topic Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels in Community Chat

Magazine subscription mailing labels

KathyPet — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 20:42:49 GMT

Has anyone noticed how sneaky magazine subscription service is getting to be. My husband received some subscriptions that I am not interested in continuing. Two arrived today. I looked at the label to see when they expire thinking that if there is only a couple of months left I would just let them expire otherwise I would cancel them. Neither label had any indication of the expiration date of the subscription. I think they do this to be sneaky. Then you start getting renewal notices months and months prior to the expiration date and you don't know what that date is. They are hoping ro get you to renew and get your $ far in advance of providing the magazine. I think it is very underhanded.

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

MaggieMack — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 20:47:34 GMT

@KathyPet, I was recently appointed by the court to settle the estate of an elderly gentleman who passed. He had to have been the most prolific magazine reader on earth! I, too, noticed that not all labels had expiration dates on them. I called every magazine to cancel, about 80 in all. Some were set to expire soon, some three years out. When it was all said and done, I collected about $2,200 in refunds for the estate, much more than my time cost. Just keep plugging away, it will be worth it.

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

chickenbutt — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 20:55:28 GMT

You can also access the magazine account information online. All of mine have the expiration on the labels, except my husband's 'Dolphin Digest' which only says how many issues he has left.

Anyway, there is an account number that's usually right above your name on the mailing label and when you go to the magazine website it will have you put that in and maybe your zip code or something - whatever it requires will get you to your account and show your expiration. HTH

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

DoneTryin — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 20:55:44 GMT

Interesting. I haven't experienced that, but I only have 4 subscriptions. Two are monthly, one is bi-monthly, & one is quarterly. All of them show the exp date on the label.

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

Krimpette — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 20:56:52 GMT

Oft times, the renewal notices contain the expiration date, from what I've found.

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

chickenbutt — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 20:58:05 GMT

Another thing - what I do is keep a thing that has one label from each magazine and a log that has the account number, the current expiration date, etc, for each one. I had to do that a while back because I wanted all the info in one place (I get several mags) and was watching the sales on places like Discount Mags, where I get magazine renewals. Save a bundle, BTW.

I just renewed one mag for TWO YEARS for $25. That one, if renewed through the magazine would be over $80 PER year. I've used Discount Mags for some time now. No forced 'auto-renewals', BTW. That is very important to know.

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

scotnovel — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:00:37 GMT

I understand it is easier if the expiration date is on the magazine label. However, just like all the rest of our finances, it is OUR responsibility to know when our obligations are due. For anything that is a once a year or multi year item, I simply keep a list (currently takes up less than a page of paper) that hangs on the inside door of my home office closet. That way when I get a notice, I can just look to see when it is really due, and can make an informed decision in about 5 seconds.

It isn't sneaky it is just a marketing technique.

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

jackthebear — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:06:17 GMT

There is usually an 800 number on the masthead or in the back for subscription CS if you can't find any info online so you can call and cancel.

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

Another new name Sue — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:11:48 GMT

@chickenbutt LOL....I had to look up Dolphin Digest. I thought maybe your DH is a marine scientist but now I know!!!

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

chickenbutt — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:14:46 GMT

happygal wrote:
@chickenbutt LOL....I had to look up Dolphin Digest. I thought maybe your DH is a marine scientist but now I know!!!

Ha! Yeah, it looked weird when I looked at it and it's probably actually called Dolphins Digest, as he's a lifetime Dolphins fan. (He keeps hoping!)

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

Catty2 — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 21:53:26 GMT

I only get a few magazines but they all have the expiration date on the mailing label. Some of them start sending renewal notices 6 months before they expire. That's kind of annoying.

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

GCR18 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 00:43:17 GMT

Interesting. Last time I checked, the magazine's had the date on the label. I'll have to pay attention and check next time one comes.

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

JustJazzmom — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 00:51:24 GMT

I think this is also a good time to bring up various companies doing business in NV, CO, ID & CA and a person THINKS they are getting a renewal subscription from a magazine or newspaper they get to their home, but it's really a scam. If your newspaper or magazine subscription is expiring you should be getting notice directly from the newspaper or magazine company.

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

Dusty1 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 02:17:14 GMT

I think all of my magazines have the expiration dates, but some of my husbands don't. I do go to the magazine website & get the info, keep all of the dates listed on an excell file, so I know how soon they really need to be renewed. There is a website called magazinepricesearch dot com where you can compare sites to see where the best place to buy a magazine is. Then you can shop through ebates dot com. Yesterday they had 50% back at magazines dot com. I know all of that info isn't what you asked for, but it may help someone.

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

Cioci Carol — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 02:28:01 GMT

I just cancelled 4 magazines....they are getting rediculous with their deals, I don't need to renew for 2 yrs. I hope I live out this year in good health, anyway you can go on line now and get any info you need.... Time to down size

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

ID2 — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 11:37:48 GMT

You don't have to pay for a lot of good magazine subscriptions. I have several freebie sites I visit daily and I subscribe to magazines that way. I can honestly say that I have 7 subscriptions coming to my house now and I haven't paid a cent for them. Some are 3 year subscriptions. Mine all have expiration dates on their labels. I recently moved and needed to re-locate where my subscriptions were going. It was easy, all I did was go to their website, type in my acct. number located on the mailing label and I was able to change my address.

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

Sooner — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 13:42:03 GMT

@MaggieMack wrote:
@KathyPet, I was recently appointed by the court to settle the estate of an elderly gentleman who passed. He had to have been the most prolific magazine reader on earth! I, too, noticed that not all labels had expiration dates on them. I called every magazine to cancel, about 80 in all. Some were set to expire soon, some three years out. When it was all said and done, I collected about $2,200 in refunds for the estate, much more than my time cost. Just keep plugging away, it will be worth it.

I did almost the same thing for my mom. They PREY on older people. Just like the charities and the "health newsletters" that some of the biggest and most respected hospital groups foist off on the needy older folks. It is a scam and a racket and stealing. Nothing short of that.

It is something that should be stopped! But I don't know how you'd do it. Good for you for taking care of this. I wasn't up to thousands, but got hundreds in refunds for her. I worked and worked on that and it nearly drove me nuts. She hid the magazines from me. I'm sure she was ashamed of doing it.

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

MaggieMack — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:58:01 GMT

@Sooner, even though I told every one of the reps that the subscriber had died, I still get solicitations in the mail to renew the subscription. So, I printed up a bunch of "Deceased, please remove from mailing list" labels and place it on their order form and return in their postage paid envelopes. Maybe that will get their attention. Don't even get me started on the unbelievable number of charitable org mailing lists he is on. I know he must have fallen prey to many.

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

Sooner — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:39:10 GMT

@MaggieMack wrote:
@Sooner, even though I told every one of the reps that the subscriber had died, I still get solicitations in the mail to renew the subscription. So, I printed up a bunch of "Deceased, please remove from mailing list" labels and place it on their order form and return in their postage paid envelopes. Maybe that will get their attention. Don't even get me started on the unbelievable number of charitable org mailing lists he is on. I know he must have fallen prey to many.

Amazing isn't it? I have marked a lot of these big groups of my list of giving possibilities. I am keeping it local, where I can see how the money is used. Judging from the amount they spend on postage, it is simply a money mill for many groups.

Re: Magazine subscription mailing labels

SunValley — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:52:47 GMT

This is off topic but in response to the comment above about charity scams. I have received several calls for breast cancer donations. If you try to stop the caller to ask a question they ignore you and keep to the script. I assume they get paid only for the calls where the script is completed. I just hang up as this does not appear to be an ethical fund raising group. I agree about keeping donations local or only to organizations that you have vetted.