VitalSource TechnologiesReviews of vitalsource.com

You can only use the books within their "bookshelf", you can't export in any way and the reader only let you see 1 page at a time and has to load the next page when you turn a page. You should be able to export it in ePub so you can use a better reader, but then they can't force users to stay on their platform.

"Ready anywhere" except when they never send the confirmation email so you it's literally never ready ever.

Very poor customer service. I am a faculty member and changes institutions. They refused to update my account to reflect my new work email. They gave me no solutions other than, sorry we can't do that. Totally unacceptable and horrible customer service.

I purchased an e textbook that said I'd get access through vital source reading bookshelf app. After purchasing it I couldn't get the access code to work and after a convoluted conversation with support I learned it had to be redeemed on the publishers website. Had issues with the publisher and learned that my instructor needed to create a course and send me a link for access before I'd be able to access the course but my instructor doesn't use that publishers platform. All this to say there's no way I can get access to the ebook I purchased and vital source never told me there were conditions on the access or gave me a refund. Really bad setup overall where I was not informed of the conditions of access before I purchased the book. Lost $50 to this site. Please be careful to know the conditions before you buy from them!

I just can't understand how such an app, which is intended for reading non-fiction and professional books, can be that bad. Alignments are horrible, the choice of fonts is extremely frustrating, you can't download books on more than 2 devices (in 2024!!), the "paginated" view has more bugs than an app from 10 years ago. This is just shameful and subpar.

Poor customer service. e-Textbook does not scroll through entire chapter. Have to click each section one at a time. Tech support is horrendous. All they can tell me is it's working on their side. Well obviously isn't working on my side. One book did work and then stop scolling. No one wants to reach out and figure out why not working. In the meantime, I have to click through each section of a chapter. This has been going on since the day I purchased the first textbook and it's a week later.

Don't use Vital Source -You paid full price for the book -like you own the textbook Vital Source does not allow you to download your textbook if forgotten regardless if there was a pandemic or any crisis. I purchased a textbook in 2021 and I forgot to download it. I requested they allow me to download the book. Also, you have to again buy storage to store the textbook. They tried to differentiate their services, but they cannot overcome these challenges. They are taking advantage of their customers. They should provide a refund or allow customers to download their textbooks free of charge

Dont rent a textbook from them