VideoBlocks.com Footage Firm Deceptive Free Trial Reston, Virginia

In the middle of my 7 day free trial with Video Blocks I made a mistake one day signing in.  Clicked on an option to get a full year for $99 instead of what I intended to do which was to click, "No Thanks".  In a panic I noticed the 800 number that Video Blocks provides, in the upper left hand corner of their page.

I called it, (not expecting much after reading the reports here in Ripoff) and was connected and speaking with a real live person after only one voice prompt. He then proceeded to tell me that there was nobody in the department needed, to handle my situation. (This was beginning to sound a little more like the “run around” I was expecting..) He instructed me to keep an eye on my E-mail as he intended to pass along my problem as soon as the right department became available.

I swear within 5 minutes my phone rang! It was a guy by the name of Chris. He told me he was with Video Blocks and would like to help me with my problem! After explaining my situation, he promised to fix it. Only he wasn't sure whether or not the $99 had been deducted from my account yet. But if it had, he told me that it would be credited back within 2-3 business days.

My conversation with Chris took less than 5 minutes. Not to mention, to my amazement, Chris spoke English and I could understand him.. After hanging up I checked my account and indeed the $99 had been deducted from my account. But I do have Chris's personal phone number with instructions to call him back if the money's not back in there within the next 3 days.

It's been a long time since I've encountered this degree of prompt, courteous, effective customer service and am happy to take the time to get on here and say so! Thank You Chris and Video Blocks for helping me correct a mistake that I made! Video Blocks this day have demonstrated a wonderful example of what Customer Service should be about. An example I honestly thought was long lost..

Thanks to Ripoff Reports for the service they provide here and also for the chance to post this note.

I was connecting with the Video Blocks rep and we finally made the arrangements for a refund.  While I was weary about giving my email for a PayPal refund it did work and the company deposited the $49.00 (Less PayPal service fee) into my account.  I am happy that I finally got a refund. 

I trust the company will work to present thier product in an open and honest manner as they go to market.  I still have reservations about doing business with them but at least they did the right thing in the end.

Graham

Hello

Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience you may have experienced in respect to [the issue].

At VideoBlocks, we take pride in ensuring our customers satisfaction. Unfortunately, we did not meet youror our ownexpectations. Please email me at nikki@videoblocks.com so I can locate your account and process a refund to rectify this situation.

We deeply value your relationship with VideoBlocks and are committed to providing you with the highest level of service simply because our customers deserve the very best. If you have any further questions or comments regarding this matter, please feel free to discuss it with us at nikki@videoblocks.com.

Yours in service,

Nikki Jones

Hello,

Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience you may have experienced in respect to

At VideoBlocks, we take pride in ensuring our customers satisfaction. Unfortunately, we did not meet youror our ownexpectations. Please email me at nikki@videoblocks.com so I can locate your account and process refunds for you in order to rectify this situation.

We deeply value your relationship with VideoBlocks and are committed to providing you with the highest level of service simply because our customers deserve the very best. If you have any further questions or comments regarding this matter, please feel free to discuss it with us at nikki@videoblocks.com

Yours in service,
Nikki Jones

Dear Graham,

Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience you may have experienced in respect to the charge you received.

At VideoBlocks, we take pride in ensuring our customers satisfaction. Unfortunately, we did not meet youror our ownexpectations. Please email me at nikki@videoblocks.com and refer to this post so that I can rectify the situation as quickly as possible for you.

We deeply value your relationship with VideoBlocks and are committed to providing you with the highest level of service simply because our customers deserve the very best. If you have any further questions or comments regarding this matter, please feel free to discuss it with us at nikki@videoblocks.com

Yours in service,
Nikki

I too fell for their "No Obligation 100% Free" large print lure.  Of course, by the time you get your credit card bill you have not only been dinged for $79 for the first month, now I'm hit with another $79 for another month. 

Yep, I failed to read the fine print and did not cancel as soon as I downloaded my "free" clips.  I guess "No Obligation 100%" means neither "No Obligation" or "100% free."  

Videoblocks' "Want to try before you buy? Download Free Stock Video and Audio for 7 Days!" is anything but "free".  An associate of mine registered, downloaded NOTHING but still found she had been billed $79.  And like me, she will end up paying $158 for two months because by the time she realized she had been scammed, she was already into the next billing cycle.

Buyer beware--I found a lot of 4:3 clips their video collection along with some amateurish and rather "old" looking work; the majority of their looping and animated clips are pure cheese; their music reminds me of dated  low grade "computer" tunes; and their search tool does not facilitate searching.  Now I know why I have been a long time user of ArtBeats, Shutterstock and Getty.

You can bet I'll be downloading day and night until the end of this month's billing cycle.  Just hope I can find enough useable content to make it worth my time.   

I too fell for their "No Obligation 100% Free" large print lure.  Of course, by the time you get your credit card bill you have not only been dinged for $79 for the first month, now I'm hit with another $79 for another month. 

Yep, I failed to read the fine print and did not cancel as soon as I downloaded my "free" clips.  I guess "No Obligation 100%" means neither "No Obligation" or "100% free."  

Videoblocks' "Want to try before you buy? Download Free Stock Video and Audio for 7 Days!" is anything but "free".  An associate of mine registered, downloaded NOTHING but still found she had been billed $79.  And like me, she will end up paying $158 for two months because by the time she realized she had been scammed, she was already into the next billing cycle.

Buyer beware--I found a lot of 4:3 clips their video collection along with some amateurish and rather "old" looking work; the majority of their looping and animated clips are pure cheese; their music reminds me of dated  low grade "computer" tunes; and their search tool does not facilitate searching.  Now I know why I have been a long time user of ArtBeats, Shutterstock and Getty.

You can bet I'll be downloading day and night until the end of this month's billing cycle.  Just hope I can find enough useable content to make it worth my time.   

Video Blocks.com has been charging my visa card $49 per month for 8 months without my authorization.

My work involves video production and is related to the business sector that includes Video Blocks.com.

I have never signed up for any Video Blocks.com program, ever.

Please be aware of Video Blocks.com and their nafarious business model.

Video Blocks.com has been charging my visa card $49 per month for 8 months without my authorization.

My work involves video production and is related to the business sector that includes Video Blocks.com.

Please be aware of Video Blocks.com and their nafarious business model.

I tried to contact the poster above at Video Blocks and left a message.  They didn't return the call nor did they refund any money.  I think it was merely a marketing trick to make this complaint look like it was resolved.  

I am not even certain the above reply was written by an authorized rep of the company.

If you want to contact me directly you should have email correspondence dating back to the original grievance.

Graham

Hello,

I'm the new head of customer service for VideoBlocks.com, and I want to sincerely apologize for the terrible experience you had with our company, and I would like the opportunity to make it up to you. 

For starters, I will make sure all of your payments are fully refunded. You can email me directly: nikki at videoblocks.com
and we can get the refund processed immediately. (Or if you prefer, you can use the contact form on our website--those go directly to me now)

In response to your frustration over the lack of service you received, I again apologize and make no excuses for the way you were treated. Our company is very new, and we were completely unprepared and overwhelmed by the growth that we experienced. 

To remedy this problem, I was hired full time to manage customer support to make sure that customers are taken care of promptly and politely. We recently added live chat to our website, and added additional employees to answer the phones. (It is also worth noting that we do not outsource this support--all of our employees are at our office in Virginia). Now that I am in charge, all phone calls and emails are answered within hours, if not immediately.

Finally, thank you for the comments on our free trial terms not being clear enough. We never meant to mislead anyone, and didn't realize there were any problems until we read your post and heard from other customers who were upset that they were not notified about the billing more clearly. We are working to make the free trial terms much more clear, and we have begun emailing users when they sign up so that they know what is going on and who to contact in the event of a problem.

Once again, I apologize for causing you frustration, and I hope that after we connect I can make you a happy customer. Or at least a happy former customer! Thanks ~ Nikki