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1. Lucile 2
   Member Profile

   Is anyone getting calls from the Times, thanking them for their subscription and then telling them, not offering them, that they will receive the paper weekly for the price of their Sunday only? (I am currently a Sunday only subscriber)
   I said okay the first time, and then got my bill, the had charged me for weekly. So I called and canceled (fine, I don't read the paper during the week anyhow--it was just a waste).
   So I received another call, and the woman RUSHED through her pitch, same deal, and I told her I didn't want to do this because last time they charged me. She apologized, kept saying it wouldn't happen, "I swear, I am Sarah and I work for the Seattle Times, okay?" Seriously.
   To get her off my back, I said I only live here on the weekends, and she told me to give it to a neighbor. Then I told her I don't like my neighbors and the paper was a waste of my time and resource and asked her to leave me alone. She said okay, and then goodbye and hung up.
   Totally unprofessional.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

2. squareeyes
   Member Profile

   

   I get the 'weekend' service of Fri-Sat-Sun delivery. They call me 2-3 times per year to try to give me a full-week trial subscription. (called me last week as a matter of fact) I very firmly tell them I wouldn't read it and don't want it. I usually have to reiterate a couple of times but, so far, they haven't gotten rude.

   I feel sorry for people who do telesales; it's a horrible, thankless job and I can't imagine how hard it is on the morale. I know I couldn't do it.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

3. Lucile 2
   Member Profile

   Me neither, and props to them for doing a thankless job! I am sure they are told what to say--kind of a "don't shoot the messenger" thing. You do have to be firm (but polite) with them. It's not like the girl who called me is the one who messed up my billing!
   I find it annoying, but it's a management decision of the Times, not the decision of those who actually call.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

4. RainyDay1235
   Member Profile

   

   Yes, I ONLY get the Sunday - but they try to push the Fri-Sat-Sun combo for "free" all the time. Just be firm, polite and say NO THANK YOU!!

   Posted 3 years ago #         

5. bsmomma
   Member Profile

   

   I got a call yesterday from (caller ID said) "The Local News" with an out of area #. Nice enough guy but pretty much told me I was going to be getting the Sunday Paper starting this Sunday for only 23 cents a week. I have your address as 23xx blah blah blah. Said thank you and hung up. Shoot, I'll take the Sunday paper for 23 cents!
   I wonder if I could call my Credit Card Companies and just tell them "because I value there service, I'm going to send you XXX.XX and call it good, Thanks"!

   Posted 3 years ago #         

6. swimcat
   Member Profile

   I have had a weekend subscription for 4 years, and I have been getting these 'free' upgrade offers forever it seems like. They would go in spurts, calling me several times a month offering free weekly service for 3 months and I always told them I don't need it, I read online during the week. Finally I told them to remove my name from their list to call and I stopped getting calls for a long time. But now they are calling again. The weekend rate has gone from like $25 to $43 for a 3 month subscription. I'm thinking about cancelling altogether now. geez!

   Posted 3 years ago #         

7. cruiser
   Member Profile

   

   Hi there sucker I'm from Seattle Times,would you like 120 pages of ads delivered to your door or direct to your recycle? Well?? Huh,huh?

   Posted 3 years ago #         

8. marianne
   Member Profile

   I was a loyal PI suscriber. When the PI went under I called the Times to change my subscription from daily and Sunday to the Friday Saturday, Sunday weekender. They tried to get me to stay with daily and I said I didn't have time to read it daily during the week. So my service changed to the weekender. Then, this past Monday and Tuesday the paper began being delivered daily again. Tuesday night I get a call from the Times asking if I was happy with my carrier (yes, he made it every day during the snow we had, appreciation reflected with extra tip!) and I told them I had meant to call about the resumed daily service but it was after 5pm when I thought to do it and they were closed. They said they would give me the daily delivery as a "gift" for 90 days and that if I did not want to continue the delivery to call at the end of June to cancel.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

9. Lucile 2
   Member Profile

   @ Cruiser.
   The ads alone are enough to make me unsubscribe. I told them it was a waste of resources, and I think I hurt their feelings.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

10. flowerpetal
    Member Profile

    

    I would think that the Times must be subject to the rules of the Do Not Call List. That system has worked like a charm for our household. You can also tell the Times caller to put you on their do-not-call list. They are obligated to do this if you request; and then never call you back again.
    We recently had a few calls from a home security company saying that they were calling us at "our request" for more information on home security systems. We never made such a request and immediately stopped their caller by telling him that was a lie; and their call violated the law. We threatened action if they ever called again; and they have not.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

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