Unhandled Perception
From the mind of a developer.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

ThinkAll.com Home & Office download alternatives

In response to the popular posting I did about the poor business practices from Thinkall.com I will be posting download links to all software they are selling a subscription to.

The software may not be exact but these are my recommended applications in each category.

--Home & Office--

OpenOffice v2.0 Suite
http://www.openoffice.org/


Antivirus:

AVG
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/40/lng/ww


Firewall

ZoneAlarm:
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/...


--Bonus Applications--

Microsoft Windows Defender:
http://www.microsoft.com/.../spyware/software/default.mspx

Adaware:
http://www.lavasoft.com/software/adaware/

Spybot Search and Destroy:
http://www.safer-networking.org/

Honarable Mentions:

TheOpenCD:
http://theopencd.org

posted by Veign at 10:20 PM

32 Comments:

  • HEY ROBERT - ARE YOU STUCK ON STUPID?!

    I DON’T WANT YOUR CDS AND WANT TO RETURN THEM.

    I WANT NOTHING TO SO WITH YOUR FRAUDULENT COMPANY.

    ACCORDING TO YOUR "TERMS" I AM ALLOWED TO SEND THEM BACK. I NEED YOUR PHYSICAL ADDRESS, SO I CAN SEND THEM UPS!

    UPS DOES NOT SHIP TO POST OFFICE BOXES. FAILURE TO LET ME RETURN THESE CDS IS "BREACH OF CONTRACT" AND I WILL DISPUTE THE CHARGES COMPLETELY AND KEEP THE PRODUCT BECAUSE YOU REFUSE TO LET ME RETURN THEM. YOUR COMPANY IS NOT BEING REASONABLE.

    I WILL FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND MY CREDIT CARD IMMEDIATELY.

    HEIDI

    PS Are you running your company out of your garage? Afraid to actually give people your address because you have been scamming them?


    -----Original Message-----
    From: support@thinkall.com [mailto:www-data@secure.renovationexperts.com] On Behalf Of support@thinkall.com
    Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 8:56 PM
    Subject: RE: FW: From \'Write Your Representative\' Website

    Dear Heidi,

    Thank you for contacting Think All Publishing Customer Support.

    Currently we are only able to mail the package to the address you submitted during your order.

    If we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our Customer Service associates are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and may be reached at email support@thinkall.com.

    I hope that helps. Enjoy the software CDs!

    Have a great day!
    Robert

    Think All Publishing Customer Service


    -------- Original Message --------
    Subject:FW: From \'Write Your Representative\' Website
    Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2006 20:38:31 -0400

    Dear Support,

    Just received your email today which states.... Please be patient with us.

    As you know, we have been extremely busy the past few days due to

    unexpectedly high customer interest in our Software CD Offer.


    We will reply to you in less than 24 hours.

    Let's be honest....You are taking care of all of your complaints. Well, it

    will get ugly for you, because I just sent my complaints to the FTC, TX

    Attorney General, FLA Attorney General and the US Attorney General.

    Now, give me your street address so I can send these packages back via UPS

    (so they can be tracked) and then credit my account immediately!

    Thank you,

    Heidi


    PS. I would like to know why you have not posted your return policy on your website clearly. That is what legitimate companies do.

    -----Original Message-----

    From: Garrard, Maureen [mailto:Maureen.Garrard@myfloridahouse.gov] On Behalf
    Of Grant, Michael
    Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 11:06
    Cc: Grant, Michael
    Subject: RE: From \'Write Your Representative\' Website

    Dear Heidi,

    Representative Grant thanks you for writing, and asked me to respond on his behalf. I \'googled\' Thinkall and learned they are a Plano, Texas company, and not well thought of in cyberspace. This link has a lot of useful information from people like yourself.

    http://www.veign.com/blog/2006/01/thinkallcom-think-again.html
    Because state legislators have no jurisdiction over internet complaints,

    I have taken the liberty of including Dick Keen, the District Director for your Congressman Mark Foley, with this email for his review and reply. Please feel free to contact our office on state issues of interest or concern to you.

    Sincerely,

    Maureen Garrard, Legislative Aide
    Representative Michael Grant, District 71
    -----Original Message-----

    Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2006 8:46 PM
    To: Grant, Michael
    Subject: From \'Write Your Representative\' Website

    06/07/06 8:46 PM

    To the Honorable Michael J. Grant;
    Here is a copy of a letter that I sent to an internet company that practices bad business and I believe fraudulent business, but unfortunately because it is the internet there are no laws that have been passed to protect the consumer.

    Here is my solution:

    YOUR COMPANY HAS TAUGHT ME A VERY VALUABLE LESSON AND I THINK THAT LEGISLATION NEEDS TO MAKE MANDATED CHANGES THAT ALL COMPANIES WHO DO BUSINESS IN THE USA, MUST HAVE AN EMAIL, MAILING ADDRESS & STREET

    ADDRESS, A PHONE NUMBER TO CONTACT THE BUSINESS & THE EXACT NAME OF THE COMPANY AND WHERE A COMPANY IS INCORPORATED.
    ANY BUSINESS THAT IS REPUTABLE WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM DOING SUCH A THING. JUST LOOK AT WEBSITE. WWW.L3TECHNOLOGIES.COM

    Here is the letter I sent to Thinkall.com:
    Emailed Thinkallpublishing on 06/07/06
    info@thinkall.com

    I DON'T WANT TO BE IN YOUR PROGRAM !!
    I WANT TO RETURN EVERYTHING AND SEND IT BACK VIA UPS I NEED A STREET ADDRESS NOT A POST OFFICE BOX I JUST SPOKE TO ROBERT AT x302 AND HE BASICALLY TOLD ME I WAS SCREWED AND STUCK WITH A BILL OF $49.95 BECAUSE I AGREED TO YOUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS WHERE I GUESS YOU HAVE COMPLETELY HIDDEN THESE CHARGES IN YOUR LEGAL-EASE.

    WHAT I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING WAS 4 CDS FOR ONLY $2.95.

    I HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU PEOPLE WERE GOING TO KEEP SENDING ME AND BILLING ME FOR CRAP THAT I NEVER ORDERED.

    I AM CONTACT MY MERCHANT IMMEDIATELY FOR FRAUD AND WILL REQUEST FROM THEM YOUR STREET ADDRESS, SO I CAN SEND BACK ALL OF YOUR CDS!

    I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR COMPANY AND WANT YOUR COMPANY TO CEASE AND DESIST IMMEDIATELY. IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOUR COMPANY BILLS ME OR SEND ME ANYMORE UNWANTED CRAP THEN I WILL FORWARD THIS INFORMATION TO THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE.

    YOUR WEBSITE DOES NOT GIVE ME ANYWAY TO CONTACT YOUR COMPANY VIA PHONE OR MAIL. ONLY VIA EMAIL!!!!!!!!! YOUR WEBSITE DOES NOT GIVE ME EVEN A STREET ADDRESS AND THE EXACT NAME OF YOUR COMPANY AND WHERE YOU ARE INCORPORATED.

    I RARELY BUY THINGS ON THE INTERNET AND YOUR COMPANY HAS REINFORCED WHY I DO NOT!

    I DEMAND A CREDIT FOR $49.95 THAT WAS BILLED TO MY CARD 5/1/06 AND YOUR COMPANY BETTER NOT HAVE BILLED MY CARD AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE YOU BETTER CREDIT IT NOW!

    THANK YOU FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!

    Heidi

    PS.

    IF YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE ENTER MONTHLY CONTRACTS AND THAT AT NO TIME IS IT CLEARLY STATED ANYWHERE ON YOUR WEBSITE, THEN HIDING IT IN YOUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS IS NOTHING BUT PURE INTERNET FRAUD.

    ALL REPUTABLE WEBSITES DO NOT HIDE A MONTHLY FEE OR CONTRACT IN THE TERMS AND CONDITION, THEY HAVE A SEPARTE HYPERLINK CLEARLY DISPLAYED ON THERE WEBSITE. IN ADDITION, ALL REPUTABLE COMPANIES THAT DO INTERNET SALES ALSO HAVE THEIR RETURN POLICIES HYPERLINK EASY DISPLAYED ON ALL THEIR SALES PAGES.

    YOUR COMPANY HAS TAUGHT ME A VERY VALUABLE LESSON AND I THINK THAT LEGISLATION NEEDS TO MAKE MANDATED CHANGES THAT ALL COMPANIES WHO DO

    BUSINESS IN THE USA, MUST HAVE AN EMAIL, MAILING ADDRESS & STREET

    ADDRESS, A PHONE NUMBER TO CONTACT THE BUSINESS & THE EXACT NAME OF THE COMPANY AND WHERE A COMPANY IS INCORPORATED.
    ANY BUSINESS THAT IS REPUTABLE WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM DOING SUCH A THING.JUST LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE.WWW.L3TECHNOLOGIES.COM

    Thank you very much for your time and hope that just this very simple request might change how businesses do business and where consumers will be more protected. I am not a dumby and I have never had a problem doing business on the internet, but I did this time because how this company set up their contract and hid it in the terms and condition.

    Please let me know what can be done about this situation.

    Sincerely,

    Heidi

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:50 PM EST  

  • Thinkall got me too here in Virginia, The telephone operators are rude. I cannot believe this company is still in business. Everything that others have said about thinkall is true. If you believe in former customers complaint believe us and do not buy it's a bad BUSINESS. It goes to show do not do business over the internet. I plan to file a complaint with my attrney General Office as well. I was charged 49.90 myself and unable to get a refund.

    By Anonymous Michelle, at 3:29 PM EST  

  • WHAT IS THIS ABOUT? I ORDERED THE CD ROM FOR WINDOWS FOR $2.96 AND WAS TOLD I COULD CHOOSE FOUR FOR FREE. HAS ANYONE OUT THERE DONE THIS? IS THIS COMPANY FOR REAL? DO THEY STAND BEHIND THERE OFFERS?THANKS!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:35 PM EST  

  • Its a scam. DO NOT purchase their CD's

    By Blogger Veign, at 9:25 AM EST  

  • anonymous!
    I ordered the free family tree CD'S. I have been severly spammed with crappy offers, I do not want. The cd does not work, In order to get it to work I will have to spend money to subscribe to their site. If you see anything that says
    Think all Run, run fast.
    Someone need to do something about this company!!!!!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:31 AM EST  

  • I agree with all that has been said. The CDs do not work and are in danger of screwing up your computer. I am reporting this outfit to credit card and anyone else that I can think of.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:21 AM EST  

  • i have also orderd their 2.94 cd and have not recived them.and they said i would get them 1-2 business days. what a crock.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:51 AM EST  

  • This outfit is a downright scam and their CSR is downright rude. They sure are not ethical or moral in their business practices. They are hiding on the fringes of legality and their website is an outright fraud!! Maybe if enough people complain to the attorney gen'l of their states something will be done to shut this mutant @#%^&* down. They don't deserve any courtesy for the scam that they are running and the customer service helpline is a joke! Everything that I have read on this site is just duplicated over and over with each "unsuspecting" customer that gets sucked in and we aren't all dummies. They do hide their terms in legaleze and one is led to believe that they are getting this software for $2.95 and then are unknowingly hit for the $49.90 after the fact. This is one of the most unscrupulous companies that I have ever had the misfortune to run across. They feel that they are above the law because they are doing business over the internet??! Well, if that "IS" the case then the laws need to be changed. The ole Texas days of tar and feathering might not be a bad idea with the arrogance of these guys. Maybe a class action suit against these scumbags. What do ya'll think.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:09 PM EST  

  • I agree with all these other people! This is bullshit!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:14 AM EST  

  • Hi friends,
    I became another victim to this scam. I am unable to mail these cds and my account was billed the 49.90. Can you give me any advice on a solution.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:19 AM EST  

  • Only advice is to read the comments of others. The only chance on getting your money back is to block the transaction with the credit card company and file a fraud charge.

    By Blogger Veign, at 10:12 AM EST  

  • Add me to the list of duped customers. I did however speak with a friendly customer service person (who must feel like dirt having to explain to every customer that the company hides the sales and billing information in the fine print) and obtained a return number for my unwanted second package:

    Thinkall Publishing
    Attn. Return Department
    POB 462009
    Garland, TX 75046-2009

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:08 AM EST  

  • The terms and conditions are very hard to find.

    They are at the very bottom of the page (accessed via a click underline)

    However, I looked at them after sending the submit button. I have cancelled my order and this has been accepted.

    Unfortunately this type of business does not promote a good reputation for the United States of America. "In God (we may) Trust" - but we can not trust free enterprise capitalism.

    Anon. (beyond the Atlantic Ocean)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:43 PM EST  

  • I got ripped off by this company also. This was my first purchase over the Internet and it left a bad taste in my mouth. I did not trust their cancellation procedure so I cancelled my credit card as a precaution. Unfortunatly, this type of scam hurts legitimate businesses. I am certainly skeptical now!!!

    By Anonymous Ripped Off In Canada, at 3:41 PM EST  

  • I SUDDENLY FEEL A LITTLE LESS IDIOTIC FOR THINKING I WAS RECEIVING 4 SOFTWARE CD'S FOR UNDER $3--ONCE I GOT THE PACKAGE I USED THEIR OPEN OFFICE CD TO CREATE MY RESUME AND LOOK FOR A JOB--DID NOT SEE THE OFFER STIPULATIONS ON THE BACK OF THE PACKAGE AND THEY BILLED MY BANK ACCOUNT FOR 49.95 CAUSING A $30 OVERDRAFT FEE AND BEING UNEMPLOYED I KNOW THAT I WOULD NOT AGREE TO SUCH A CONTRACT BECAUSE I AM FORGETFUL ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS AND I WANT TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAS EVER TRULY GOTTEN A REFUND FROM THESE CYBER-CROOKS!!!!!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:06 AM EST  

  • Told the company My bank was filling Fraud charges and my money was returned.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:58 PM EST  

  • Good Job

    By Blogger Veign, at 9:14 PM EST  

  • ! ! ! BE WARNED ! ! !

    From terms and conditions on their site.

    7. Membership and Billing. THINK ALL provides numerous products, services, and software in connection with its business. With respect to software provided hereunder, there is a non-refundable shipping and handling fee for the initial complete four CD software set. You may keep any two CD’s free of charge. The other two CD’s are yours to review during a ten day trial period. If for any reason you decide the complete set is not for you, simply visit us at www.thinkall.com/freeCD.html before your ten day free trial expires. You will need to follow the instructions at such web link to indicate your intention to return two of the CD’s, and you will not be charged for the complete four CD set. If you elect to keep all four CD’s or you otherwise fail to comply with the foregoing instructions, you will be billed the discounted price of $24.95 (which is up to 80% off the store price) for each of the other two CD’s. Every four to five weeks, you will receive four new THINK ALL software CD’s based on your preferences with the same ten day trial terms as your first shipment described above. You may discontinue shipments any time by visiting our web site at http://www.thinkall.com/freeCD.html, for more information and filling out the appropriate cancellation information therein contained.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:53 PM EST  

  • Greetings Everyone

    I also became a victim of this one, hard to believe I fell for it after being on the net since around 96 or so. But there was absolutely nothing mentioned about the fee's at least in the legal method of doing so. It is in fact illegal to transact business in the method they used, I think the legal department called it misrepresentation of appropriation or something to that effect. And if you have a bank or credit card service worth a hill of beans they are more then willing to take actions to secure your money back.

    Now that being said, I just called them at the US number listed on the https://www.thinkall.com/processcancelation.php
    web site. I talked with a sweet young lady named Megan and told her that I was not happy with the method they used in taking my money and that I wanted to know if I could have it refunded or if I needed to go ahead and let my bank and CC Service take it as they were just awaiting my word. She very politely aaked my information once she confirmed who I was she replied that a refund would be there within 2-4 days and if it wasn't to call her again. She also stated that she would make her superiors aware of my concerns and that they had been recieveing "MANY" of the responses. I also kind of mentioned that a certain web site was collecting information regarding there company and was considering a Class Action Law Suite to deal with it. But as with any poor sole that has to man the phones she has little or no input on the action of the company she works for so, Try just being polite yet firm in your request for refund and you will most likely get it.

    If in the next week or so I am still out about $50 on crap ware then I am going to lower the boom on them and let my legal department at work have some fun with it.

    Good Day and Happy Holidays!
    Jim

    By Blogger BountyHunter, at 12:54 PM EST  

  • I do not want any more CD's sent to me.
    I will send back the ones you sent me. I received them today.
    Ihank you, please no more

    By Blogger donal, at 6:52 AM EST  

  • I have been trying for days to cancel my CDs. I CANNOT OPEN THE SITE TO CANCEL. THIS IS A BIG RIP OFF AND I AM RINGING CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO COMPLAIN.

    By Anonymous Joan, at 2:48 AM EST  

  • I, too, have been having problems reaching the company to cancel. Here's the contact info that I have for them. Got info from Better Business Bureau:

    Think All Publishing, LLC
    5700 Granite Pkwy STE 200
    Plano, TX 75024-6623

    Phone: 1800-462-8144
    (not that they'll answer, but it is fun to ring them up before you go to bed and leave the phone connection open all night thus running up their phone bill).

    You can file a complaint with the BBB here:
    http://www.dallas.bbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=90024470&language=1

    When requesting yur bank reverse all charges, reference this Better Business Bureau listing: http://www.dallas.bbb.org/news_20060630.html

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:38 AM EST  

  • The Mailing Address for this company is:

    ThinkAll Publishing
    5700 Granite Parkway, Suite 200
    Pino, Texas 75024
    USA

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:09 PM EST  

  • OOOps I think I have been done as well.....I have recieved two of their packages.....did not have time to think of sending them back over christmas so was resigned to the fact that I will have to keep them......Tried to go onto the web site to cancell everything but the web site appears to have vanished all links are dead.....No phone number no address aghhhhh

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:02 AM EST  

  • I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT!!!! I felt it in my gut, and yet I still fell for it. Yep, and now I have been desperatly trying to reach someone on the phone at there scam office only to continue to get a recording saying that they are currently un-avalible.(all day,everyday), then I tried the web-site and it's closed down thats how I found you guy's and a couple of other site's to compare complaints. I have had any and all transactions involving thinkall Blocked from my bank account and changed my credit card, those thinkall people were going crazy with pulling money from my account and the ten days arent even up. the last time I talked to them 01-10-07 to stop the order they claimed that there computers were down and could
    nt pull up my order but they could take a new order??? Boy,oh Boy people I'm just going to tell ya now, the only thing we are going to be able to do to save our bank accounts is to cancel your credit cards and get a different acc#. At least until the ftc.BBB, Att.Generals or somebody gets on these people oh andto the person who thinks that there head Qrt is in Plano Tx? get this they also have a head Qrt's in Garland Tx too and when I called information to try and get a different # for them beside that useless 800# the operator said that there is'nt even a listing in Plano or Garland for a think all Publishing.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:54 PM EST  

  • From another comment on a blog post of mine:

    "I did a reverse address for ThinkAll Publishing with the address I got from one of these posts. The Address was 5700 Granite Parkway Suite 200 - Plano, Texas. I did this on online Yellow Pages. The name of the company I got at this address is Bluestreak. Their number is (214)387-6030. At first the receptionist (Amy) told me she could hook me up with ThinkAll's voicemail. She wouldn't give me the number only wanted to connect me. Then i asked her to let me speak with her supervisor and she said there was no supervisor but another lady did get on the phone (Lena) and told me that ThinkAll only had a mailbox there and hung up on me. Now i know that this outfit is connected with ThinkAll Publishing.
    You cannot get through on their 800 number which is 1-800-462-8144.
    Also their website has been shut down. They might be trying to change it (?). Their old I.P. address is http:/204.10.68.120 and I think they are trying to change it to: http:/69.25.142.5
    Anyways, I was trying to be an internet detective...lol.
    The lady hung up on me after i told her i was investigating ThinkAll Publishing. She sounded like one of their friendly Customer Service helpers."

    By Blogger Veign, at 6:19 PM EST  

  • Anybody that as problems with THINKALL PUBLISHING, LLC,
    contact the better buisness bureau on the web and file a complaint at:
    BBB.org than under File a complaint clik Business and fill out the complaint forms.

    I have filed a complaint With BBB.org

    By Anonymous nancy, at 10:08 AM EST  

  • uvuagI am canceling this cd set I think that these are wrong and i dont want them. I was foolish by ordering the cds. I am disasattisfied with the cds and i am cancelling my order with you. I am not paying for the two cds since it is such a bad deal. I sending the two cds back to you. This date is janurary 23, 2006.

    By Anonymous lisa ayers, at 7:43 PM EST  

  • I requested my bank to transfer my account and ask them to send me new visa card before the ten days... I knew something suspicious but too late. They didn't charge me yet because the ten days didn't expire but I'm still wondering am I still safe away from their company?

    By Blogger Kid, at 12:09 PM EST  

  • Christy, thinkall are a bunch of crooks.I was scammed but they did not get any money from me thanks to your site.The US goverment should do something about THINKALL. Thanks again

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:17 PM EST  

  • I Ordered think all from a link at Mac World Magazine as a subscriber to that I felt their links to recommended resalers could be trusted. They were reporting on Mac Expo and the link was one of 3 in their banner. I have not received any products and have been unable to contact them at the website or by email. I think the scam has gone underground. I've pasted the email they sent me conforming my order in the post
    Thank you for your order!

    HELP US GIVE THESE CDs AWAY!
    Please email 5 friends, coworkers, family members and
    neighbors about our website - http://www.thinkall.com - so
    they can also take advantage of this Software CDs offer
    before it ends. They will thank you many times over
    (and so will we :-) .

    ------------------------------------------

    Your customer number is xxxxxxxx
    Your order number is 1495121.

    You will receive:
    OpenOffice 2.0 Office Suite
    Solitaire & Mahjongg Explosion
    Study the Bible Deluxe Edition
    Sudoku & Puzzles Explosion

    Your 4 CDs will be shipped to:
    XXXXXXX
    XXXXXXX

    Your 4 CDs will be quickly processed and shipped to you
    within 1-2 business days. Thank you once again for choosing
    Think All Publishing. Enjoy your software!

    Questions? Please e-mail customer service at support@thinkall.com.

    the email from them is dated January 10th 2007.

    A good lesson, is never to trust a link even from people you know and trust as the $ motive may cloud their judgement

    By Anonymous bob, at 12:21 AM EST  

  • Please note that these rogues have been shut down by the US FTC

    http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/01/manay.htm

    Regards

    Jeff K

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:37 PM EST  

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