Nice idea, Shame about the implementation! (Art Course)

Name: claretel

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Product:	Art Course
Date:	11/05/01 (70 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: nice step-by-step instructions, handy materials to get you started

Disadvantages: dreadful customer service, still have to buy other materials to do projects or wait months for the remainder to arrive

I bought the first issue of Art Course after I was given a set of acrylic paints for Xmas and discovered that this was actually a stress-busting activity that I could slot into the few spare minutes I have in a day.

It came with free paints, a separate video, nice easy-to-follow instructions and advice on how to fix the inevitable splodges and botches!

I enjoyed the first issue so I decided to subscribe. Over a month later, I was still waiting for issues 2 and 3 while the shops had raced ahead by at least 2 issues.

I called the customer service line. After holding for 10 minutes I decided to leave a message on their automated answerphone. The ansafone message assures you that you will be treated with the same priority as those who managed to get through to a human operator. A week later I still hadn't heard anything so I tried my luck on the phone again (hoping that the ansafone was lying and I wasn't going to be kept on hold for a week!).

I was told that they were having problems and that I would receive my magazines shortly. A couple of weeks later, they arrived. However, this has happened with every issue and the shops are storming into a big lead (I think they're on issue 9 or 10 and I'm only up to 5!).

Now they've sent two copies of video 2 but no video 3. I'm still waiting after 2 weeks since I called them.

The magazine and video are nice enough, but when you add up the total cost of the entire course (including art materials) and compare it with a decent book or evening class plus materials, I think you'll find you're significantly out of pocket. Added to which, at least a book you can buy in one piece and not have to wait 6 months for chapter 2 to arrive!

Summary: