proctor@cme.nbs.gov (Fred Proctor) (01/10/90)
Several months ago, my colleagues and I each received an offer from MacWorld magazine for a free mouse pad and trial issue. We all said "Sure, why not?" What a mistake. After receiving several harassing letters from MacWorld (to which we responded with queries abour our mosue pads and requests for cancellations), we've been put on the delinquency list of the North Shore collection agency. After filling out an unsolicited bulk-mailed freebie card! What a bunch of slimeballs. I'm now certain of several things: 1) MacWorld uses the sleaziest marketing tactics I've ever heard of; 2) I'm never EVER going to buy an issue of that ad-rag; 3) I still need a new mouse pad. I'd add more, but the collection agency just asked me to power down the Mac so they can cart it away. Beware!
perez@andromeda.rutgers.edu.rutgers.edu (Willie Perez) (01/10/90)
In article <2505@manta.cme.nbs.gov> proctor@cme.nbs.gov (Fred Proctor) writes: >Several months ago, my colleagues and I each received an offer from >MacWorld magazine for a free mouse pad and trial issue. We all said >"Sure, why not?" What a mistake. After receiving several harassing >letters from MacWorld (to which we responded with queries abour our >mosue pads and requests for cancellations), we've been put on the >delinquency list of the North Shore collection agency. After filling >out an unsolicited bulk-mailed freebie card! What a bunch of slimeballs. Hate to tell you this after you've said such nasty things but after a long wait, I got my free issue, then a few weeks later, a mouse pad. It's red with white lines that make a checkerboard with MacWorld written on the bottom. I'm a very satisfied customer. --Willi
t-jacobs@cs.utah.edu (Tony Jacobs) (01/10/90)
In article <2505@manta.cme.nbs.gov> proctor@cme.nbs.gov (Fred Proctor) writes: stuf deleted... >3) I still need a new mouse pad. > I got one of their pads, you're not missing out on anything. It's the worse mouse pad I have ever seen! I'm sure after all the hastle you have been through that you would have been even more pissed off after getting it! Tony Jacobs * Center for Engineering Design * U of U * t-jacobs@cs.utah.edu
friedman@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu (Daniel Friedman) (01/10/90)
>... stuff about MacWorld's subscriptions dept. tactics ...
A few years ago I got a letter from MacWorld, backaddressed to their
"collections department" (or maybe it was the "legal department" - something
vaguely threatening, anyway). It turned out to be just another offer to
renew my subscription. So I'd have to agree that these guys are sleazy.
By the way, an easy way to get a subscription at a price a lot lower than
what they claim in their sleazy letters is the "absolute lowest" is to go
through one of those companies that offers educational discounnts on various
magazines. They typically put packets of their order forms on campus bulletin
boards. The ones on our bulletin boards at UH will get you MacWorld for $15.
- Dan Friedmanabbott@dean.Berkeley.EDU (=Mark Abbott) (01/10/90)
In article <2505@manta.cme.nbs.gov> proctor@cme.nbs.gov (Fred Proctor) writes: >Several months ago, my colleagues and I each received an offer from >MacWorld magazine for a free mouse pad and trial issue. We all said >"Sure, why not?" What a mistake. After receiving several harassing >letters from MacWorld (to which we responded with queries abour our >mosue pads and requests for cancellations), we've been put on the >delinquency list of the North Shore collection agency. After filling >out an unsolicited bulk-mailed freebie card! What a bunch of slimeballs. Exactly the same thing happened to me a year ago. At the time I assumed it was an isolated accident and just slogged through the hassle. However, I was genuinely annoyed that could find no way to call MacWorld to settle the problem nor could I talk to a person at North Shore Collection Agency. Eventually it was straightened out but urg. Given that this still seems to be happening I'd advise everybody to avoid any offers of "one trial issue" from MacWorld. Mark j j j j j j abbott@dean.berkeley.edu
knapp@cs.utexas.edu (Edgar Knapp) (01/10/90)
In article <2505@manta.cme.nbs.gov> proctor@cme.nbs.gov (Fred Proctor) writes: >Several months ago, my colleagues and I each received an offer from >MacWorld magazine for a free mouse pad and trial issue. We all said >"Sure, why not?" What a mistake. After receiving several harassing >letters from MacWorld (to which we responded with queries abour our >mosue pads and requests for cancellations), we've been put on the >delinquency list of the North Shore collection agency. After filling >out an unsolicited bulk-mailed freebie card! What a bunch of slimeballs. Same thing happened to me. I contacted a lawyer and he suggested to just ignore the Collection Notice. Since then I have been approved for a Discover Card, so I guess his advice was sound. >I'm now certain of several things: > >1) MacWorld uses the sleaziest marketing tactics I've ever > heard of; That's why I decided not to subscribe. >2) I'm never EVER going to buy an issue of that ad-rag; Me too. >3) I still need a new mouse pad. Here I have to side with MacWorld since their offer clearly states that you receive the mouse pad with your PAID subscription. Edgar (knapp@cs.utexas.edu)
taylor@limbo.Intuitive.Com (Dave Taylor) (01/10/90)
Fred Proctor writes about filling in a request for a subscription to
MacWorld, promptly followed by calls from a collection agency rather
than the free mousepad and complimentary issue promised. Other folk
have chimed in that they too have experienced such things with MacWorld.
IF YOU HAVE, then go talk to someone at the local post office. There
are lots of worthwhile and strict laws about unsolicited mail, legal
responsibilities, and such of that nature.
You might also find it worthwhile to write to some people at MacWorld
directly too:
Editor-in-chief : Jerry Borrell
President and Publisher : James E. Martin
Circulation Manager : Lindsay Davidson
Fulfillment Coordinator : Evelyn Adenau
MacWorld Communications
Editorial Department, 5th Floor
501 Second Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 243-0505
or, from Usenet: Macworld1@applelink.apple.com
Note that all this information *is* available in the magazine
and easy to find, too. Also, I have had no problems at all with
the magazine, including their prompt processing of a change of
address form a few months ago. Now if they could beef up their
editorial content... ;-)
-- Dave Taylor
Intuitive Systems
Mountain View, California
taylor@limbo.intuitive.com or {uunet!}{decwrl,apple}!limbo!taylormlg@cbnews.ATT.COM (Mike Goodrich) (01/10/90)
>>Several months ago, my colleagues and I each received an offer from >>MacWorld magazine for a free mouse pad and trial issue. We all said >>"Sure, why not?" What a mistake. After receiving several harassing >>letters from MacWorld (to which we responded with queries abour our >>mosue pads and requests for cancellations), we've been put on the >>delinquency list of the North Shore collection agency. After filling >>out an unsolicited bulk-mailed freebie card! What a bunch of slimeballs. > >Exactly the same thing happened to me a year ago. At the time I assumed >it was an isolated accident and just slogged through the hassle. However, >I was genuinely annoyed that could find no way to call MacWorld to settle >the problem nor could I talk to a person at North Shore Collection Agency. >Eventually it was straightened out but urg. Given that this still seems >to be happening I'd advise everybody to avoid any offers of "one trial >issue" from MacWorld. I hate to say this but MacWorld is by no means the only magazine that uses these so called tactics. I had this happen to me with a magazine called Publish. I filled out the free trial issue and free gif card. After about two nasty notices I called them and asked what the was deal. I just wanted to check out the free issue and get a free gift. They said that when you fill out the card you are actually accepting the subscription and responsibility for the payment. I told them to cancel my subscription and needless to say I didn't pay for it. I did get my free DeskTop publishing tips book though. The point is that magazines expect when you fill out one of their subscription cards that you want to subscribe. Even though they have a free trial offer or something like that.
quinn@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Clark Quinn) (01/10/90)
In article <6096@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu> friedman@uhccux.UUCP (Daniel Friedman) writes: > > By the way, an easy way to get a subscription at a price a lot lower than >what they claim in their sleazy letters is the "absolute lowest" is to go >through one of those companies that offers educational discounts on various >magazines. They typically put packets of their order forms on campus bulletin >boards. The ones on our bulletin boards at UH will get you MacWorld for $15. > >- Dan Friedman Same for MacUser. There are more than one company, BTW, and not all carry all magazines. In the book store they'll have some others. Also (a tactic I learned from dealing with Outside magazine), when they contact you for a renewal, they will start with their regular price and eventually get to a special renewal offer. Neither of which is as low as the educational price. If you send them a letter or call, telling them you can get a new subscription for the educational price, they will allow you to resubscribe for the educational price. You do have to mention a school, so this should only be valid if you're a student, staff, or faculty member (or willing to deceive). -- Clark Clark N. Quinn Learning Research and Development Center University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA 15260 (412) 624-9581 quinn@unix.cis.pitt.edu
perkins@cbnewsj.ATT.COM (mark.perkins) (01/10/90)
In article <7541@cs.utexas.edu> knapp@cs.utexas.edu (Edgar Knapp) writes: >In article <2505@manta.cme.nbs.gov> proctor@cme.nbs.gov (Fred Proctor) writes: >>Several months ago, my colleagues and I each received an offer from >>MacWorld magazine for a free mouse pad and trial issue. We all said [stuff deleted] >Same thing happened to me. I contacted a lawyer and he suggested to >just ignore the Collection Notice. Since then I have been approved for >a Discover Card, so I guess his advice was sound. > [stuff deleted] > >>3) I still need a new mouse pad. > >Here I have to side with MacWorld since their offer clearly states that >you receive the mouse pad with your PAID subscription. > I had the same problem as the rest of these folks. However, the offer of a free mouse pad was just that, a FREE mouse pad, paid subscription or not. I got the mouse pad, but also got the letter from the North Shore Collections, even after writing CANCEL on all of the bills from Macworld. FYI, North Shore does not report to any credit bureaus. At least that's what their recorded messages said after I went through all of the hassles to get this crap cleared up. -- Mark Perkins Internet: mark@mtqub.att.com AT&T Bell Laboratories UUCP: att!mtqub!mark 200 Laurel Avenue, Room 4G-517 Phone: 201 957-6480 Middletown, NJ 07748
pepke@loligo (Eric Pepke) (01/10/90)
About a year ago, I received a similar offer from MacWorld. I had subscribed a few years ago but dropped it when the fluff to content ratio became high. However, on the what-the-hay principle, I returned the card to get the free issue and mouse pad. They sent me the mouse pad and the free issue, which of course was about as fluffy as I had remembered it. I wrote CANCEL in big permanent marker letters on the bill and sent it back. Not only did MacWorld not hassle me in the slightest, but a couple of months later, they sent me another trial issue offer! Eric Pepke INTERNET: pepke@gw.scri.fsu.edu Supercomputer Computations Research Institute MFENET: pepke@fsu Florida State University SPAN: scri::pepke Tallahassee, FL 32306-4052 BITNET: pepke@fsu Disclaimer: My employers seldom even LISTEN to my opinions. Meta-disclaimer: Any society that needs disclaimers has too many lawyers.
brian@padouk.ima.isc.com (Brian R. Holt) (01/11/90)
In article <7541@cs.utexas.edu>, knapp@cs.utexas.edu (Edgar Knapp) writes: > > >3) I still need a new mouse pad. > > Here I have to side with MacWorld since their offer clearly states that > you receive the mouse pad with your PAID subscription. Hmm, the one I got said you got a free mouse pad just for sending back the card and accepting the trial issue, which I did. Note that the card had no place for a signature, you just had to drop it in the mail. When I got the bill, I returned it unopened with the word CANCEL SUBSCRIPTION NOW in big red letters. I had to do this several times. I don't know whether they actually did or not, since I was getting it at work, and I've changed jobs. The mouse pad is pretty, though. I also filled out their questionnaire at MacWorld Expo last summer, and they gave me a free subscription. I hate poorly designed questionnaires. I answered as honestly as I could, but I'm afraid I came out sounding like the buyer for the world's largest Mac customer. Is it my fault the questions don't take into account that some of us are Unix hackers and not paper pushers? =brian brian@ima.isc.com US 617-661-7474 x206 near the Charles River
bj@gvgspd.GVG.TEK.COM (Brion Johnson) (01/11/90)
>I hate to say this but MacWorld is by no means the only magazine that uses >these so called tactics. I had this happen to me with a magazine called >Publish. I filled out the free trial issue and free gif card. After about >two nasty notices I called them and asked what the was deal. I just wanted to ahem... I believe MacWorld and Publish are owned by the same people... Brion
seiter@mips.COM (Dave Seiter) (01/11/90)
In article <2505@manta.cme.nbs.gov>, proctor@cme.nbs.gov (Fred Proctor) writes: > Several months ago, my colleagues and I each received an offer from > MacWorld magazine for a free mouse pad and trial issue. We all said > "Sure, why not?" What a mistake. After receiving several harassing > letters from MacWorld (to which we responded with queries abour our > mosue pads and requests for cancellations), we've been put on the > delinquency list of the North Shore collection agency. After filling > out an unsolicited bulk-mailed freebie card! What a bunch of slimeballs. > > I'm now certain of several things: > > 1) MacWorld uses the sleaziest marketing tactics I've ever > heard of; > > 2) I'm never EVER going to buy an issue of that ad-rag; > > 3) I still need a new mouse pad. > > I'd add more, but the collection agency just asked me to power down > the Mac so they can cart it away. Beware! I had the same thing happen to me last year! I was getting the one free copy and then canceling every time they sent me a trial offer. (slightly unethical I suppose, but it's hard to turn down anything free) They ignored the cancelation notices this time and said that I had to pay for 2-3 issues. I decided that I wasn't going to waste any more postage on them. Then the agency started sending me their trash... I actually called them to clear things up (but NOT pay), and their fancy answering machine died in the middle of call. At that point I decided to ignore the agency, Macworld and anyone connected with either. Did I ever get the mouse pad, you ask?? As a matter of fact yes; the piece of junk came about 5 months later. Cheap fabric top, "decorations" that impeaded mouse tracking and the edges were curled. You get what you pay for..... I have discovered since then that my Mac and I are very happy and aware of what is current *without* Macworld. Yeah! I'm free.... ...... ..... Dave Seiter
xerox@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (James Osborne) (01/11/90)
I had one of those banzai billing experiences with a now-defunct
computer magazine a couple years back. I guess the "truth" behind the
advertising was that I was to receive 13 issues, but only be billed for
12. The funny thing was that I got the bill within 2 weeks of sending
in the card, but didn't get the magazine until 6 weeks after the first
bill.
I promptly sent back the bill (and another that came 2 weeks later),
telling them I hadn't received my "free issue for examination." I finally did
get an issue, discovered the
magazine to be a piece of trash, and told them to cancel. Of course, it
wasn't that easy, and I only stopped hearing them after I had sent back
4 unpaid bills with large "CANCEL"s written across them, and replied to
one letter from their "collection" department, saying I had retained the
services of a lawyer and planned to litigate should they send me one
more bill or correspondence. Never heard from them again, and my
American Excess card, et al. seem to indicate my credit was not marred
by the incident.
I never did get my free gift. :-)
--
----------------------------------------------
DISCLAIMER: Any opinions expressed are not those of my employer, even at such
time they may be that of my employer. Nor are they my own.
UUCP/Internet/ARPA/(anything) James.Osborne@mac.Dartmouth.eduar4@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Piper Keairnes) (01/11/90)
In article <2505@manta.cme.nbs.gov> proctor@cme.nbs.gov (Fred Proctor) writes: >Several months ago, my colleagues and I each received an offer from >MacWorld magazine for a free mouse pad and trial issue. We all said >"Sure, why not?" What a mistake. After receiving several harassing >letters from MacWorld (to which we responded with queries abour our >mosue pads and requests for cancellations), we've been put on the >delinquency list of the North Shore collection agency. After filling >out an unsolicited bulk-mailed freebie card! What a bunch of slimeballs. > >1) MacWorld uses the sleaziest marketing tactics I've ever > heard of; > >2) I'm never EVER going to buy an issue of that ad-rag; > >3) I still need a new mouse pad. Need one of their mouse pads? I had three of them. They smell kinda funny though so I got rid of two and kept one. They, like all companies, want you to pay for their magazine. They send you a free copy in hopes that you will continue with a subscription. I've sent back MANY MANY MANY letters with CANCEL written on them and also received a letter from North Shore as you did. I think they came up with that ploy this last month. I doubt that it's a real collection agency, just some in-house rough boys. Anyways, they never actually do anything, they just bug the hell out of you for a while (just like a car salesman when he gets your phone number....) Moral of the story, send back one or two of the CANCEL cards.... if they continue, then just write them a nasty post-it note and tack it to the invoice. Maybe then, they'll take you off the hit list... GOOD LUCK!!! +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Piper Keairnes | ar4@mentor.cc.purdue.edu | General Consultant | | (317) 495-4273 | Macintosh Enthusiast | Purdue Univ. Computing Center | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
ar4@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Piper Keairnes) (01/11/90)
In article <12989@cbnews.ATT.COM> mlg@cbnews.ATT.COM (Mike Goodrich,45256,cb,1L334,6148602116) writes: >I hate to say this but MacWorld is by no means the only magazine that uses >these so called tactics. I had this happen to me with a magazine called >Publish. I filled out the free trial issue and free gif card. After about >two nasty notices I called them and asked what the was deal. I just wanted to >check out the free issue and get a free gift. They said that when you fill >out the card you are actually accepting the subscription and responsibility >for the payment. I told them to cancel my subscription and needless to say >I didn't pay for it. I did get my free DeskTop publishing tips book though. Another magazine that has gotten into this type of "entrapment" of new subscribers is Dr. Dobb's Journal. The only difference between them and the companies like MacWorld and MacUser is that they do not supply you with a postage paid envelope. So, I'm sending my responses back POSTAGE DUE!!! HA! +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Piper Keairnes | ar4@mentor.cc.purdue.edu | General Consultant | | (317) 495-4273 | Macintosh Enthusiast | Purdue Univ. Computing Center | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
capslock@wet.UUCP (Allen Crider) (01/11/90)
In article <12989@cbnews.ATT.COM> mlg@cbnews.ATT.COM (Mike Goodrich,45256,cb,1L334,6148602116) writes: >>>"Sure, why not?" What a mistake. After receiving several harassing >>>letters from MacWorld (to which we responded with queries abour our >>>mosue pads and requests for cancellations), we've been put on the >>>delinquency list of the North Shore collection agency. After filling >>>out an unsolicited bulk-mailed freebie card! What a bunch of slimeballs. >> > >I hate to say this but MacWorld is by no means the only magazine that uses >these so called tactics. I had this happen to me with a magazine called >Publish. Publish! comes from the same group (and same building) as MacWorld. I have one of their free offer cards right here: "YES, I'd like to sample the next issue of Publish. I understand that(sic) I'll also receive two gifts: "101 Best Desktop Publishing Tips" Volumes 1 and 2--FREE--just for trying Publish. If I like my free issue, I'll pay just $21.97 for a total of 12 issues in all....etc. If I don't choose to subscribe, I'll return your subscription bill marked "cancel" and owe nothing. THE FREE ISSUE AND THE TWO FREE GIFTS ARE MINE TO KEEP--FREE." Couldn't be plainer. The capital letters are theirs.
mithomas@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (Michael Thomas Niehaus) (01/11/90)
I have to add a little more to the discussion. At the beginning of last
year, the university purchased a bunch of Macs. They filled out the
registration cards for all of them and sent them in to Apple. For some
reason, someone put my name on about 20 of them.
At the botton of these registration cards is a little box that if checked
entitles you to two free issues of MacWorld. Well, they checked this box
on all 100 cards.
Luckily by the time these magazines started coming I had moved on to my
current job, so I didn't have to bring up the mail these two months --
100 MacWorld magazines is a little much to carry at one time.
The people around to sort the mail didn't know why these were coming, but
since 20 of them had my name on them, they forwarded them to me. Fine
and dandy (even though I already had my own subscription -- it was fun
giving the copies away).
Then a couple of months later, I started getting all of these collection
notices (to my old work address) which were forwarded on to me. I trashed
all of them after several calls to MacWorld. Needless to say, I wasn't
very pleased.
I haven't heard anything else from them since (except for renewal offers
on my real subscription) so I've been happy for a while.
-Michael
p.s. Rates up there with MacUser's offer that I received 1 month after I
started my subscription to their magazine. If I renewed then for
another year, they would give me an additional $1 off, since that is
the amount of money that they would save by not repeatedly sending
me renewal notices. I considered it, if only to prevent more junk
mail...
--
Michael Niehaus UUCP: <backbones>!{iuvax,pur-ee}!bsu-cs!mithomas
Apple Student Rep ARPA: mithomas@bsu-cs.bsu.edu
Ball State University AppleLink: ST0374 (from UUCP: st0374@applelink.apple.com)chris@imagine.ADMS-RAD.Unisys.COM (Chris Sterritt) (01/11/90)
In article <2505@manta.cme.nbs.gov> proctor@cme.nbs.gov (Fred Proctor) writes: >Several months ago, my colleagues and I each received an offer from >MacWorld magazine for a free mouse pad and trial issue. We all said >"Sure, why not?" What a mistake. After receiving several harassing >letters from MacWorld (to which we responded with queries abour our >mosue pads and requests for cancellations), we've been put on the >delinquency list of the North Shore collection agency. After filling >out an unsolicited bulk-mailed freebie card! What a bunch of slimeballs. I had this happen to me on another magazine (Vanity Fair -- ugh) when it first came out, and got a similar runaround. When I got the letter from the collection agency, I got *furious* and wrote a very angry note on the letter (started off "I WILL accept an apology..." and went on from there!) and sent it back to them. They ceased and desisted, because I believe that LEGALLY, they were in the wrong! What I didn't do, and *SHOULD HAVE*, was included photocopies of the abuse in a letter to VF's editor, and YOU SHOULD DO THIS *FOR* MacWorld. Why for MacWorld? Well, because I believe that this WAS NOT EVER MacWorld's desire or intention; the slimeballs are the marketing/distributing company people (I use the term 'people' loosely :-) who are trying to sucker people with this abuse. Let MacWorld know they are being slimed-by-association. --chris sterritt chris@adms-rad.unisys.com
jonu@aberdeen.FtCollins.NCR.com (Jon Udell) (01/12/90)
In article <34335@mips.mips.COM> seiter@mips.COM (Dave Seiter) writes: >I was getting the one free copy and then canceling every time they sent me >a trial offer. (slightly unethical I suppose, but it's hard to turn down >anything free). Most of these offers give you one "free" issue, then charge you the full subscription price for the remaining 11 if you decide to subscribe. Thus the issue is only free if you don't subscribe. Hence I don't see anything unethical about cancelling. I used to make it a policy to accept these offers with the intention of cancelling just because I felt they were trying to insult my intelligence. When I received a bill, I would hold on to it until the magazine and/or gift arrived, then return it marked "cancel". I never had any problem with collection agencies, and due to lack of communication between the publisher and the billing service I usually received two to three free issues per offer. --Jon
geb@dsl.pitt.edu (Gordon E. Banks) (01/12/90)
I had a similar experience with Computerworld, a rag for MIS professionals. I returned the bill marked cancel, but continued to get it. I certainly didn't want it, since it was inferior to Infoworld, which is free. A few months later a got a letter from their collection agency. I have ignored it. If anything appears on my credit rating I will sue, of course. MacWorld is now free to those who qualify, so you might want to see if you qualify before paying for it.
Armadillo@cup.portal.com (Russ Armadillo Coffman) (01/13/90)
Hmmm... when in doubt, why not just use a phony name when responding to one of these fantastic offers? Then let 'em harass J. Random Loser until they get bored. -Russ
cramer@sun.com (Sam Cramer) (01/13/90)
I had a similar problem with "Mother Jones" magazine (slimebags, IMHO) and solved the problem by sending them (and their collection agency) letters accusing them of mail fraud and promising to call in the Postmaster if they didn't stop trying to collect a non-existent debt. Sam
gall@yunexus.UUCP (Norm Gall) (01/13/90)
cramer@sun.com (Sam Cramer) writes: | I had a similar problem with "Mother Jones" magazine (slimebags, IMHO) and | solved the problem by sending them (and their collection agency) letters | accusing them of mail fraud and promising to call in the Postmaster if they | didn't stop trying to collect a non-existent debt. MJ is a great magazine, but their subscription people are idiots... I had the same problem until I called them collect, and straightened it out. One shouldn't have to do such things though... nrg -- York University | "Philosophers who make the general claim that a Department of Philosophy | rule simply 'reduces to' its formulations Toronto, Ontario, Canada | are using Occam's razor to cut the throat _________________________| of common sense.' - R. Harris
sharon@asylum.SF.CA.US (Sharon Fisher) (01/14/90)
People, please keep in mind that the mailing/circulation department is often separate from the subscription department -- in fact, many magazines hire a service to do the subscriptions. Consequently, it does take a while for the word to get from the subscription people to the circulation people that you've cancelled. (This is also the reason that you get two or three issues before they realize you've cancelled.) Incidentally, in some magazines, the circulation and subscription departments are known as "fulfillment" departments, because it's about fulfilling subscriptions. That's a title I've always wanted to have: Director of Fulfillment. :-) -- I already have a boyfriend, so you needn't talk to me or send me e-mail if you consider that "wasting your time."
hgw@julia.math.ucla.edu (Harold Wong) (01/18/90)
In article <315@limbo.Intuitive.Com> taylor@limbo.Intuitive.Com (Dave Taylor) writes: >Fred Proctor writes about filling in a request for a subscription to >MacWorld, promptly followed by calls from a collection agency rather >than the free mousepad and complimentary issue promised. Other folk >have chimed in that they too have experienced such things with MacWorld. I filled out one of these cards too but nothing happened. Then one day, I started receiving the Magazine. I looked at the mailing label and it indicates the subscription ends in 1992. I've been receiving it for a few months now but I haven't seen a bill nor a mouse pac. I'm worried that in 1992 they'll send me a big bill. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Harold Wong (213) 825-9040 UCLA-Mathnet; 3915F MSA; 405 Hilgard Ave.; Los Angeles, CA 90024-1555 ARPA: hgw@math.ucla.edu BITNET: hgw%math.ucla.edu@INTERBIT