes unless one is exclusive, making marketing more difficult.

However, the worst thing is the predatory, abusive policy that allows listeners to "listen and return" with impunity. I've seen some work their way through my entire catalogue. This really cuts down on the royalties.

Ideally, it will get better if ACX realizes there are other options for authors/narrators.

I contacted them because they didn't pay my royalties for the last 4 months. I figured out it was maybe a wrong number in the bank account so i updated it. It's something like 70000 $ i'm waiting from them.

After i wrote, i received this email

"Thank you for contacting ACX.
I understand that you've just updated your bank info and you'd like clarification of the payment date for backed payment
I'm sorry to hear that you've had this issue. Thank you for updating your information.

Your backed earnings will be distributed with your next payment.
I'm sorry about the inconvenience that this may cause. Please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Rich"

And guess what? One hour later my 2 books contract has been terminated by them without saying ANYTHING and my account closed!

I hired the narrator, He produced the audio as a 6-hour book, contrary to the 4-hour estimate. I requested (required) a change. He refused. Just told me to get on Paypal and pay. I requested to terminate, but he refused. ACX responded that I was only required to pay 50% of the estimated amount of the original agreement of 4 hours. I was given 24 hours to reply to terminate or my personal information will be sent to the narrator. I followed their instructions. ACX gave out ALL my personal information anyway. I was harassed, and threatened, and sent bogus identities from him to get me to respond. I sent my concerns to ACX as to his threats of violence and then they went dark. They shelter their narrators and exploit writers. June 2022

I am a narrator. Both of my books were pulled due to the fact that they do not check to see if the producer has the rights/permission from the author. I had put in well over 80 hours of work between the two projects.

Both of these were royalty based so I receive absolutely nothing!

I forget, who is the multi-billion dollar company?

Crock of s&*t

Narrator for books ,a nice company to work as a book narrator.Everyone knows I love reading books.

Under the guise of checking you own the copyright (they want a paid for certificate, comically even send you the link to buy it) and your tax status they withhold earnings. I've sold 376 units. And be paid nothing.

ACX,s offering to rights holders to obtain an audio book on a royalty agreement only is a sucker's play for a producer. It gives the rights holder a FREE audio book while the producer (me) put in over 80 hours of production for a 10 hour finished audio book. Two months later I've made $12 for my huge effort. That's pathetic. Royalty payment only should be illegal. Any rights holder should HAVE to pay for the production. ACX is brokering a deal which hugely favours the rights holder and abuses the producer. Producers make little money off a royalty only agreement. Lucky if you sell 10 copies. Yet, the rights holder runs away with something for nothing. NEVER, EVER agree to a royalty only payment option. You'll get next to nothing for it. ACX should be ashamed of their ill consideration for producer's. They should post a stern warning to producer's that accepting a royalty only payment could result in very little monetary return. I'll NEVER do another book unless I get a minimum of $200 per finished hour. It's actually worth more than that but it seems many right's holders are looking for a FREE ticket to obtain an extra selling tool for NOTHING. How fair is that? NOT. It's sickening.
Having fallen for this scam, I feel used, abused, disrespected, taken advantage of and CHEATED. And what has the rights holder for this professional service done? He thanked me. Wow!! Two weeks of intense work by me and the rights' holder walks away like a thief. I'm never going to live this one down.

ACX are indicative of the 'state' of modern day immoral, corrupt, greedy, profiteering trading, and all at the misfortune of the artists who create. It is now waging on for 10 long months since they, hand in hand with Amazon (who are a disgusting conglomerate) closed down my accounts, not giving me access to my Intellectual Property, lack understanding of the whole position with regard to my now paying US Tax @ 33% when i don't need to but because i can't get into my account I can't update the tax information required. Please everyone, go somewhere else for your audiobooks, boycott this rotten company. All these reviews can't be wrong about how this company trades. The CEO's and board members need to speak with us Ants to get a clear view of their greed and shameful business practices. They do not deserve one star .. trust pilot must now accommodate and allow for zero star reviews

ACX appears legit but they require a lot of unnecessary information to try and act as a middle man in the publishing industry. After trying to force me into expensive legal requirements I finally gave up and cancelled my project. It simply isn't worth arguing with people that cut and paste responses or are unaware of legal requirements. It is like they are doing something wrong but want to shelter themselves from any blow-back and force it onto their clients. I strongly suggest seeking help from any other organization that is NOT ACX.

I tried to publish an audio book, my files passed the upload process on March 5th. After four weeks I emailed them, I was told my book was rejected due to a narrator discrepancy and an email was sent on the 8th. I replied that I never got the email in my Yahoo inbox or acx inbox and my book is still pending review. I recived a second email saying, "your book was rejected an email was sent on the 8th, upon further review your files didn't meet upload requirements, check your inbox for more information" I still have not received the rejection email or the more information email, my book is still pending review and acx's website does not show any action is required. After their horrible mishandling of my situation I told them "flat out f-ing tell me the issue" they become offended and refused to help further help desipt withholding information from me all along.

Pushed our audiobook, Perpetual Gloom, over a month ago. Have sent over half a dozen emails trying to get updates, and although they state that replies will be answered within two days, we have not received a reply. I managed to locate a phone number for support, now defunct, and was told someone would get back to me within two days - that was six days ago - still nothing. Now pursuing other alternatives such as Findway Voice.

another contemptible company, reprehensible in all their actions ... five or six years ago, they were okay, but obviously greed and vile trading approach has been harnessed and they are hugely indicative of this modern world of rotten ethics and profiteering activities

Shameful! No respect to authors!

ACX closed my account erroneously without any dialogue - terrible/non-existent customer service. Accusatory and upsetting experience.

As a follow up, ACX asked for state proof of residence which I supplied (rates bill) but there has been no response back in over two months.

Truly pathetic customer service.

Beware of this company! They are perhaps the biggest audio book distributers unfortunately, but apart from paying authors far less than it appears, they also have the most ridiculously difficult website to navigate. Reams of advice and FAQs, but when you try to actually register a book and a narrator, the process is almost IMPOSSIBLE. I have been trying to register one for months, and still haven't succeeded despite all their (conflicting) advice.
The market is wide open for an efficient audio publishing outfit!