Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!purdue!mentor.cc.purdue.edu!ar4 From: ar4@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Piper Keairnes) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac Subject: Re: MacWorld's Phony Offers Keywords: MacWorld Message-ID: <6321@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> Date: 11 Jan 90 03:55:56 GMT References: <2505@manta.cme.nbs.gov> Reply-To: ar4@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Piper Keairnes) Distribution: na Organization: Purdue University Lines: 34 In article <2505@manta.cme.nbs.gov> proctor@cme.nbs.gov (Fred Proctor) writes: >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. > >1) MacWorld uses the sleaziest marketing tactics I've ever > heard of; > >2) I'm never EVER going to buy an issue of that ad-rag; > >3) I still need a new mouse pad. Need one of their mouse pads? I had three of them. They smell kinda funny though so I got rid of two and kept one. They, like all companies, want you to pay for their magazine. They send you a free copy in hopes that you will continue with a subscription. I've sent back MANY MANY MANY letters with CANCEL written on them and also received a letter from North Shore as you did. I think they came up with that ploy this last month. I doubt that it's a real collection agency, just some in-house rough boys. Anyways, they never actually do anything, they just bug the hell out of you for a while (just like a car salesman when he gets your phone number....) Moral of the story, send back one or two of the CANCEL cards.... if they continue, then just write them a nasty post-it note and tack it to the invoice. Maybe then, they'll take you off the hit list... GOOD LUCK!!! +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Piper Keairnes | ar4@mentor.cc.purdue.edu | General Consultant | | (317) 495-4273 | Macintosh Enthusiast | Purdue Univ. Computing Center | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+