I had been getting the FL Today paper for 2 years...I would get the newspaper sometimes in the morning sometimes in the afternoon...a few times I would receive the 2 papers the day after one wouldn't arrive. I would call on Sun, which was the only paper I truly cared about getting, and the phone would be busy....yes busy(I would call all day and never get thru). I thought that this was just crazy....finally my last 13 weeks ran up and I figured I wouldn't have to deal with them anymore(I thought I paid a ton of money for mediocre service...13 wks was $36..expensive huh...but I didn't know any better). I thought I was done with them...then I started to get calls not one or two..tons..from FL Today. I would let the answer machine pick up cause I had no desire to renew. Well I found out later, when I finally picked up because I was becoming annoyed by the ringing and hanging up and then calling again and hang ups w/out leaving messages, they had extended my subscription without my notice. They said I received the paper for another 13 weeks(their so called grace period) and that I owed them another $36 for it...or I would be sent to collections.
I was so angry...the nerve of these people. I explained who in their right mind would extend my subscription for another whole 13 weeks if I didn't send in the bill for a renewal. I could understand a couple weeks...but 13...come on...what a scam!
Anyhow...I told them that their competitors(Orlando Sentinel, which is twice the size newspaper) said they would give me a year for $42 practically the price of their 13 weeks. I explained that I had lived in Miami & NY and never had paid such an outrageous price for a paper and being delivered when they felt like it. They gave me the "that's too bad" attitude...I know that the girl on the phone couldn't do anything and I explained I am not angry with her...its her company's owner that is ripping the residence in this county off.
I believe in supporting our area businesses but not when it cost be 4 times the price. I hope you will think about this when you subscribe to them.
PS> I will let you know how Orlando Sentinel does on delivery when I get it for a little while :)
more