TutorVista Prank

TutorVista is this site that supposedly helps you with your homework.  You're supposed to pay for the service, but it says get a FREE answer right there on their site.

It all started when I had an AP Chemistry problem.  I don't even remember what the question was -- it was something about why benzene having equal bond lengths between the carbons even though there are alternating single and double bonds between the carbons in the six-ring chain (in case you're wondering, it's because of delocalized electrons moving between the bonds in the resonance structure of benzene).  So I saw TutorVista's site and their bold claim for a free tutor (a.k.a. free answer for me).

So I go on their site.  I wait a little bit, "talk" to their so-called Academic Coordinator, and realize that it's a trick into getting you to buy their service!  I asked the guy my question, and he didn't answer or address my question.  The guy just respond with something along the lines of: "Sign up and we'll help you... let me assist you in subscribing."

OK, so I was annoyed a little.  Maybe this was a fluke.  Maybe it will go better next time.  I was still kind of interested in this site.  So I tried again.  Same thing.  No relevant responses and pure advertising for their services.  Now I was kind of interested, but not in getting my question answered.  I was more interested in seeing how stubborn they are to NOT answer questions.

After trying this a few more times, I realized something a few things:

• They say the same thing over and over again.  They have scripts to do it and they pretty much abuse this.  Anything they don't want to respond to, you get a scripted response that had nothing to do with what you just said.
• They won't answer your question basically no matter what.  I asked some guy how many sides a trapezoid had, and he just wouldn't answer.  When I asked someone the answer to 1 + 1, thank goodness he said 2.  That was pretty much the only answer I got.
• It takes desperate means to get a tutor (such as pretending you're going to sign up on the condition that you get a free trial -- even this only works some of the time), who might not even be able to answer your question.
• In their demonstrations of their "white board" tool (which is actually a cool idea), they use fully copied stuff, verbatim off other websites like Wikipedia.  I saw their exact copy word-for-word example of the Carbon Cycle because I just happened to have read that same article earlier for Science Olympiad.

Anyway, so I decided to prank them a little.  Remember the sequence question (see Some Sequence Puzzles)?  I asked their Math Tutor that same question, and pretty much nobody could get the answer.  Some could, but not nearly a satisfactory percentage.  Plus, some of their guys were really nice, so you have to give the site some credit.

You could say I have no life for doing this.  I got some laughs out of it.  Perhaps you will, too.  They told me that it's because of prankers that they stopped giving out their free tutor sessions.  I bet that's what drives the prankers.  It's a vicious cycle.  Fewer answers, less customer satisfaction, more prankers, and it goes on and on.  Which brings up a good question: what came first -- the prankers or the no-answer policy?  (Sadly, but probably true, the prankers came first.)

Here is an example of a transcript of our conversation (from "TutorVista Chat.txt"):

Welcome to TUTORVISTA !

Type your question in chat window below.

[ 08:40:46 PM ] Acad Coordinator : May I have your name and grade please?

[ 08:40:51 PM ] Guest : Hello

[ 08:41:08 PM ] Tutor : We have a large number of requests for demo sessions. Please wait for a moment while our expert tutor joins us.

[ 08:41:10 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Hi

[ 08:41:19 PM ] Guest : I got this directly off your site:

[ 08:41:23 PM ] Guest : Free Online Math Help TutorVista also offers a free demo service. Using our demo service you get free online Math help and experience the benefits of our tutoring yourself. Click here to use our free online Math demo Tutoring service.

[ 08:41:32 PM ] Guest : undefined

[ 08:41:35 PM ] Guest : undefined

[ 08:41:38 PM ] Guest : undefined

[ 08:41:39 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Okay

[ 08:41:51 PM ] Guest : everybody here tells me there is no free trial

[ 08:41:52 PM ] Acad Coordinator : TutorVista has featured on NBC, BBC and The New York Times as the most affordable tutoring service

[ 08:41:59 PM ] Guest : how come I can't get a free trial?

[ 08:42:03 PM ] Guest : Are you able to do that for me?

[ 08:42:18 PM ] Guest : i have 3 Test questions to see if the tutor is able to handle my caliber of questions

[ 08:42:47 PM ] Guest : Hey, Jimmy, are you there?

[ 08:42:52 PM ] Guest : George?

[ 08:42:53 PM ] Guest : Jane?

[ 08:42:54 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Yes I'm

[ 08:43:04 PM ] Guest : Did you get my request?

[ 08:43:14 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Yes I got it.

[ 08:43:23 PM ] Guest : Are you able to fulfill it?

[ 08:43:34 PM ] Guest : And pardon my brusqueness, but what is your name?

[ 08:43:34 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Let me check

[ 08:43:44 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Jane

[ 08:43:51 PM ] Guest : I got it right by guessing?

[ 08:45:06 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Okay

[ 08:45:22 PM ] Guest : Okay what?

[ 08:45:29 PM ] Acad Coordinator : All the tutors are booked for the regular session.So I suggest you to sign up with us and start taking regular sessions now.

[ 08:45:38 PM ] Guest : That's rather annoying, then

[ 08:45:46 PM ] Guest : Because your site said I could have a free trial

[ 08:46:22 PM ] Acad Coordinator : You will get unlimited help in the regular sessions

[ 08:46:24 PM ] Guest : I have a question about your service

[ 08:46:31 PM ] Guest : Please, no scripts, YOUR responses only

[ 08:46:38 PM ] Guest : OK? Will you answer, Jane?

[ 08:46:47 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Sure

[ 08:46:57 PM ] Guest : How many tutors do you guys have?

[ 08:47:32 PM ] Guest : did you get my question?

[ 08:47:39 PM ] Guest : This one doesn't take any time to solve =)

[ 08:47:39 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Yes

[ 08:47:45 PM ] Acad Coordinator : We have more than 2000 well qualified tutors available round the clock

[ 08:47:57 PM ] Guest : how many acad coordinators?

[ 08:48:15 PM ] Acad Coordinator : There are morethan 300,000 students with us online.

[ 08:48:35 PM ] Guest : how many acad coordinators?

[ 08:49:28 PM ] Acad Coordinator : We have more than 30000 ACADs

[ 08:49:56 PM ] Guest : why do you have 30000 Acads, yet only 2000 tutors

[ 08:49:59 PM ] Guest : The ratio is WAY off

[ 08:50:12 PM ] Guest : Especially because you guys don't actually answer any questions

[ 08:50:20 PM ] Acad Coordinator : TutorVista has featured on NBC, BBC and The New York Times as the most affordable tutoring service

[ 08:50:21 PM ] Guest : regarding academics

[ 08:50:32 PM ] Guest : TutorVista has featured on NBC, BBC and The New York Times as the most affordable tutoring service

[ 08:50:34 PM ] Guest : That's a script

[ 08:50:37 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Do you need the press link so that you can get our reviews

[ 08:50:38 PM ] Guest : Remember, please don't use those

[ 08:50:50 PM ] Guest : I've seen the reviews, both positive and negative

[ 08:50:54 PM ] Guest : I want to see for mysel

[ 08:50:58 PM ] Guest : myself*

[ 08:51:10 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Okay then try our service

[ 08:51:19 PM ] Guest : Free trial

[ 08:51:21 PM ] Guest : Yes

[ 08:51:24 PM ] Guest : Paid subscription

[ 08:51:25 PM ] Guest : No

[ 08:51:38 PM ] Guest : After the free trial, I will evaluate your service

[ 08:51:41 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Right now no free trail i'm sorry.

[ 08:51:56 PM ] Guest : So now you're telling me that your site is misleading?

[ 08:52:06 PM ] Acad Coordinator : No way

[ 08:52:12 PM ] Guest : Then can I have a free trial?

[ 08:52:30 PM ] Acad Coordinator : I checked but tutors where unavailable.

[ 08:52:36 PM ] Acad Coordinator : *were

[ 08:52:43 PM ] Guest : All of them unavailable?

[ 08:52:52 PM ] Guest : Not even one who could spare 10 minutes in a demo session?

[ 08:52:58 PM ] Guest : This can't be serious!

[ 08:53:13 PM ] Guest : Actually, I just came up with a suggestion for your site

[ 08:53:16 PM ] Guest : Want to hear it?

[ 08:53:18 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Let me check once again alright?

[ 08:53:39 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Let me know what's your suggestion.

[ 08:54:08 PM ] Guest : Acad Coordinators should handle K-8, while experts can handle high school

[ 08:54:31 PM ] Guest : Because you have so many Acads, but not enough experts.

[ 08:55:01 PM ] Guest : I'm sure you can solve this: x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0. What are the roots of x?

[ 08:55:17 PM ] Guest : It's general knowledge -- anybody can solve that, it doesn't require an expert

[ 08:55:22 PM ] Guest : Are you following me?

[ 08:55:23 PM ] Acad Coordinator : We are not tutors

[ 08:55:31 PM ] Guest : But you have to know something?

[ 08:55:34 PM ] Guest : It's general knowledge

[ 08:55:36 PM ] Acad Coordinator : So I am not authorised to teach

[ 08:56:06 PM ] Guest : You are not even allowed to answer general queries?

[ 08:56:20 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Yes believe me.

[ 08:56:30 PM ] Guest : You know, informally answer the kids that drop by and ask for basic geometry or something?

[ 08:56:36 PM ] Guest : How many sides are in a rhombus?

[ 08:56:45 PM ] Guest : Of course you know the answer.

[ 08:56:53 PM ] Guest : So just answer him and get over with it

[ 08:57:00 PM ] Guest : You follow?

[ 08:57:11 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Yes

[ 08:57:42 PM ] Acad Coordinator : May I know your Name?

[ 08:57:51 PM ] Guest : How does that matter?

[ 08:57:56 PM ] Guest : It's John

[ 08:58:24 PM ] Guest : Anyway, Jane, back to what I was talking about

[ 08:58:39 PM ] Guest : You understand that everyone can answer the simple question, right?

[ 08:59:26 PM ] Guest : Jane, are you still with me?

[ 08:59:31 PM ] Guest : You are no longer responding!

[ 09:00:21 PM ] Guest : Jane!!!!!!

[ 09:00:23 PM ] Guest : Where are you

[ 09:00:27 PM ] Guest : Why don't you reply?

[ 09:00:35 PM ] Guest : Did you leave me?

[ 09:00:37 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Yes

[ 09:00:44 PM ] Guest : Are you still Jane?

[ 09:00:51 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Yes I'm John

[ 09:01:04 PM ] Guest : No, I'm John

[ 09:01:09 PM ] Guest : You're Jane or John?

[ 09:01:46 PM ] Acad Coordinator : I said I'm here with you John

[ 09:01:52 PM ] Guest : oh, ok

[ 09:02:20 PM ] Guest : If I asked you how to solve a differential equation, then you would not be expected to know -- leave it up to an expert, right?

[ 09:02:33 PM ] Guest : HEY!!! WHY CAN'T I WRITE ON THE BOARD ANYMORE?!

[ 09:02:47 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Because Its closed

[ 09:02:54 PM ] Guest : Why did you close it?

[ 09:02:59 PM ] Guest : It was fun and useful

[ 09:03:17 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Yes it was but you were scratching on it.

[ 09:03:24 PM ] Guest : I was using it in my demonstration

[ 09:03:32 PM ] Guest : But now you understand what I was getting at, right?

[ 09:03:45 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Yes for sure

[ 09:03:59 PM ] Guest : Why don't you pass the idea to your superiors

[ 09:04:04 PM ] Guest : I'm sure it'll go well

[ 09:04:13 PM ] Guest : You can even take credit for it

[ 09:04:30 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Yes sure I will take it as a feed back and we will surely work on it.

[ 09:04:52 PM ] Guest : Now, when will there be a tutor available?

[ 09:05:00 PM ] Guest : Who can do a test run?

[ 09:05:06 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Yes

[ 09:05:34 PM ] Guest : Is there anybody available?

[ 09:05:43 PM ] Guest : Or when will someone be available?

[ 09:05:58 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Not right now

[ 09:06:25 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Are you in School or College?

[ 09:06:26 PM ] Guest : Meanwhile, do you want to try one of my questions?

[ 09:06:40 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Are you in School or College?

[ 09:06:45 PM ] Guest : I'm in school

[ 09:06:47 PM ] Guest : At the top

[ 09:06:51 PM ] Guest : I tutor students

[ 09:06:57 PM ] Guest : I also make up thinking questions

[ 09:07:05 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Great!!!

[ 09:07:12 PM ] Guest : Do you want to try one of my questions?

[ 09:07:40 PM ] Guest : It's not like you're teaching because you're answering a problem I already know b/c I made it up

[ 09:07:47 PM ] Guest : I guarantee it's not against your policy

[ 09:07:54 PM ] Acad Coordinator : It is.

[ 09:07:59 PM ] Guest : No, it's not

[ 09:08:07 PM ] Guest : You're not tutoring me in any way

[ 09:08:10 PM ] Guest : I ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER

[ 09:08:18 PM ] Guest : I made up the question

[ 09:09:07 PM ] Guest : Sorry, I was just trying to get a free trial

[ 09:09:13 PM ] Guest : When should I come back?

[ 09:09:47 PM ] Guest : How rude!

[ 09:10:07 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Tomorrow.

[ 09:10:18 PM ] Guest : That's what they told me yesterday

[ 09:10:58 PM ] Guest : OK, then you can do your work.

[ 09:10:59 PM ] Guest : Goodbye

[ 09:11:05 PM ] Guest : + Thank you

[ 09:11:11 PM ] Acad Coordinator : Have a great day.

Over a period of time (a while before I started this blog), I collected a LOT of transcripts of us talking.  I learned a lot about this site in this time, but the biggest thing I learned was: YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN'T WASTE YOUR TIME VISITING TUTORVISTA.  It's a time-waster trying to get answers, and it's a time-waster pranking them.

If you enjoyed that conversation, visit the following link to download the rest of the transcripts: http://www.mediafire.com/?el15bwrdtnaev

Downloading individual files from MediaFire can be a massive pain, so click this direct link to download the entire .ZIP archive of all of the transcripts: TutorVista Conversations.zip