jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I'm not a businessman, and that's my excuse for not understanding this. In the old days, I had lots of subscriptions to actual, physical, paper publications. Now, most subscriptions are offered as paper, digital, or both. Printing a newspaper on paper must involve a huge expense, not counting delivering it. Once the publication has been completed on a computer, there is no cost for delivery digitally.

What I don't understand is why companies charge $200 a year for a newspaper subscription. I accepted an offer for the local newspaper for $1.00 for six months, online only. The regular rate is $182 a year. I can't imagine many people willing to pay that much. It seems to me - a non-businessman - that having more people pay a smaller amount would earn them more money.

Actually, I'm through with subscriptions. They're too difficult to cancel, and they charge me when I don't want them to. I went around in circles yesterday with The New Yorker. I was charged $120 by Conde Nast, the publisher. When I called, one guy said there was no record of me. Another guy said I was stuck with it. I called my CC bank to dispute it.

BebuLamar

I understand that if they got you to subscribe for $1 trial online only it really doesn't cost them anything as it would cost them the same whether you subscribe or not. But once you subscribe it would be hell to cancel and they count on the number of people who stuck on the the subscription at the regular $200 a year rate.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes! Time will tell. Sometimes, all I have to do is go online and click "Cancel." Other time, I have to speak to a person who will offer me more and more "good deals."

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

$200/year is still probably less than what a paper subscription would cost. They are in the business of making money and they still have to pay their reporters and editors even if the pressmen are laid off. Advertising can offset the cost somewhat but we had a couple of local newspapers that are distributed free with the cost paid by advertising. They had to move to a subscription for both paper and digital to make ends meet.

MrBossHK Loc: The West Valley of Phoenix metro area

Because you have a lifetime subscription, you are immune to the annual dog and pony show of having to renew your Sirius-XM service at a reasonable rate after being insulted with a renewal offer that would make our current rate of inflation seem to be a trivial amount. You don't know what you are missing since you don't invest a huge chunk of your time negotiating with an individual at a call center in the Philippines who knows only what is included in their corporate script book. And if you decjde to cancel Sirius-XM, I suggest that you use the restroom before calling and prepare a lunch to have at your side before you enter that chat room.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

dhank01

I have solved this problem by setting up a Virtual credit card account with an expiration date that expires before the subscription renewal. You need to check with some of your current credit card companies to see if they offer this service. They allow you to set the credit limit, expiration date, etc. so you have more control over your auto renewal subscription.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I haven't had much luck doing that. Good idea.

M1911 Loc: DFW Metromess

When I cancel a service/product on an auto-subscription payment from my bank account or credit card, I also immediately contact the bank and CC company to cancel any future payments. I also record my conversation with their representative and make sure to get their name on the recording. Twice I have had to use the recordings to protect my credit score from their adverse claims.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I just got $119.99 credit for an automatic renewal, but it can be tricky. If you agreed to let them renew automatically, but you didn't cancel in the correct way, then the subscription will stand. A CC company can't invalidate a legitimate contract.