Main Site Blog Help

Chinesepod should extend for no charge the subscriptions of all members until services are resumed

#27

Thank you for responding, as I was contemplating starting a thread titled, “ChinesePod ----- Shambles.”

This type of polished, PR 101 response might have worked had you been proactive about addressing this situation from the beginning, but this response happened a number of weeks into your unannounced hiatus. This fostered ill will among your paying and loyal customers and reeks of a reactive response. For those of us that do not have time to avail of those private lessons, will you be able to add additional time to our memberships (especially if we have paid for a year), to compensate for you guys completely dropping the ball?

I have messaged your learning consultant privately about this.

I look forward to your response.

2 Likes
#28

I think it is a decent gesture for Chinesepod to offer a few mini one on one lesson credits for subscribers in lieu of an updated service.

One curious thing - I received an email response last night finally a week after I had sent a query about no new lessons saying my query had been resolved and new lessons were up. They aren’t. Not sure what is happening here? Anyone have any other news on this?

#29

I have been using ChinesePod for quite a few years now. Although I have studied many of the lessons in the archives up to Upper Intermediate level there are still more at Advanced and Media levels, apart from which revision is also an essential part of language learning. So I agree that there is plenty to be going on with while we wait, but I have always assumed that the cost of subscriptions assumed the regular appearance of new lessons at all levels. I feel strongly that the cost should be lower for access to the archives in the absence of new lessons, and an extension of subscriptions would be the tidiest solution.

5 Likes
#30

it is true there is a lot of content, but i’m more focus on the new one, and that’s also true there is nothing new since few weeks…

free private lesson… could be nice but i would prefer an extension of 1 or 2 months of my subscription :slight_smile:
But Let see what is the thing with 我想帮忙

2 Likes
#31

I joined ChinesePod for the fresh content, so I’m disappointed that this has stopped or paused.

I hope the management considered an extension of 2 months while they sort out how to move forward. I requested an extension, but the management team has not responded…

4 Likes
#32

I like Chinese Pod in general. However to pay 200$$/year is not a great price point. there are a lot of OLDER lessons but they are still useful. I would much rather see a tiered pricing system to access the older lessons ( e.g. 10$/month) while the company sorts out the new hosts and new lessons.

Once you lose customers, getting them back is hard. I am considering going back to chineselclass101 but prefer chinese pod since the video adds interest.

3 Likes
#33

There has not been a new Media lesson since 2014. Regardless of the amount of content (155 lessons, not an extraordinary amount), it shouldn’t take four years to add a new lesson.

#34

Hey PercyFawcett, I’m so sorry that you’ve waited so long for a new Media lesson. I’ll be sure to pass this information along.

1 Like
#35

Thank you, GraceWong !

1 Like
#36

Hi Grace. I think the Media lessons were discontinued. I personally found them very interesting, because it was not just studying Chinese, but also learning about some current news and developments along the way.

One problem with going back to the old lessons now is: They contain a link to the news source that they are referring to. I checked about 10 or so and in all cases that link was no longer working unfortunately.

So, should the media content be revived, I suggest that the original text/ video/ speech whatever should be available permanently. Of course, this might pose some copyright issues, but maybe you can finde one news platform willing to cooperate.

#37

Hello MisterXia! I’m so glad you are interested in the Media lessons! That is something that we are working on. We also see the problem with linking to articles or videos, because the other site may decide to take it down. So we are trying to see if we can get permission to have the media videos within our own. Thank you for your continued patience.

#38

That would be great. I know the whole copyright issue is a tangle (especially when you leave the Mainland!), but good and effective Media lessons (using ACTUAL media), in my opinion, would be the greatest asset. The average learner doesn’t need more than 50 Newbie lessons, yet there is a mountain of them; advanced learners could use almost unlimited Media lessons.

2 Likes
#39

New content is what made ChinesePod such a premier choice. People want to be current, to learn language related to major events and trends, and ChinesePod used to deliver that. The lack of fresh content added to the interface problems I have across multiple platforms makes the current offering less valuable than it used to be.

1 Like
#40

Hello JLindsay, we hope to change that VERY soon! Thank you for your patience and input. I’m sorry that you are having interface problems. I hope that we can get back to being very valuable to your Chinese learning journey!

#41

First let me say I love ChinesePod! As an elementary learner there is still plenty of content for me. But the value of ChinesePod is not just in the historical content but in feeling part of a community. I’m still missing Fiona, Constance and Gwillm. You can’t put a value on “knowing” the lesson presenters and being able to interact with them on the forum. I am desperate to “meet” the new presenters. Please let us know who they are as soon as possible and give us some new lessons. Than you ChinesePod. 谢谢

1 Like
#42

The business of learning Chinese online is very saturated now. Searching Google for situational Chinese lessons like Chinespod gives you so many different options.
Personally, I will have enough of material for the next 10 years perhaps. If someone is so advanced, they can watch Chinese TV or listen to radio in Chinese and learn new up to date vocabulary from there. But Chinesepod archives have enough to keep one busy. Just my 2 cents.

#43

Hello again Sarah! I love your enthusiasm and we hope to be able to continue to feed all appetites of Chinese learning. We are excited to have you with us!

#44

Ok, I am considering joining back up but frankly, a little skittish still. As a long time subscriber and as one of those that renewed by 3 month membership back in December I think CP should offer a 1 month free so we test the waters to see if this ‘new’ CP is what we want. I actually clicked upgrade me but then fearfully backed out.

-ck

#45

I subscribed first time on Dec 15, 2017. All this time I thought I didn’t have the correct filters on the app because I couldn’t find new content. I am only interested in videos, not audio (I’m visual), and I am listening to newbie and elementary lessons. Suffice to say there was not much new stuff to view. I wish I had received a personal email to inform me of the changes, and I would have appreciated an extension to my subscription while the new team gets in place. Change happens, and I hope it will be for the better, but not communicating anything directly to your customers is not a very good way to start.

1 Like
#46

We do currently have a two week free premium membership running if that will be helpful at all for you to dip your toes back in.