Several months ago I heard a commercial on the radio, promoting the Rosetta Stone program for learning a foreign language.  The commercial promised that if I called their toll free number that they would send me a free sample DVD/CD (whatever it is) of their program, so I could see for myself how they teach the foreign language.

So, after I got home I called the toll free number.  The answering machine loop thing that they have put me on hold for about twenty minutes, after which I was disconnected.  So I called back.  Same thing happened again.  And again.  And again.  Finally, I got through to a live person and requested the free sample.  The representative asked me if I knew what language I would like to learn and I told her that I would like to learn Spanish.  She said that since I already knew what language I wanted to learn I should simply go ahead and spend the $300 and buy their program.  I told her that I was not ready to buy the program, I wanted the free sample.  She argued with me for about five minutes, and finally agreed to send me the free sample.  That was last October.  It is now March, and the free sample has not arrived yet.

I have seen more commercials for Rosetta Stone on tv since then, and I have tried about eight times to call them again and ask for a free sample (since the first representative apparently never processed my request) and I can’t get through to them at all.

I’m not impressed.