Table of Contents
Introduction
In the a world where everyone is trying to build an online business, trust is a currency more valuable than any other. We place our faith in companies, believing in their promises of value, service, and integrity. But what happens when that trust is shattered, when promises are broken and silence replaces answers? It is for these reasons that I’ve chosen to share my experience, not out of spite, but with the hope of finding accountability and action for what I and many other customers were promised.
The name BlogBing might ring a bell to some of you. Led by Saurabh Chauhan, it was a promising company offering lifetime deals on WordPress hosting subscriptions. A few years ago, I put my trust in the company and invested in a lifetime deal for their WordPress hosting services, WPinfy and WPami. This faith was rooted in the promise of enduring value and genuine customer service.
For some time, both WPinfy and WPami were dependable WordPress hosting services, offering quick support when necessary. This built trust and the belief that this would be a worthwhile investment. However, what I wasn’t anticipating was that my trust was soon to be tested.
Unanswered Inquiries & Unfulfilled Promises
In January 2023, BlogBing announced the shutdown of both services. But to uphold their integrity, they promised refunds to lifetime deal customers by August 31st, 2023. To facilitate this, they requested that customers complete a form detailing their purchase histories.
As requested, I provided the details of my purchases and the corresponding refunds:
Purchase #1:
- Date: 25-11-2020
- Amount: $899.00
- Promised Refund: $723.70
Purchase #2:
- Date: 06-04-2022
- Amount: $999.00
- Promised Refund: $931.57
Purchase #3:
- Date: 06-05-2022
- Amount: $262.17
- Promised Refund: $246.44
Total Promised Refund Amount: $1,901.70
An Empty Promise
When the deal was being offered, customers were reassured with a lifetime refund policy, which promised a deduction of only $5 per month from the date of purchase, ensuring potential purchasers some level of financial security. It came across as transparent and gave the illusion of being advantageous for both the company and its customers, giving us the option to request a refund if needed.
Obviously, Saurabh’s assurance ended up being nothing but empty words.
A Loyal Customer Met with Silence
Time passed, and as the deadline for the refund approached, there was no communication from the company. August 31st came and went, and in November 2023, I still haven’t received a cent.
Numerous emails to Saurabh and the company have gone unanswered. Even attempts to reach out through their website and various social media platforms, including LinkedIn (where I was blocked) and Twitter, yielded no results. To add to the frustration, a handful of other people left in the now customer-driven Facebook group confirmed receiving their refunds, while many others like myself are left completely in the dark.
What deepens the sting of this experience is my loyalty to Saurabh and BlogBing. Over the years, I continued to believe in the company’s potential. This faith led me to purchase lifetime deals for other products they offered:
- GetBotz: An AI-powered tool designed for automated content management and publishing for blogs.
- GetKeywords: A keyword research tool with a focus on local SEO.
- GetMails: An innovative tool that simplifies cold email outreach using AI and automation.
Yet, despite this show of faith and support, the most basic courtesy of a simple response has eluded me.
Conclusion
I share this not to harbour negativity but in the hope that this transparency can lead to accountability and resolution. As a customer, I feel deeply disappointed and let down by the lack of transparency and communication from BlogBing and Saurabh Chauhan. This experience has not only left me out of pocket, but it has also damaged my trust in lifetime deals and the companies that offer them.
I don’t know if Saurabh is hoping that we eventually forget about this, and die off. But I’m not about to let that happen. This is the first of what will be a series of updates around this topic, from both myself, and a number of other customers in the same boat who have expressed interest in this initiative. The power of community has proven to a pivotal force in driving change and providing support where it is needed. I hope that by sharing my experience, others can be more aware and cautious when considering such deals, and that companies realize the importance of upholding their promises and maintaining open lines of communication with their customers.
