Community Chat

[fortune]

I got a "special offer" in the mail from Global Publication Processing, Inc.  It said that I could get a year's subscription to People Magazine for only $179.95!  I already take People and it's about time to resubscribe.  I called People and they said that the real price for a year is $116.07!!!  They had never heard of the above company.  I reported the company to the mail fraud division of the USPS!

[Azcowgirl]

They must be working over time ):

I got the IRS scam call today, and a credit card scam call !

[bbsr]

I think a company can legally charge anything they want for magazine subscriptions.  I know of several reputable online services that charge different prices for People.  I think you just need to shop around for the best price.

[fortune]

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@bbsr wrote:

I think a company can legally charge anything they want for magazine subscriptions.  I know of several reputable online services that charge different prices for People.  I think you just need to shop around for the best price.

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@bbsr

Legally charge any amount they want to for magazine subscriptions?  Their price is $179.95 and People's price is $116.07.  What do they do with the leftover money?  I'm sure it doesn't go to charity!  I really do think this belongs in the "mail fraud" category.

[millieshops]

I think the extra goes into their pockets and I don't believe it's illegal.  Lots and lots of products are sold at different prices by different companies -  and some companies sell the same products at different prices at different times.

I do believe this comes under the heading of "caveat emptor"  or if you prefer "buyer beware"  or beyer shop and inform yourself!

[Allegheny]

@fortune 

I think you are correct and appears this is a company that is trying to scam/trick people.    Several articles appeared on Google regarding complaints about them.  Even some legit publications were sending warning to their customers about this.

I am not sure what they are doing is illegal, but certainily is unethical.  

[x Hedge]

Mail fraud !?  What ? ?

 @fortune. You received their offer because they bought your name and address along with others whose subscription is ending soon.

What in the world makes you think they aren't making a legitimate offer to potential customers, stating their prices and the terms of their agreement for you to either accept or reject?

Would a magazine distributor who offers you a lower price for the same thing also be committing "mail fraud"? 

You can buy the same subscription to People for $180. or $116. or $88. If the highest priced offer is "illegal", is the lowest priced offer also "illegal"?

[gardenman]

It's not mail fraud, it's just a third party seller. I got an ad from a similar firm for TV Guide recently. I typically pay $12-$20 a year for it and their rate was something like $80+ and claimed it was a special price. Yeah, it was special all right. Just not for me. There are all kinds of people hoping to profit from an unsuspecting consumer. You just have to be smarter than they are.

[Allegheny]

After reading some of the complaints, what was described by some people is disturbing. There practices appear to be dubious.

IE., sending invoices for mazazines they aren't subscribed to.  Sending invoices for subscriptions where payments are up to date via auto pay thru another retailer.  Sending invoices that appears to be from the magazine subscription department, but are payable to GPP, Inc.  Offering subscriptions with no way to cancel.

[Lipstickdiva]

When QVC charges $90.00 for a pair of shoes that one can get at another online retailer for $60.00, what do you think happens with the extra money?  Do you think Q donates it to charity?  It's called a profit.  Companies try and make one everyday.

Products are priced differently all the time depending on where you buy them.  Magazines are no different.  It's up to us to find the best price available.

I recently renewed a subscription to 2 magazines through a site and they were under $12.00 for a year for both magazines.  That is less than the 2 magazines were charging had I purchased from them directly.  I did check that site for People and it was $120.00. 

Ever have to buy prescriptions without insurance?  Pharmacies can be all over the map with pricing.  Gas prices?  All over the place.  Groceries?  All over the place. 

I'm not sure why this is such a shock.