Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!rutgers!att!cbnews!mlg
From: mlg@cbnews.ATT.COM (Mike Goodrich)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: MacWorld's Phony Offers
Keywords: MacWorld
Message-ID: <12989@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 10 Jan 90 12:14:11 GMT
References: <21069@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU>
Reply-To: mlg@cbnews.ATT.COM (Mike Goodrich,45256,cb,1L334,6148602116)
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 29

>>Several months ago, my colleagues and I each received an offer from
>>MacWorld magazine for a free mouse pad and trial issue.  We all said
>>"Sure, why not?"  What a mistake.  After receiving several harassing
>>letters from MacWorld (to which we responded with queries abour our
>>mosue pads and requests for cancellations), we've been put on the
>>delinquency list of the North Shore collection agency.  After filling
>>out an unsolicited bulk-mailed freebie card!  What a bunch of slimeballs.
>
>Exactly the same thing happened to me a year ago.  At the time I assumed
>it was an isolated accident and just slogged through the hassle.  However,
>I was genuinely annoyed that could find no way to call MacWorld to settle
>the problem nor could I talk to a person at North Shore Collection Agency.
>Eventually it was straightened out but urg.  Given that this still seems
>to be happening I'd advise everybody to avoid any offers of "one trial
>issue" from MacWorld.


I hate to say this but MacWorld is by no means the only magazine that uses
these so called tactics.  I had this happen to me with a magazine called
Publish.  I filled out the free trial issue and free gif card.  After about
two nasty notices I called them and asked what the was deal. I just wanted to
check out the free issue and get a free gift.  They said that when you fill 
out the card you are actually accepting the subscription and responsibility 
for the payment.  I told them to cancel my subscription and needless to say 
I didn't pay for it.  I did get my free DeskTop publishing tips book though.

The point is that magazines expect when you fill out one of their subscription 
cards that you want to subscribe.  Even though they have a free trial offer 
or something like that.