Need Some Advice from The Pool

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Need Some Advice from The Pool

MFS62
Sep 05 2014 08:37 PM

I received a postcard today. It was from my local newspaper, which I have been receiving for over 30 years. it said:

"Dear Loyal Subscriber,

We wanted to tell you about an exciting edition of the ___-_____ coming soon. Friday, September 26th, every subscriber will receive the ___-_____ delivered to their home and included will be a special section dedicated to the career and retirement of Derek Jeter. This full-colored section will be a keepsake, jam-packed with photos, stories and quotes dedicated to the Yankee Shortstop.

All subscribers will be charged an additional $1.00, which will be reflected in your next subscription payment.

Sincerely,
The ___-_____ Subscriber Services."

What would you folks do?

Later

themetfairy
Sep 05 2014 08:43 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Tell them to fuck off - you're not paying extra to subsidize their Jeter lovefest.

Zvon
Sep 05 2014 08:43 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

In the very least, refuse to pay.

Edgy MD
Sep 05 2014 08:47 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

In the very least.

Retain counsel, if you must.

Fman99
Sep 05 2014 08:58 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

I would jerk off into a coffee can until it was full and then you'd be all set.

Wait, what are we talking about?

Zvon
Sep 05 2014 09:01 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

You could also buy it and hawk it on E-bay for 4 bucks. But we will lose all respect for you.

G-Fafif
Sep 05 2014 09:06 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Given what you'll save on Charmin, it's really a bargain.

MFS62
Sep 05 2014 09:08 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Zvon wrote:
You could also buy it and hawk it on E-bay for 4 bucks. But we will lose all respect for you.

BOO. :)

What I'll probably do is call them, let them know I am a Mets fan, and refuse delivery of that day's paper. (As though I were going to be away) Then, tell them I do not want to be charged for it.

But I'd love to listen to some of the calls they'll be getting from the many Red Sawks fans in the area.

(heh heh)

Later

Lefty Specialist
Sep 06 2014 05:33 AM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Call them later that day and say you didn't get the paper and ask for a refund, including the $1 extra. Then set the section on fire on your front lawn and take pictures.

Edgy MD
Sep 06 2014 06:03 AM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

I'm trying to figure out why he's feeling a need to redact the paper's name. ("Republican-American"?)

Benjamin Grimm
Sep 06 2014 09:30 AM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Yeah, I don't get that either.

I would absolutely refuse to pay the extra dollar. Either they give me that day's paper at the regular price, or don't give it to me at all.

d'Kong76
Sep 06 2014 09:35 AM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Fman99 wrote:
I would jerk off into a coffee can until it was full and then you'd be all set.

Speaking of coffee, just spit some on my laptop.

MFS62
Sep 06 2014 04:54 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Edgy MD wrote:
I'm trying to figure out why he's feeling a need to redact the paper's name. ("Republican-American"?)

If those fuckers want any publicity, they'll have to pay ME!

Later

Benjamin Grimm
Sep 06 2014 08:48 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

That's ridiculous. By not sharing their name here, all you're doing is sparing them some scorn.

themetfairy
Sep 06 2014 10:01 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Benjamin Grimm wrote:
That's ridiculous. By not sharing their name here, all you're doing is sparing them some scorn.

Or inviting speculation that you're making this up.

G-Fafif
Sep 06 2014 11:39 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Damn. And I was going to subscribe, too.

MFS62
Sep 07 2014 07:47 AM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

OK, you convinced me.
Its the Danbury News-Times.

You can't make this shit up.

BTW, here's a suggestion I got from a long time acquaintance:
"You should tell your newspaper that in honor of Jeter's range at shortstop, they should cover only half their subscription area with the edition and exclude your area."

Later

Ceetar
Sep 07 2014 08:58 AM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Actually, this one fits rather well. Tell them "Much like Jeter, paper newspaper subscriptions have long ago been due to be retired. Please cancel mine."

G-Fafif
Sep 07 2014 12:29 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Special commemorative sections are produced to generate advertising revenue. No way, regardless of tastelessness of subject, should a subscriber be charged a premium.

Benjamin Grimm
Sep 07 2014 12:34 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Exactly.

My guess is that they didn't sell as many ads as they had planned. If so, they should have just absorbed the loss and taken it as a lesson learned. I hope there's a lot of backlash to this, not only from people who dislike Jeter and the Yankees, but also from those who are completely indifferent.

bmfc1
Sep 07 2014 12:34 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Cancel the paper for the day. Tell them that Jeter wouldn't want more trees cut down merely to honor him.

MFS62
Sep 08 2014 08:31 AM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

I called the Managing Editor of the News-Times.
He said he knew about the program, but didn't realize there wasn't an opt out.

I described the insult to the feelings of Mets (and probably the Red Sox) fans in the area.

He said he recently moved here from St. Louis and is a Cardinals fan.
I told him some of the comments that have been posted in this thread and asked how if he would feel if he had to pay extra for a Cubs tribute. He laughed, and said now he knows exactly how we feel.

He suggested I contact the head of subscription services at the Hartford Office (the paper is one of many owned by a Hearst group there).

I'll let you know if I get a response.

Later

Frayed Knot
Sep 08 2014 08:44 AM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

MFS62 wrote:
I described the insult to the feelings of Mets (and probably the Red Sox) fans in the area.

I wouldn't even have gone there. Just say that they are, in effect, selling you something you didn't sign up for & don't want, and if they insist on charging you a dollar for it that you intend to pay by taping a dollar bill to a brick and depositing it through the front window of their office.

OK maybe not that last part, but there's no way in hell they'd get my dollar and that if they insist it would be the final dollar they see from you.

MFS62
Sep 08 2014 08:53 AM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Frayed Knot wrote:
MFS62 wrote:
I described the insult to the feelings of Mets (and probably the Red Sox) fans in the area.

I wouldn't even have gone there. Just say that they are, in effect, selling you something you didn't sign up for & don't want, and if they insist on charging you a dollar for it that you intend to pay by taping a dollar bill to a brick and depositing it through the front window of their office.

OK maybe not that last part, but there's no way in hell they'd get my dollar and that if they insist it would be the final dollar they see from you.

I'll save that for the corporate person, whose performance evaluation is probably tied in part to the success of things such as this.

Later

Nymr83
Sep 08 2014 09:36 AM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Yeah, I'd tell them it is outrageous that they plan to charge me without my consenting. It might even be illegal, and you might even be entitled to keep whatever they send without paying for it.

The only caveat I'd give to the below is that I have no idea what it says in any agreement you singed when you signed up for hte paper delivery

[url]https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/mailfraud/fraudschemes/othertypes/unsolicitedfraud.aspx

Receipt of Unsolicited Merchandise
A company sends you a gift in the mail--a ball point pen, a key chain, a tie. But you didn't order it. What do you do? If you are the type of person this company is looking for, you may feel guilty about accepting the item without paying for it. Don't feel guilty! It's yours, and you are under no obligation to pay anything.

You, the consumer, may only legally be sent two types of merchandise through the mail without your consent or agreement:

Free samples which are clearly and conspicuously marked as such.
Merchandise mailed by a charitable organization that is soliciting contributions.
And in these two cases, you can consider the merchandise a gift if you wish. In all other situations, it is illegal to send merchandise to someone, unless that person has previously ordered or requested it.

These rules are codified in Title 39, United States Code, Section 3009. That section of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 incorporates these protections for American consumers and makes the mailing of unordered merchandise unfair methods of competition and unfair trade practices under the law.

If you do not wish to pay for unsolicited merchandise or make a donation to a charity sending such an item, you may do one of three things (in each case, by law, you have no obligation to the sender):

If you have not opened the package, you may mark it "Return to Sender," and the Postal Service will return it with no additional postage charged to you.
If you open the package and don't like what you find, you may throw it away.
If you open the package and like what you find, you may keep it for free. In this instance, "finders-keepers" applies unconditionally.
Furthermore, it is illegal for a company that sends you unordered merchandise to follow the mailing with a bill or dunning communication.

If you are aware of violations of the federal law prohibiting the mailing of unordered merchandise, or if you have personally had difficulty with such items--especially if you are sent statements demanding payment for the merchandise--you should contact you local postmaster or the nearest Postal Inspector.

MFS62
Sep 09 2014 07:26 AM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

I sent a very simple email asking why I should be charged for something I did not order.
I received this prompt reply:

Thank you very much for reaching out to us at the News-Times. Could you please confirm your delivery address? I will make sure that you are not charged the extra dollar for this special edition once I can confirm your delivery address.

Sincerely,

Pat Colligan
Customer Care Manager
Hearst Connecticut Media Group

Thanks all for your suggestions.

Later

G-Fafif
Sep 25 2014 11:24 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Can't wait for the early edition of the Danbur News-Times to land on subscribers' lawns this morning.

MFS62
Sep 26 2014 06:51 AM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

G-Fafif wrote:
Can't wait for the early edition of the Danbur News-Times to land on subscribers' lawns this morning.

Can't wait to verify my next bill.
Haven't brought in the paper yet.

Later

MFS62
Sep 26 2014 08:23 AM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Just got it.
Its about 8 pages, one full page of ads.
They didn't even number the pages separately, but continued with the next available number. Your high school newspaper team could have done a better job. A few stories from opponents (including Bobby V) about how much they respected him. Poorly written and poorly executed.
One dollar?
Its not worth the paper its written on. I wonder how much the YLDBs in my office will offer me for it?
Later

Lefty Specialist
Sep 26 2014 06:33 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Four letters.

Ebay.

d'Kong76
Sep 26 2014 06:44 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

Start the bidding at $7, free shipping.

"Add this Danbury beauty to your collection of tri-state area
local newspaper retirement tributes to the greatest of the great!"

Or, line your cat box with it.

Benjamin Grimm
Sep 26 2014 09:10 PM
Re: Need Some Advice from The Pool

The Daily News today had a sixteen-page wraparound section. I appreciated that; I was able to easily remove it and drop it in the recycling bin before it even entered my house.