Video Professor: Difference between revisions
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homepage = [http://www.videoprofessor.com/ www.videoprofessor.com]}} |
homepage = [http://www.videoprofessor.com/ www.videoprofessor.com]}} |
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'''Video Professor''' is |
'''Video Professor''' is a U.S. company that develops, manufacturers and offers tutorials for a variety of computer-related subjects, such as learning to use [[Microsoft Word]], [[Microsoft Windows]], and [[eBay]]. The company was founded in 1987 John W. Scherer and is located in Lakewood, Colorado. |
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The '''Video Professor''' tutorials are aimed primarily at consumers who have little or no computer experience. The company's TV commercials frequently feature older people. |
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Mainly, the company offers a subscription service similar to commercial book clubs and involving [[negative option billing]]. The subscription service is activated by the first purchase of a tutorial CD on some subject. After that the customer automatically receives another tutorial CD on a new subject, chosen by the '''Video Professor''', every month until the subscription is cancelled, and the customer is automatically billed a monthly fee of about $60-90. |
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==Video Professor History Timeline== |
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'''1986''' - John W. Scherer launched a computer manufacturing company, selling computer clones to mom-and-pop computer dealers. He found that his customers not only wanted to know how their computers operated but also how to get the most from their software programs. The concept for Video Professor arrived when John realized that there was a larger market for teaching people how to use computers than there was for selling computers. No one else was providing this kind of training, so he shifted course and started Video Professor. Scherer wanted to create comprehensive computer lessons to teach people quickly and easily about their PCs in a language they could understand. |
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'''1987''' - Video Professor is founded with the production of its first lesson, Introduction to DOS, on VHS. These early lessons were only available at trade shows or in retail stores. |
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'''1991''' - Video Professor's first infomercial was produced in which Mr. Scherer sits down with Jeff Conaway, star of the movie Grease and TV show Taxi. |
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'''1995''' - Video Professor advertises through infomercials, newspapers, and magazines. John W. Scherer also dramatically increased the titles available in the lesson library. Video Professor evolved with the market, offering consumers a "free lesson of your choice." |
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'''1996''' - Video Professor began producing its lessons on CD-ROM as well as on VHS. |
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'''1998''' - CD-ROM lessons began to outsell VHS. |
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'''2003''' - John W. Scherer started Video Professor Online, allowing customers to access lessons on the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. |
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'''2004''' - John W. Scherer launched Personal Internet Security, which includes the Video Professor Personal Firewall software and tutorial, Video Professor Virus Protection software and tutorial, Identity Theft Protection and Recovery Lesson. |
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'''2005''' - Video Professor Spyware Protection software is launched. |
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'''Today''' – Continue to expand lessons offered in computer education. |
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==Product Divisions== |
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To be more precise in tracking performance Video Professor has three core divisions. |
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===[[CD-ROM]] lesson sets === |
===[[CD-ROM]] lesson sets === |
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Video Professor CD-ROM lesson sets contain three CD-ROM discs containing at least three hours of instruction. The discs can be played on PCs. Disc 1 contains beginner level instruction, while Disc 2 contains intermediate level instruction and Disc 3 contains more advanced skills. One exception is Video Professor’s Windows Vista lesson, which contains six hours of instruction on six discs in order to cover all of the many features of Microsoft’s latest operating system. |
Video Professor CD-ROM lesson sets contain three CD-ROM discs containing at least three hours of instruction. The discs can be played on PCs. Disc 1 contains beginner level instruction, while Disc 2 contains intermediate level instruction and Disc 3 contains more advanced skills. One exception is Video Professor’s Windows Vista lesson, which contains six hours of instruction on six discs in order to cover all of the many features of Microsoft’s latest operating system. |
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Video Professor [[CD-ROM]] lesson sets are primarily sold through TV offers and through some online offerings. |
Video Professor [[CD-ROM]] lesson sets are primarily sold through TV offers and through some online offerings. |
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===Video Professor Online=== |
===Video Professor Online=== |
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Video Professor’s Online division was created in 2003 and it provides computer-training lessons online |
Video Professor’s Online division was created in 2003 and it provides computer-training lessons online. The online lessons have the same features that the CD-ROM lesson do. |
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===[[Business-to-business]]=== |
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Video Professor sells its lessons directly to government agencies so that large numbers of [[government]] employees can be trained in the latest software applications. |
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Government agencies buy Video Professor lessons to improve productivity and achieve overall higher performance levels in their organizations. By providing government agencies and their team members with necessary computer training, Video Professor helps them stay on the cutting edge of computer programs and technology. |
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Many government agencies have learned that investing in training and development improves morale, keeps their teams on top of tasks and creates an environment that nurtures a productive mind-set. A strong training and development budget also empowers government agencies to recruit impressive team members and hold on to the ones they already have. <ref> [http://www.videoprofessor.com/government/government.html Video Professor Government Division]</ref> |
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==Business Culture== |
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Video Professor is known for its enthusiastic customer service employees, and the customer service department is known as the liveliest place to work at Video Professor headquarters. <ref>[http://www.westword.com/2006-04-20/news/prof-positive Westword Newspaper]</ref> |
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The department is heavily adorned with motivating signs featuring catchy slogans such as “Ya Gotta Wanna,” festive balloons and colorful banners, all designed to create a supportive, positive working environment. The department is filled with row after row of customer service agents in cubes speaking enthusiastically with customers. When Video Professor CEO and founder John W. Scherer stops by for visits, he greets the agents between calls to check in with them and ask how things are going. <ref>[http://www.westword.com/2006-04-20/news/prof-positive Westword Newspaper] </ref><ref> [http://www.johnwscherer.com/videoprofessor.html John W Scherer - Video Professor]</ref><ref>[http://www.usbusiness-review.com/content_archives/Dec05/09.html DMA Business Review]</ref> |
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== Video Professor Criticism == |
== Video Professor Criticism == |
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Video Professor has been criticized by customers who claim to have been deceived |
Video Professor has been criticized by customers who claim to have been deceived when ordering online or by phone. <ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/News/070700/Action/Refund_for_wrong_CD_f.shtml Refund for wrong CD finally posted] on [[St. Petersburg Times]]</ref> <ref>[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=KC&p_theme=kc&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1065D852639BE8BE&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM A lesson in ordering products] on [[Kansas City Star]]</ref> <ref>[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/premium/0286/0286-8540630.html Experience with video professor teaches a lesson about 'FREE' offers] on [[Kansas City Star]]</ref> <ref>[http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thecheckout/2006/05/is_free_just_another_word_for.html "Free" May Just Be Another Word for "Fee" Video Professor] on [[washington post]]</ref> <ref>[http://www.consumeraffairs.com/education/video_professor.html Video Professor] on consumer affairs</ref> <ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Video-Professor-Photoshop-Complete-VideoProfessor/dp/B000N5XONC/ref=sr_1_3/104-4207724-5951163?ie=UTF8&s=miscellaneous&qid=1180377315&sr=8-3 review] on [[Amazon.com]]</ref> <ref> [http://www.infomercialscams.com/scams/video_professor Video Professor complaints] at [http://www.infomercialscams.com www.infomercialscams.com]</ref> |
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The main complaint is that the customers often don't realize, and, according to these complaints, are not made clearly aware of, that by ordering a single CD they are entering into a subscription service where a new CD tutorial will be sent to them automatically every month until the subscription is cancelled. |
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Other complaints involve [[Video Professor]] TV commersials offering free CD tutorials. These commersials offer a free CD lesson, where the customer pays only the shipping and handling fee of around $6.95. |
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After placing an order for a free offer, the customer receives a package containing 2 (or sometimes 3) CDs only the first of which is actually free. |
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The second CD must be returned within 10 days of the trial period as otherwise the customer is charged a full nonrefundable fee (currently around $80-90) for that second CD and is entered into the auomatic monthly subscription service. Customers complain that these conditions of the free offer are not made clear by either the TV ad or by the customer service representatives processing the order for the free lesson. According to the complaints, this frequently results in the customers having their credit cards unknowingly charged $80-90 for the second CD in the original free offer package, and a similar amount for each subsequent month until the subscription service is actually cancelled. |
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Customers also complain that it is often difficult to obtain the return authorization number from the Video Professor customer service within the 10 day trial period. The return autorization number is required in order to return the second CD and avoid being charged for its full price. |
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[[Video Professor]] counters that the conditions of its free offers and of its regular sales are sufficiently clear <ref>[https://www.videoprofessor.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=shoppingCart.howItWorks "How It Works" From Official Video professor website.]</ref> |
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==See Also== |
==See Also== |
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Revision as of 18:08, 20 August 2007
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | education |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.A. |
| Products | Learn Microsoft Office Tutorials, Learn Microsoft Windows, Learn Online Travel, Learn Quicken, Learn QuickBooks etc. |
Number of employees | Over 300 |
| Website | www.videoprofessor.com |
Video Professor is a U.S. company that develops, manufacturers and offers tutorials for a variety of computer-related subjects, such as learning to use Microsoft Word, Microsoft Windows, and eBay. The company was founded in 1987 John W. Scherer and is located in Lakewood, Colorado.
The Video Professor tutorials are aimed primarily at consumers who have little or no computer experience. The company's TV commercials frequently feature older people.
Mainly, the company offers a subscription service similar to commercial book clubs and involving negative option billing. The subscription service is activated by the first purchase of a tutorial CD on some subject. After that the customer automatically receives another tutorial CD on a new subject, chosen by the Video Professor, every month until the subscription is cancelled, and the customer is automatically billed a monthly fee of about $60-90.
CD-ROM lesson sets
Video Professor CD-ROM lesson sets contain three CD-ROM discs containing at least three hours of instruction. The discs can be played on PCs. Disc 1 contains beginner level instruction, while Disc 2 contains intermediate level instruction and Disc 3 contains more advanced skills. One exception is Video Professor’s Windows Vista lesson, which contains six hours of instruction on six discs in order to cover all of the many features of Microsoft’s latest operating system. Video Professor CD-ROM lesson sets are primarily sold through TV offers and through some online offerings.
Video Professor Online
Video Professor’s Online division was created in 2003 and it provides computer-training lessons online. The online lessons have the same features that the CD-ROM lesson do.
Video Professor Criticism
Video Professor has been criticized by customers who claim to have been deceived when ordering online or by phone. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
The main complaint is that the customers often don't realize, and, according to these complaints, are not made clearly aware of, that by ordering a single CD they are entering into a subscription service where a new CD tutorial will be sent to them automatically every month until the subscription is cancelled.
Other complaints involve Video Professor TV commersials offering free CD tutorials. These commersials offer a free CD lesson, where the customer pays only the shipping and handling fee of around $6.95.
After placing an order for a free offer, the customer receives a package containing 2 (or sometimes 3) CDs only the first of which is actually free. The second CD must be returned within 10 days of the trial period as otherwise the customer is charged a full nonrefundable fee (currently around $80-90) for that second CD and is entered into the auomatic monthly subscription service. Customers complain that these conditions of the free offer are not made clear by either the TV ad or by the customer service representatives processing the order for the free lesson. According to the complaints, this frequently results in the customers having their credit cards unknowingly charged $80-90 for the second CD in the original free offer package, and a similar amount for each subsequent month until the subscription service is actually cancelled.
Customers also complain that it is often difficult to obtain the return authorization number from the Video Professor customer service within the 10 day trial period. The return autorization number is required in order to return the second CD and avoid being charged for its full price.
Video Professor counters that the conditions of its free offers and of its regular sales are sufficiently clear [8]
See Also
Video Professor Help Site
BBB Member Page
References
- ^ Refund for wrong CD finally posted on St. Petersburg Times
- ^ A lesson in ordering products on Kansas City Star
- ^ Experience with video professor teaches a lesson about 'FREE' offers on Kansas City Star
- ^ "Free" May Just Be Another Word for "Fee" Video Professor on washington post
- ^ Video Professor on consumer affairs
- ^ review on Amazon.com
- ^ Video Professor complaints at www.infomercialscams.com
- ^ "How It Works" From Official Video professor website.