Access Restrictions
I purchased a technical engineering reference from Princeton University Press expecting to be able to read it on my computer through a web browser. Instead, I discovered that the eBook could only be accessed through a mobile app.
As a practicing civil engineer, reading detailed technical material, figures, tables, and calculations on a phone is simply not practical. Had this limitation been clearly disclosed before purchase, I would have made a different decision.
What was most disappointing was the customer service response. I explained that the product could not be used for its intended purpose and requested either browser access or a refund. Both requests were denied, despite acknowledging the limitation and inconvenience.
I have always respected Princeton University Press for its academic publications, which makes this experience particularly disappointing. Buyers of technical and professional references should be aware of these access restrictions before purchasing.
As a practicing civil engineer, reading detailed technical material, figures, tables, and calculations on a phone is simply not practical. Had this limitation been clearly disclosed before purchase, I would have made a different decision.
What was most disappointing was the customer service response. I explained that the product could not be used for its intended purpose and requested either browser access or a refund. Both requests were denied, despite acknowledging the limitation and inconvenience.
I have always respected Princeton University Press for its academic publications, which makes this experience particularly disappointing. Buyers of technical and professional references should be aware of these access restrictions before purchasing.
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Response from developer
I can see our Customer Service team has been helping you with this Jorge, and we are very sorry for any inconvenience it may have caused. We are always happy to help with any queries and I know the team are still working on a more satisfactory outcome.
Recent improvements
The app now works well enough to open ID Handbook of European Birds easily. Before, it would not recognise the purchase and take an age to load. Glad this has been addressed and I can open my purchase outside without signal, too!
Response from developer
Thanks for the 5 star review; we are happy to hear you're enjoying the app!
Annoying
I almost never review apps but this one is so annoying I am taking the time to complain. First of all, when I purchased my ePub book from Princeton Press it was not at all clear that I would not be able to read it on my Kindle and would be subjected to only accessing it through this terrible app. Second, the reading experience on the app is really annoying. If you use scroll mode it opens up to the start of the chapter regardless of where you are in the chapter. The screen settings are messed up every single time I reopen it, and I have to readjust it. To leave a bookmark you have to give the bookmark at name? I cannot for the life of me figure out why you would need to reinvent the wheel when perfectly acceptable eReaders already exist. The fact that I can only read the book on this app is beyond frustrating and in the future will lead me to just having to buy the book through Amazon, which is what I was seeking to avoid by purchasing it directly from the publisher.
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Utterly worthless
I have had the same problem with this app since downloading it a couple of years ago. Downloaded books become inaccessible, showing only a gray box, instead. I have to remove it and then redownload just to read purchased books. Until this app is properly maintained or until Princeton allows reading their books on other apps, I absolutely will not be buying from them again.
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Response from developer
We are so sorry to hear this, and our Customer Service team will be happy to help. Please reach out to them at puphelp@glassboxx.com with your order number and device details. The team will investigate this for you.
Broken
The app doesn’t load any of my books, it just shows empty gray boxes.
