The Great Courses Plus offers an extensive library of educational video courses spanning subjects from history and science to arts and languages through a subscription streaming model. RetailCoupons.com provides ratings and reviews to help you understand what customers experience when subscribing to their service, including feedback on course quality, platform usability, customer support, and billing practices.
The Great Courses Reviews
2.5
15 reviews
What Shoppers Say About The Great Courses
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
The Great Courses Plus receives highly polarized feedback, with shoppers divided between those praising the extensive course library and long-standing quality, and those frustrated by recent declines. Long-time customers appreciate the breadth of educational content and note that customer support has historically been responsive, though one reviewer highlighted account consolidation assistance. However, significant concerns dominate recent feedback: customers report the platform appears outdated with aging course material, criticize the shift away from purchasable DVDs to streaming-only access, complain about aggressive auto-renewal practices and refusal to issue refunds, express worry about the company's financial stability and course accessibility, and note that support emails go unanswered.
A major recurring complaint involves billing practices, with customers reporting being locked into auto-renewal after promotional multi-year upfront payments and denied refunds despite immediate cancellation requests. Others lament the loss of the ability to own courses permanently, whether through DVD or downloadable formats, and feel trapped by forced migration to the Plus subscription model. The perception of declining educational rigor and institutional integrity since recent ownership changes, combined with concerns about the platform's long-term viability, suggests that while the core course content remains valuable to some, the business model and operational changes have significantly eroded customer trust.
Customer Reviews (15)
Sorted by: Most recentSandra M.Nov 11, 2022
My father passed away and had ten unopened courses still in boxes. The company claims they provide a lifetime warranty or a one-year no questions asked refund. I sent the unused items back for a refund but they rejected the return and wouldn't give me my money back. They told me the guarantee only applied to the original purchaser and wasn't transferable. Those items were worth £500. It's unacceptable.
Patrick D.Sep 18, 2021
Best bang for your buck you'll find anywhere. You can add it as a channel through Amazon Prime and explore a bunch of different subjects. These aren't quite PhD-level classes, but they definitely beat typical cable programming like the Discovery Channel. The full programs are really comprehensive and give you a lot to work with.
Michelle T.Dec 10, 2020
Stay away completely. These people are running a scam and draining funds straight from your bank account. I had a 3-month membership and cancelled it over a week before anything was due since they'd already charged me in October. To be extra safe, I got a new credit card and deleted my old one from their system. Turns out they had saved it anyway and used it to pull $178.18 for a yearly plan without permission. Don't waste your time with this company.
Margaret H.Oct 13, 2020
Honestly couldn't be happier with this company. I've been a customer for the past decade, taking courses in history, linguistics, science, literature, music, economics, theology, and photography. Everything's been outstanding except for one course. I've actually gone through some of them multiple times. These classes have expanded my thinking, taught me new things, and kept me entertained, particularly the lectures by Profs Robert Greenberg and John McWhorter. Plus they'll refund your money right away if a course doesn't work out for you. Really, what's not to love?
Robert M.Aug 1, 2020
Fantastic stuff. World-class instructors and tons of different courses available, many running 24 lectures deep. It's basically like attending college (went myself back in the 70s) except you're paying just £18 monthly! My one question though: why are nearly all the teachers from America?
The Great Courses Review FAQ
How is The Great Courses Plus rated on RetailCoupons.com?
The Great Courses Plus is rated 2.5 out of 5 based on 15 customer reviews. Ratings show a sharp polarization: 53 percent give one star, 27 percent give five stars, and 20 percent give three stars, with no two or four-star reviews, indicating customers either have strong positive or negative experiences.
What do customers praise about The Great Courses Plus?
Satisfied customers highlight the vast course library covering diverse subjects, the quality and knowledgeability of instructors, and historically responsive customer support. Long-time patrons who purchased DVDs and physical materials report consistent top-notch products, and some appreciate the convenience of the streaming platform for accessing a large collection.
What are the main complaints about The Great Courses Plus?
Customers consistently report problematic billing practices, including aggressive auto-renewal after promotional multi-year payments and refusals to issue refunds even when cancellation is requested immediately. Additional complaints include outdated course material, the elimination of DVD purchases in favor of streaming-only access, forced migration to subscription models, unresponsive support email, perceived decline in educational rigor since ownership changes, and concerns about the company's financial stability.
Do customers recommend The Great Courses Plus?
Recommendations are sharply divided. Long-time customers with extensive course collections generally recommend the service if you value the educational content, though some express reservations about access sustainability. However, potential new subscribers are warned against signing up due to billing practices and concerns about whether purchased course access will remain available long-term.
How can I write a review of The Great Courses Plus on RetailCoupons.com?
You can submit a review on the RetailCoupons.com store page for The Great Courses Plus by rating your experience from one to five stars and sharing details about what you liked or disliked, including your experience with course quality, the streaming platform, customer support, pricing, and billing practices. Honest, specific reviews help other shoppers make informed decisions.