Google started Google Video as an answer to the massively
popular Apple iTunes video marketplace. This is where users can
download movies and TV shows.
Apple has built on it’s early success though, while Google’s
lacklustre offerings have fared less well.
On Friday, Google announced that it would be shutting down its
Google Video marketplace and that any downloaded videos will no longer
be accessible after August 15. This will include both rented and
purchased videos.
No Refunds Given
Yes, that means that if you paid to “own” videos offered by
Google,
you will no longer be able to watch them. Oh, and don’t expect a
refund, because Google has come up with another plan to reimburse
customers to keep them happy?
Users will be getting a 60 day credit on
their Google Checkout accounts instead.
How can Google expect to keep its customers when it only wants
to
provide a small $2 – $5 credit to each person, when the majority of
them probably spent much more than that?
Google contacted users of the service via email (copied below)
to
let them know that they will no longer be able to watch any of their
videos.
Hello,
As a valued Google user, we’re contacting you with
some important
information about the videos you’ve purchased or rented from
Video.In an effort to improve all Google services, we will no
longer
offer the ability to buy or rent videos for download from Google Video,
ending the DTO/DTR (download-to-own/rent) program. This change will be
effective August 15, 2007.To fully account for the video purchases you made before
July 18,
2007, we are providing you with a Google Checkout bonus for
$5.00.Your
bonus expires in 60 days, and you can use it at the stores listed here:
http://www.google.com/checkout/signupwelcome.html. The minimum purchase
amount must be equal to or greater than your bonus amount, before
shipping and tax.After August 15, 2007, you will no longer be able to view
your purchased or rented videos.If you have further questions or requests, please do not
hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your continued support.Sincerely,
The Google Video Team
Badly Handled For A Multi Billion Dollar Company
Google is a multi-billion dollar company that should have
handled this announcement in a better way. How?
For one, it should have given users more than a 5 day
notice. A 2
week notice is standard for employees who are leaving their employer
and Google should have handled this issue in the same way…
like
business.
Also, it should provide full refunds for the amount users
spent in
the marketplace, at least for purchased videos. When you buy a DVD from
a store, you get to keep it, unless it is defective in which case you
are offered a full refund or exchange.
A store does not simply say,
“Sorry, we will take that movie back and give you a $5 store credit.”
Just because the content is digital does not mean that it should not be
subject to the same terms that apply to retail purchases.
This news will keep me wary of future Google services, even
YouTube,
if Google tries another route with video on the web.
As a consumer, I
do not continue to funnel money into a service or company that has
failed or disappointed me, and I am sure that several of
Google’s video
purchasers will feel the same way. a mistake not to fully refund every
dollar in video purchases.
As TechCrunch
put it, “Users are going to be hesitant to try out Google services in
the future if they can’t believe that something they are
buying is
really theirs to keep.“
Michael Garrett is a contributing author discussing the social networking world, his work can be found on Profy.com
