"Quilt" magazine and their strongarm renewal tactics
#221
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: South Florida
Posts: 74
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I had received an unwanted subscription and renewal to two magazines from Reiman Publications (Taste of Home, etc). I was able to cancel one by email reply. I emailed the company indicating I wanted neither. Today I received an email from Customer Service which was very gracious. I guess maybe it depends on who the publisher is.
#222
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Atlanta, ga via Pittsburgh, Pa
Posts: 65
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Your quilts are beautiful. I used to make my own clothes and when i retired to Atlanta from Pa I meet an elderly woman who wanted me to put the backs on her quilts. I loved it so much I stopped making clothes and started making quilts. I sell most of the ones I make but I don't have the quilting machine or a place for one. Your are like the football player who did needle point. Rosie Greer. He was excellent also.
#223
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Eden, Utah; originally NY
Posts: 357
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My internet service was interrupted from Saturday night until this afternoon. (When the service man opened it, I had 584 messgs in the Spam box, and about 114 in my e-mails ...... mostly spam!)
I'm not going to take time to read the the 15 pages of response you've had regarding this complaint, Eddie, so forgive me if this has been said umpteen times while I've been absent.
I had the same experience with Better Homes & Gardens, and I told them I didn't appreciate this kind of treatment from an old established company. Once, I didn't notice my expiration date, and ended up with about a 2-1/2 year subscription into the future!
I think the economy has forced publishers to use these devious means to get renewals, and we all need to scream loud and clear to make our feelings known. I hate to get nasty, but sometimes its the only language they understand! :thumbdown:
I'm not going to take time to read the the 15 pages of response you've had regarding this complaint, Eddie, so forgive me if this has been said umpteen times while I've been absent.
I had the same experience with Better Homes & Gardens, and I told them I didn't appreciate this kind of treatment from an old established company. Once, I didn't notice my expiration date, and ended up with about a 2-1/2 year subscription into the future!
I think the economy has forced publishers to use these devious means to get renewals, and we all need to scream loud and clear to make our feelings known. I hate to get nasty, but sometimes its the only language they understand! :thumbdown:
#224
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Seattle
Posts: 695
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Wow, like someone else had said, I have the envlope ready to go to subscribe to Quilt Magazine. Actually, I was going to subscribe to that one because so many on this board said that was their favorite on an earlier thread.
Luckily, I've been too busy to mail the subscription and now it will go into the recycle bin. Unfortunately, I had asked for and received subscriptions to two other non-qulting magazines for Christmas. Now I'm worried that my MIL will be bothered by these companies to renew them. I wonder if both of us will be, though, since my name is the addressee but she placed the orders.
I've seen several people say to contact the BBB about these tactics, but I suggest people report to the Attorney General in their own states and/or the states where these companies are located. The AG's office has the law behind them whereas the BBB deals only with a company's repu-
taton.
I've recently found out some interesting things abou the BBB. My son started his own business last year. He was contacted by the BBB a couple of months ago to be listed as a "top company" by them if he paid a fee. That much surprised us, but then we found out that companies that have complaints filed against them can pay to have the complaints erased! What's that about? Now I don't feel like the endorsement of the BBB means anything. Gee, what's the world coming to???????
Luckily, I've been too busy to mail the subscription and now it will go into the recycle bin. Unfortunately, I had asked for and received subscriptions to two other non-qulting magazines for Christmas. Now I'm worried that my MIL will be bothered by these companies to renew them. I wonder if both of us will be, though, since my name is the addressee but she placed the orders.
I've seen several people say to contact the BBB about these tactics, but I suggest people report to the Attorney General in their own states and/or the states where these companies are located. The AG's office has the law behind them whereas the BBB deals only with a company's repu-
taton.
I've recently found out some interesting things abou the BBB. My son started his own business last year. He was contacted by the BBB a couple of months ago to be listed as a "top company" by them if he paid a fee. That much surprised us, but then we found out that companies that have complaints filed against them can pay to have the complaints erased! What's that about? Now I don't feel like the endorsement of the BBB means anything. Gee, what's the world coming to???????
#225
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Originally Posted by Eddie
I subscribed to "Quilt" magazine back in January 2010 for one year, and decided to let the subscription lapse when it came up for renewal. They sent several reminders to renew, etc., all of which I ignored.
Today, I get this in the mail from them:
This makes my blood boil when I see companies use threats and intimidation like this, simply because someone choose not to renew their subscription. GRRRRRRR!!!!
Today, I get this in the mail from them:
UNPAID ACCOUNT
WE HAVE SENT YOU FOUR INVOICES AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YOU YET.
EITHER:
(1) PAY YOUR BILL OR
(2) CALL US AT #800-866-2886 TO TELL US WHY YOU HAVE NOT PAID.
OR WE WILL PLACE YOUR NAME ON OUR BAD PAY FILE.
P.S. If you have sent payment within the last two weeks, please disregard this notice.
WE HAVE SENT YOU FOUR INVOICES AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YOU YET.
EITHER:
(1) PAY YOUR BILL OR
(2) CALL US AT #800-866-2886 TO TELL US WHY YOU HAVE NOT PAID.
OR WE WILL PLACE YOUR NAME ON OUR BAD PAY FILE.
P.S. If you have sent payment within the last two weeks, please disregard this notice.
#226
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Originally Posted by reginalovesfabric
I have gotten them before and it ticked me off. I have stopped all but one of my quilt magazines. There are too expensive.
The trouble is that even if you stop renewing as I did, they bombard you with all kinds of mail. I stopped McCall's about six months or more ago. After which they kept sending me "special offers" which weren't special at all, the subscription price was always the same. Then yesterday I got a McCall's Mag. in the mail. I hadn't requested it, I hadn't paid for a new subscription, all I had done was tell them I was quitting. Now it says on my address line that my subscription ends in Jan. of 2112. What could that mean?? I'm kind of concerned. It sounds like some kind of con to me. :evil:
#227
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Live in Littleton, CO via Rapid City, SD
Posts: 2,187
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Fons and Porter sent me renewal notices and I tossed them, then the last one said 4th notice. I am getting renewal forms when I have months left of the subscriptions. I am not paying postage to tell them I am not renewing, unless it is postage paid.
#228
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Originally Posted by Eddie
I called them just now and gave them an earful of what I thought of it. They apologized, said it was a form letter, blah, blah, blah. I told them to cancel me and to never contact me again.
#229
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Snohomish WA
Posts: 884
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When you send back the invoice with "Cancel" written on it, KEEP A COPY, then call the co.'s 800 number if available and write the date on it and names of anyone you may have spoken to. 'Cancel' by phone first and then also send the paper invoice back with "Cancel" written on it. This has saved the day a couple of times.
#230
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Originally Posted by Eddie
I called them just now and gave them an earful of what I thought of it. They apologized, said it was a form letter, blah, blah, blah. I told them to cancel me and to never contact me again.
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