We're happy to report that Google will now be offering full refunds. From the Official Google Blog:
* We're giving a full refund -- as a credit card refund -- to everyone who ever bought a video. We'll need you to make sure we have your most recent credit card information, but once we know where to send the money, you'll get it.* You can still keep the Google Checkout credit that you've received already. Think of it as an additional 'we're sorry we goofed' credit.
* We're going to continue to support playing your videos for another six months. We won't be offering the ability to buy additional videos, but what you've already downloaded will remain playable on your computer.
An update on Google Video feedback [Official Google Blog]
PREVIOUSLY: Google Taking Back All Videos You Rented or Bought From Them
]]>I still can't believe Google has humans working the company. I hope Google won't be going anywhere for a while. From what I'm seeing Google is a pretty good semi-monopoly, however they do need competition to keep them in perfect line.
But the 2x refund is probably worth it for Google's FUTURE PR.
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Where's the shame? They announced their beyond-the-call-of-duty reimbursement for those who bought into a speculative format the same day they announced, "This doesn't work in the way that the studios made us deliver it."
Again, save the big guns for companies that don't strive to do the right thing. Google at least tries (we can disagree whether they are successful, but it's pretty clear they're trying, right?)
@AdmiralNelson: On the other hand, there are companies who would respond to all those complaints with "neener neener, we're big and rich and there's nothing you can do about it."
Some places are willing to take the PR hit to save money. Google, because of the corporate image it's trying to project, isn't. I know it's a cynical move on their part, but I like their cynicism better than the other kind.
Of course, give Google credit for making amends when they do drop the ball.
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Good. That's what they should have done in the first place.
Anyone who's still pissed should learn a lesson: if you buy something with DRM, you don't really own it. Do not buy DRM.
So Google returned all the money that anyone spent (rent or buy) on a beta service. That you "had" to use to buy something online. Now they're going to - on top of that (which is more than I've seen any company do - reverse charges on the credit cards. Saying, "Hey, guys, keep the refund we already gave you (even those that have rented, which, well: FREE RENTAL)."
All for a problem that arose because the studios foisted a DRM scheme that - had they their druthers - they wouldn't have used anyway.
And there are people still complaining?
Geezus, there's being an active consumer, and there's ungrateful, misdirected whining. Save the big guns for companies that do evil next time, huh?
I think these people would have complained no matter what.
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