The Great Courses

Horrible Customer Service; issues remain unresolved.

While the courses themselves provide reasonable content that is enjoyable and educational---the customer service is atrocious and is bad enough for me to not to return as a customer.

In the past week---I spoke to CS several times to correct an order that was not accurate; they confirmed they cancelled the order, but sent it anyway and then charged my card. Another order arrived damaged, but they have refused to resolve per their guarantee.

Great Courses CS refused to resolve---though they keep relating that it takes two weeks for management to give me a call back--it has been two weeks and no one has called. The CS I have spoken to, have been rude---talked over me---and argumentative. These are well documented calls...and to be honest, my impression they don't care. I refused to buy again---especially at their higher prices. I can find the same products on EBAY for a fraction of the cost.

I've bought a lot of history, philosophy and economics courses over the years; they've all provided pretty close to a full semester's worth of lectures. Wish they were a bit longer per class to get into a bit more detail. The subject matter is broken out well for each lecture.

The course guides are great; no need to not down the titles of books to delve deeper. Sets and editing are very good.

Never had a billing problem in year's of purchases.

Professors have a slight political tilt either right or left, but nowhere near the point of pontificating of forcing their outlook on you. They have a deep understanding of their topic.

With nearly no instructors of color and a hefty list of uninspired titles, this might have seemed academically rigorous 30 years ago. Today, it is an outdated vestige of the Eurocentric model of education, lacking in relevance or modern-day usefulness. I used to love these as a kid decades ago, and after trying it again a couple years ago, I cancelled well before the end of my free trial. When I wrote them as to why (the above, essentially), they essentially said there were no qualified teachers of color. Just wow.
This platform is worthless: just a tired regurgitation of the past with no connection to the present or future. I should also note many of the videos are the same from my long ago childhood, which is to say grainy and low quality.

Purchased in January with multiple courses for my wife and I. They changed the website and now you can't access your courses or accounts. Doesn't recognize our email, name, phone number or even the order number. No answer on ANY avenue of contact with customer service.

Beware when you order sale merchandise. I placed the order which of course showed the price I was paying. When I received my credit card statement they billed me the full price. The customer service reps were nice and I was credited back the difference. But I think about those who do not check their bills closely. We are talking $500+ difference!

I have gone through 3 courses so far and intend on continuing to learn things that I did not learn in school. The professors are interesting to listen to as they cover their field of studies and expertise.

The Teaching Company was founded in 1990 and their early courses were recorded by professors sound like they're actually addressing a classroom full of students. They sounded natural and were easy to listen to. Around the 2010s, they began "doing business as" The Great Courses. Around the same time, something else changed. More and more, the lecturers began to sound flat and mechanical. Instead of flowing naturally, it sounds as if they're reading off cue cards. It's so much the case that I have to assume it was a conscious, deliberate decision by the company. Why they would want that is beyond me, unless they just are taking a "Wonder Bread" approach of appealing to the broadest market by creating a bland product.

Also, Deepak Chopra teaching on The Nature of Reality?
Are you kidding me?

This is definitely not a course for beginners! I am not a beginner piano player... just wanted to learn some theory and use the course as a "refresher" after a long time away from the piano. I found the terminology, new to me, confusing and not explained that well. The workbook was not that helpful. The video is not clear when showing the professor playing - hard to tell what keys she is on. If you have played an instrument previously, you could understand music scores but if not you would be lost.

My uncle died and had 10 of these courses still packaged so I returned them - they promise a lifetime guarantee or 1 year return for any reason. They were still boxed! They refused to accept the returns saying that the guarantee was personal to my late uncle and the would not issue a refund. Disgraceful.

I recommend this course to everyone who is interested in the nature of dictatorship and democracy. The lecturer has an in-depth knowledge of the subject-matter with great insights and crystal clear conclusions.
He lectures in an engaging, easy to understand style. I lived through the Nazi era and the Soviet dictatorship in Hungary before I came to the US -- and felt I learned a lot from this lecture. Wonderful lecture series.