|
They are just another company that doesn't care about their customers. I followed their rebate instructions to the letter. I even made copies, but they would not honor it.
I also love the year of free online and with updates it has it all.I have to run it as admitstater on VISTA but it does work well then. I love this product.
on the bottom of the box, or unsealed the box and read something inside, or attempted to register online, that you learn you must supply Britannica with your credit card number in order to receive this "free" subscription. I don't like their business practices. Next, I went online to register and sign up for the free one year access to Britannica Online. I don't want to give them my credit card number - I'm not buying anything from them. At some point, after using this product for a while, I will revise this review.
Did the publisher choose to keep an important piece of information obscure, information which could affect a consumer's decision to purchase. This free subscription is mentioned twice here in the Amazon description, and it is visible on the larger image of the box. Well, I know this: I've lost some respect for the Encyclopedia Britannica. We'll see about the software. Also, you will be automatically billed for another year at the end of the subscription unless you remember to cancel. You are expected to look online somewhere where subscription rates are posted.
Meanwhile, I hope the one star rating will draw attention before folks commit to buying the Encyclopedia Britannica 2009 Student and Home Edition Ultimate Reference Suite.This issue may not be important to you. When you receive the software, you find this free benefit touted three times on the outside of the box. I guess I could have summed up my comment in a few sentences, but I'm annoyed. But it will be to some, and I want to provide a heads-up.I just purchased this and have installed it in my Mac, and as far as I can tell the installation went well. Additionally, according to the FAQs on their subscriber services page, they will not notify you if the renewal price goes up before they bill your card. It is not until you've found your magnifying glass and read the two point type (really).
Britannica Online is a significant benefit of the purchase; it provides access to the full 32 volume Britannica and, I believe, articles from current periodicals, and more. (On the box there is a tiny cross about the size of the dot over an "i", after the words announcing this free benefit, to indicate there is more information somewhere).
So don't assume that the rebate will materialize. No response from them when I tried to contact them. Buy based on the purchase price and let the rebate be a nice surprise if it is actually approved and sent. I sent in the rebate with all requested paperwork and original copies within a few days of receiving the DVD at the end of December. Avanquest did not process it until March 11, and refused it -- "Your rebate cannot be paid because your submission was incomplete and missing one or more requirements." Because I know all of the requested paperwork was there, my guess is that it was refused because it was after the 30 days -- even though they are the ones who sat on it until it has passed the time limit.
The atlas and supporting articles are crude, and not as easy to navigate as Encarta.The BrainStormer feature must have used Dr. [.].You can find articles on Wikipedia that are more interesting and in-depth than the pieces in this thing. Basically, this whole program and it's publishers (Avanquest) are unworthy of a share of your hard earned wages. Frankenstein's monster's brain for a model. I've been a long time Encarta user, and decided to try Britannica for a change. Wrong move.
|
