As near as I can tell, The Learning Company, TLC and SoftKey
are all related somehow. Probable just different marketing branches of the same company
because all the names are on product packaging that I have seen.
In 1997, I received a telemarketing call from these people offering some software. Of
course they said if I wasn't satisfied with it, I could just return it at no charge. (the
name is not important) I accepted the offer and about 3 weeks later the software arrived.
Around the same time, I saw some software for web publishing at a local store. Upon
reading the outside of the box, I saw that it would work with either Windows 3.1 or
Windows 95 so I purchased the software. It was from SoftKey. Upon arriving home, I
tryed to install the software and it would not install. It was written on the outside of
the box that it would work with Windows 3.1, on the CD itself, and had instructions on how
to install with Windows 3.1. I looked up the company on the internet and sent them an
email seeking technical support. I received an email back stating that the program would
not work with Windows 3.1 and they would refund my money if I mailed the software back.
Well I had a choise. I could spend the money for postage or drive 25 miles back to the
store for a refund. Neither of which I would have had to do if not for deceptive
marketing. I returned the software to the store along with a copy of the email and showed
it to the store manager. She promised to alert the purchasing agents. I was not satisfied
with the software that I had received in the mail either so I returned that by mail. Six
months later, I was still receiving bills in the mail for that software. Finally after
about 4 long distance phone calls, the bills stopped.
Whenever I see a computer product with any of the above names on it, I steer clear no
matter how promising it looks because I do not trust what they put on their packaging.
If you have had any bad experiences with this company or group of companies, feel free to email me.