Questia?

[verybaddmom]

Hi guys,
I was wondering if anyone here does subscribe, or ever has subscribed to "Questia"?
i sort of stumbled across it online a few times, and usually anything with a notice that reads "this is for subscribers only..." i just move on, as i always felt that i could find pretty much whatever i need online for free. however, the other day i was looking for something and questia came up in my search, and in a moment of stupidity, or curiosity (is there a difference?) i decided to view the "demo" for this subscription.

it actually seems really really cool.

A complete library, with searchable text..open 24 hours, where no book is ever "checked out" and you can highlight information in the text and directly quote and cite info, and it does your bibliography automatically, in whatever style you need (APA or MLA or whatever, they have 14 choices!), is it too good to be true??
i just wondered if anyone here has used it? if so, is it worth the $150.00 per year?

any responses would be appreciated......

:confused:

[den]

hehe hee, ok, I'll respond, ;) but only because you've convinced me to check it out ! I've heard of it, and it sounds great... I don't think I'd subscribe to this kind of site though only because I have a few great reference libraries at my disposal very close to where I live and I don't want to become a full-time hermit! :D

But for people who are not able to access stuff in person it sounds excellent as an online source!

[verybaddmom]

well, see that's the thing, Den...
im a full time single mom, and i am currently working two jobs, while trying to complete my degree and move to a different province, as well of as course, have a life...(HA HA). not only that, but I dont drive, so i rely heavily on public transit (which in a small town: SUCKS, as does our public library)
so i am looking for anything that will make life a little bit easier, such as an automatic dishwasher, chauffer, online library or sugar daddy (just kidding of course)!!
anyhow, take a peek, and let me know what you think. I would value a second opinion, as i've been ripped off before.

[amuse]

i'm confused it says 120 per annum - is that 150 in canadian dollars? just to expose my ignorance. :D would be nice if there were a trial thing for a week or so. i fully expected to hate it, but it looks really cool. 1. it looks simple, you get the citation, the bibliography'll be done for you, and 2. it begins to solve my most despised thing about online reading - keeping track of the last page you read. going page by page and remembering them on top of that looks extra helpful.
also, being able to cite a page directly - so many times i've wished for that with paper books.
i guess if you wanted to use the copy/paste feature you could still read, cite, and save money, but that wouldn't give you the footnotes, bibliography, convenience. so considering your workload, i might go for it.
but! - i vascillate a lot, and though am not trying to encourage you to - i'd get a third opinion. :)

[den]

It says all prices are in USD... so ... $120 per annum (yearly) would be, oh, about $300 CDN with the exchange and all :p

<j/k>

[verybaddmom]

Originally posted by amuse

i guess if you wanted to use the copy/paste feature you could still read, cite, and save money, but that wouldn't give you the footnotes, bibliography, convenience. so considering your workload, i might go for it.

the problem with the copy and paste feature is that you cannot access the books without subscribing; you can get a look at the title page and table of contents....sort of like a strip tease, without the strip!

[amuse]

oh! i guess leaves of grass is their only free book, then. hmmph!

[verybaddmom]

they do a free book "of the week"
yay for them....
yes. hmmph!

[IWilKikU]

Sounds good to me, if a bit expensive, but given your situation, I would go for it.

[verybaddmom]

i am then guessing that no one on here has ever subscribed, nor knows anyone who has?? i would really like to actually talk to someone who has used the service, before i go and blow the equivalent to $300. canadian on it.....

[IWilKikU]

understandable. Oh well, in this life, I guess sometimes you've just got to take a chance. If you do get it, let us know how it is yeah?

[WilliamBlake]

In 2004 someone asked about Questia. I subscribed and thought the service was adequate but not much better than what is offered by the University Library here. In fact, if your school grants you online access to their materials just use those, rather than subscribing to Questia.

Questia's billing practices and business policies are terrible. Their current rating with the BBB is unsatisfactory because they don't respond to complaints. They have a strict "NO REFUNDS EVER" policy. They auto-renew your subscription without so much as a courtesy email to ensure that you actually want to renew the service.

It's been a week since they dipped into my checking account and took $44.95 for the renewal fee.

I called the service department and they told me that they don't have to notify their customers before they auto-renew and charge the account that they have on file. They also told me they NEVER refund. What kind of business NEVER offers a refund?

I am going to submit my request to management in writing and send it via certified mail. I probably will never see my $44.95 (or at least a prorated amount since it has been a week) but I have to try. I also wanted to warn others about my experience. In fact, if anyone has any ideas about what I can do (effectively) in repsone to this, let me know.

Does anyone know how Questia is doing? Are they in financial trouble?

[Logos]

Welcome to LitNet WilliamBlake :)

I don't know the status of Questia, but what a terrible policy to not refund. ? Maybe you can go through your bank to cancel the payments.

I too would recommend that if one is able to, merely go to your local public or university library to access such services.

[wallacestevens]

Hi, I have just come across this thread whilst searching for anything related to problems people have had with Questia. I was subscribed to Questia but cancelled some years ago. However I have just discovered that they have been deducting money from my account for the past year or more without my re-subscribing (I mistook these payments for something else).

I have emailed them several times about this and these have been ignored. I live in England and feel quite hopeless about this, especially after having read your post. Surely taking money form someones account without permission is illegal? If anyone is interested I would like to start some kind of publicity campaign against Questia for doing this and for their general rule of never giving refunds (or responding to emails). Their behaviour is despicable.

[Shalot]

Good luck with that man! Their policy is no refunds ever! Have you talked to their customer service department? They'll just tell you that you have to tell them to cancel the account and that the subscription auto-renews and once that happens, they've got your money. And they will tell you that you agreed to it all when you signed up.

It is despicable. And did you really like their Web site that much? It's hardly worth the subscription price, much less a whole year's worth.

Because of Questia, I will never sign up for any kind of web site that makes you pay for an intangible like that. And now, most colleges give you online access to their libraries so no one would need to sign up for their crappy little site.

From what I can gather, they count on their overseas business. I truly feel sorry for you. Unless of course, you are a Questia employee....

Are you wallacestevens??? Because Questia had its employees go around and promote their online library when the company was first starting up. Are you an employee who is trolling around the internet trying to find out what people really think about it? Do you know Dermont?

[JBI]

1753 posts is hardly a lurker. I don't recommend buying any library resource online, though I highly recommend using public reference library material and university library material, all accessible online. These sites usually are scams, and even had they not been, any site that says they offer free versions of private books, to subscribers is scamming. Legally they would need to buy the rights to each book, unless of course they are stationed over seas, which in turn would make the site highly unethical.

[Shalot]

1753 posts is hardly a lurker. I don't recommend buying any library resource online, though I highly recommend using public reference library material and university library material, all accessible online. These sites usually are scams, and even had they not been, any site that says they offer free versions of private books, to subscribers is scamming. Legally they would need to buy the rights to each book, unless of course they are stationed over seas, which in turn would make the site highly unethical.

1753 is the number of posts that verybaddmom has and she doesn't come here anymore. wallacestevens, Questia's latest victim, has only 1 post so I was just wondering....

[Shalot]

You know what? I am very disappointed that wallacestevens has not responded to any of these posts. He's been ripped off, I've been ripped off and so has some chic from Kentucky and yet Questia continues to run their business laughing at us, accusing us of "bashing" their business.

Where are ya wallacestevens?