What do you know about AMVC?

[sc32803]

AMVC is the long running adult website that sells amateur DVD content from independent porn producers. I was wondering if anyone here has experience with them or has heard any stories (good or bad) that you can share. I'm thinking about using them for some DVDs I might sell. (I know I can do it on my own but they supposedly have a huge customer base so I'm willing to give up a percentage of sales to reach that many people.)

[nickbaer]

He came on here a month ago or so.

In 2003, he destroyed my relationship with NaughtyBids by claiming I was selling one of his exclusive titles. Turned out we both had bought the "exclusive" rights from the same schmuck, and he eventually acknowledged that to NB, but the damage was done.

He flipped me off in Spring 2005, so I went with AEBN, HotMovies, XonDemand, then XTube, BadPuppy on my own.

For every door that slams, another 5 or 10 open up.

Aaron Lawrence (here) I believe has the most/longest history.

I still would like to sell (some of) my titles as tangible DVDs through a service like that or PornTeam. My non-sexual nude DVDs do well on Amazon, after 4 years on the charts.

[GayGeek]

Yah, I have been working with AMVC for... egads, is it ten years now? I think more. I'd have to look at my old tax records to figure out exactly how long. Since 1998?

I was one of a dozen or so early producers to sign on with them. Their company has changed dramatically over the years, but the nuts and bolts have stayed the same. Generally speaking, putting your videos on AMVC is a bit like putting them on AEBN. You get out of it what you put in.

Meaning if you give them two low-budget videos to distribute, you'll make a few bucks but not many. But if you make them your exclusive distributor of a mess of titles that you advertise yourself and refer sales to their site (via their affiliate program), you can make a bundle.

AMVC has way too many titles listed to really feature any single title, with the possible exception of a few that pay to do advertising (they used to do that, not sure if they still do).

That being said, they have a high level of professionalism and they always get their checks out on time with a nice printed report explaining how much of which video sold. They even give you a small bit of identifying information so you can see the individual orders.

I can't say enough nice things about them.

[PFLJayden]

David is a good guy. They are good for the DVD aspect. You'd make more distributing to VOD on your own though because they take a double percentage. (your product earns 20% or so on AEBN, AEBN pays amvc, AMVC then takes their percentage out of the AEBN pay.) When we worked with them, we only had them sell DVDs and they did well.

[619Vid]

I agree with most of the comments from others. I've been with them for about 4 years (I think).
The only kind of downsides I've experienced were the price cap on your selling price (currently $29.95, but they tried to convince everyone to go even lower a little while back), and the loss of your branding. They use their own generic template for the dvd covers and throw on some of your screen grabs. And unless you specifically tell them you want your own artwork used, those covers will then show up on AEBN when the dvds go up there. And even then, I've caught them being changed back to the AMVC covers.
They are very professional about getting checks out on time, invoicing, following through with communication, etc. But in my experience there doesn't seem to be much of a personal connection. Not like I wanna be best friends, but in all the years I think I've only talked with them on the phone once. All communication is documented via email. Which may be a good idea, but is a little sterile feeling.

[619Vid]

I don't know if that's true about AMVC taking a cut from your AEBN percentage. My understanding was that AEBN gives them a cut out of their percentage for brokering the deal with producers. I could be wrong about that, but it's what I was told.

[PornTeam]

I don't think that they take a "cut" of the AEBN sales. If they are setup like we are they are one of a few Brokers that AEBN has and makes their money from the AEBN side of the sales.

Chris.

[PFLJayden]

amvc sells your dvds on their site. if you sign the contracts with them, they send your dvds to xondemand, aebn, hot movies, clips4sale.com, a slew of others. those companies write the checks to amvc. amvc takes a percentage of what they are paid then pay you the remaining payouts.

if you dont want the hassle of sending your dvds out to vod vendors, amvc is good for you then where you only have to send one dvd to amvc, they do the rest for you. they are a good company, stats reports are very well put together, never late. if you dont receive your check in time they will recut you a new one. one of the very few companies that take care of you and your payments. i've even seen them have an accident screw up, they are real quick to fix it before you even know about it and they admit their screw ups which i have found very professional. the only bad thing is their boxcovers. they all look the same just different colors.

[nickbaer]

I don't think that they take a "cut" of the AEBN sales. If they are setup like we are they are one of a few Brokers that AEBN has and makes their money from the AEBN side of the sales.

Chris.

I'm trying to follow the money here, what is the math of what you are saying?? The basic contract with AEBN is that they pay studios (approx) 20%.

I'm also an affiliate and (on average) earn another 15%.

[sc32803]

I'm not sure what the advantage is with having AMVC do the deals with AEBN and the others... is it just a time savings for the producer? It seems like it would make more sense to do the other deals on my own, unless the other companies give some kind of preference to AMVC content.

[PFLJayden]

some vod companies won't work with AMVC. IDK why.

[PornTeam]

I'm trying to follow the money here, what is the math of what you are saying?? The basic contract with AEBN is that they pay studios (approx) 20%.

I'm also an affiliate and (on average) earn another 15%.

From my understanding, different studios may have different percentages based on what they may have negotiated with AEBN I believe the basic contract with them is around 20% for being a studio, plus you can add the theater percent on top of that if you are driving traffic to your videos on their site too.

If you go exclusive with your content with them you might be able to a higher percentage.

[USAJock]

I was with AMVC 03-08. They were good their for awhile, but when they started capping your prices, things went to pot. They may have a lot of titles, but unless you want your brand smeared with cheapness, I would not go thru them. They have not changed their business model nor site in a decade and they refuse any other type of business model.

And the fact that they refuse to use your covers, says it all. If I where you, I would whore out your titles on AEBN etc first...then in 1-2 years when your not making anything from them, THEN throw them on AMVC. AMVC is the BULK BARN period.

[amvcdotcom]

Howdy. We just discovered this thread and it looks like there are some comments we'd like to address. Since most of them were dealings with my business partner, David, I'll post his comments once he sends them to me.

Because memories of what was said/done can vary from person to person, we'll also post actual, uncensored, email threads where applicable, in order to provide documentation. (One of the main reasons we steer all communications to email and not phone


allen

[amvcdotcom]

Yah, I have been working with AMVC for... egads, is it ten years now? I think more. I'd have to look at my old tax records to figure out exactly how long. Since 1998?

I was one of a dozen or so early producers to sign on with them. Their company has changed dramatically over the years, but the nuts and bolts have stayed the same. Generally speaking, putting your videos on AMVC is a bit like putting them on AEBN. You get out of it what you put in.

Meaning if you give them two low-budget videos to distribute, you'll make a few bucks but not many. But if you make them your exclusive distributor of a mess of titles that you advertise yourself and refer sales to their site (via their affiliate program), you can make a bundle.

AMVC has way too many titles listed to really feature any single title, with the possible exception of a few that pay to do advertising (they used to do that, not sure if they still do).

That being said, they have a high level of professionalism and they always get their checks out on time with a nice printed report explaining how much of which video sold. They even give you a small bit of identifying information so you can see the individual orders.

I can't say enough nice things about them.

From David: Aaron, my email history with you goes back to the summer of 1998...so you're looking at 12 years with AMVC. I'm glad to have you with us and to still have your kind words after all this time.