Envato Envato Market, Envato Studio, Envato Tuts +, Envato Sites, Envato Elements, ThemeForest, CodeCanyon ENVATO SCAM! BUYERS BEWARE! Melbourne Ontario

Buyers, you better beware! Envato will sell you a bill of goods and not deliver. The other day our organization, Ameriscribe Braille Services, purchased a WordPress Theme, Lifeline 2. Afterwards, we needed a professional installion, so we purchased the one Envato advertised for $50.00. On their site they claimed that the so-called "expert" installation would take place within 24 hours, that we would get our Theme installed and our logo installed for this one low price. 

Little did our organization know, but Envato has a host of so-called "experts" lined up and ready to take you for a $50 ride. First, Envato assaigned one of those foreign nationals to our installation way off in India. Then began the drama. Next, the "expert" assigned, ekamran, residing in India, wrote in broken English so that communication was difficult at best. Then ekamran began to, what he called, install our WordPress Theme and logo. But after installing our logo, the navigation bar become inoperable. (We were given NO chance to inspect any other links within the Theme.) When we compained to him, he became upset and sent an immediate dispute to Envato complaining about how we had deleted the links and demanding his full compensation for his shoddy work. Now our problems REALLY began. 

It so happens, that Envato has a legal disclaimer that all disputes will be resolved by Envato and there is no appeal. In fact, their decision is final! Like it or not. By now you probably know where this is heading...well, Envato retains the "expert" (usually foreginers residing in places like India) and then decides the issues in their favor. It was unlike anything we have ever experienced. An Envato representative named, Frank B (Senior Customer Success Officer), and his minion, Alex, ruled against our organization, stating: 

"Job #132612-Express WordPress Installation: Envato Studio has resolved the dispute by finalizing this job. As a result all submitted work belongs to the buyer [that's us] and the service provider [that's ekamran] will be paid in full."

While there was a button for us to click once we approved of the installation, in reality we never even had a chance to inspect the entire site or even give our approval. Instead, Envato approved ekamran's installation and left us holding the bag of broken links and promises. 

Oh, for the record, Envato does not define "install" as that term is normally used. We learned that lesson the hard way. No. What Envato said that they mean by the word "install" is simply "to import" a Theme. Yes, you read that right. Install does not mean to install so that the Theme is working. In their reality "install" means to simply "import" the Theme -  if the links are broken, or you have no chance to inspect the workmanship, or you have no opportunity to approve of the installation - too bad. The so-called experts will get paid by submitting a dispute - Envato makes sure of that.

So, the next time you're in the market for a WordPress Theme, or an Express install do yourself a favor and avoid this company's rip off tactics. You'll be much better off in the end.