Video Professor
 |
| 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 an American 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 and is located in Lakewood, Colorado. Initially, through the use of VHS tapes, Video Professor tutorials aimed to educate users on general computer operation, using the Internet and popular Microsoft Office programs. With the changing technology, Video Professor is still continuing to educate users through CD Roms and online tutorials. [1][2]
Video Professor History Timeline
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.
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.
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.
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."
1996 - Video Professor began producing its lessons on CD-ROM as well as on VHS.
1998 - CD-ROM lessons began to outsell VHS.
2003 - John W. Scherer started Video Professor Online, allowing customers to access lessons on the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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.
2005 - Video Professor Spyware Protection software is launched.
Today – Continue to expand lessons offered in computer education.
Product Divisions
To be more precise in tracking performance Video Professor has three core divisions.
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 24 hours a day. The online lessons have the same features that the CD-ROM lesson do, including the Stay On Top player that keeps the lesson on top of all other open windows, the ability to pause, rewind or fast-forward the lesson any time and step-by-step instruction that you see, hear and can practice all at the same time.
Video Professor sells its lessons directly to government agencies so that large numbers of government employees can be trained in the latest software applications. 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. 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. [3]
Business Culture
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. [4] 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. [5][6][7]
Video Professor Criticism
Video Professor has been criticized by customers who claim to have been deceived by VP when ordering online. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] In particular, customers reported ordering the product in the mail, and unknowingly being billed $89.95 for what they took from infomercials and their website to be a free product. Apparently, customers were never explicitly made aware of the additional charge until after the credit card information was provided. Apparently, Video Professor has two offers. Infomercial offer is slightly different from the Video Professor web site offer. The infomercial offers one free lesson. Web site offer comes with one free lesson and two additional lessons. In the case of the online offer customers must send one of the CD-ROMs back to the company if they do not want to be charged the $89.95 (or $96.25 as the case may be) in addition to the advertised $6.95 shipping charge. Customers have 10 days from the date they receive the discs to try out the lessons. Customers were then required to call them to obtain an RMA number to return the third CD-ROM "on or before the '10 day trial period' ends. In addition If customers decide to keep all two or three lessons, they will automatically continue receiving other Video Professor subjects every five weeks, billed on the same exact terms as the first shipment until they specifically call and cancel.[14]
See Also
Video Professor Help Site
BBB Member Page
References
- ^ Westword Newspaper
- ^ Business Journal - Tutorial company predicting big growth after online move
- ^ Video Professor Government Division
- ^ Westword Newspaper
- ^ Westword Newspaper
- ^ John W Scherer - Video Professor
- ^ DMA Business Review
- ^ 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
- ^ "How It Works" From Official Video professor website.