The deceitful professor
Written: Jul 09 '02 (Updated Jun 30 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: none
Cons: false advertising, dishonest
The Bottom Line: AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!! This is one sneaky company.
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| wavespy's Full Review: Video Professor: Learn Windows 98 - Getting Starte... |
I have parents that after years of owning a computer, still don't know the difference between a left and right mouse click...they are absolutely clueless when it comes to surfing the internet, to copying and pasting anything, and this is after dozens (if not hundreds) of times where I have explained it to the best of my ability.
My dad had mentioned to me several times that he was interested in ordering a cd from Video Professor, which claimed that their product was "just as easy as operating a VCR!" Of course, secretly I thought to myself "wait...my parents don't know how to operate a VCR, either." But after viewing their sales pitch on TV for myself, I thought that I would do them a favor and order the Windows 98 tutorial CD for them.
The commercial looked promising enough. A pleasant man promising results, money back guarantees, and an offer of "choose a lesson...all that it will cost is $6.95 for shipping!" "Wow! Great deal!" I thought to myself. "If it works out, I will surely be interested in ordering more cds from them in the future!"
After some research, I was disappointed to find out that if I did order the Windows 98 cd, I was automatically enrolled in a subscription service, not unlike the various music cd clubs that are out there. Video Professor will automatically send you other programs...you keep them if you want, or send them back (at your expense) if you do not! I knew that there had to be a catch.
But I had no idea just how deceiving their advertising was...
I ended up visiting their website, which did not mention anything about being enrolled in their subscription service. Maybe this would work after all! I ordered the Windows 98 cd. I figured that for $6.95, you can't lose.
When the cd arrived, I was VERY surprised to discover that there were THREE cds in the package, the lesson was not on one cd, like I was led to believe. And get this...I could keep two for free, BUT if I wanted the third cd, my credit card would conveniently be billed $59.95! "WAIT!!!!! I expected the entire lesson to be on one cd!" I cried.
And therein lies the scam.
Of course, I immediately called Video Professor and let them know that I was unhappy and wanted to return the cds. I quickly obtained a return authorization code, and was instructed to ship the cds back in a padded envelope...which was odd, because they did not ship them to me that way. Within two hours of calling, I had purchased a padded envelope and shipped the cds back to them.
10 days later, my credit card was charged $59.95 more anyway. Somehow I knew that this was going to happen!!! What idiots!!
After some angry e-mails to Video Professor requesting a refund within three days, I was told that my credit card would be refunded in that time period. Three days came and went. It has been over a week, and the original shipping charge was refunded, but there is no sign of the $59.95 refund.
I believe that Video Professor's advertising is deceitful. Please be aware that you might not receive what you are expecting. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!! I visited their website again today, and this time their "conditions" were clearly visible. THEY WEREN'T THERE A MONTH AGO!!! Hmmmm...is it because I threatened to let the world know how dishonest their company was?? I like to think so.
As for the cd lessons themselves, I have no idea how they work. The cds ran at a snail's pace on both my parent's computer and my own. I'd love to be able to let you know if the lessons were even worth the cds that they were burned on, but I never got that far. VERY frustrating.
***update*** After a month of Video Professor earning interest from my money sitting in their bank account, they finally refunded the money. I give them that.
***another update!*** Well, it looks like many people are being ripped off by Video Professor. To read some horror stories, follow the link below:
http://www.infomercialscams.com/scams/video_professor
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
wavespy
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Location: Northern California
Reviews written: 41
Trusted by: 27 members
About Me:
I love anything outdoors, music of all types & Captain Crunch
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