August Home Rant

[L. D. Jeffries]

Along the same line. My pet peeve is when you get a renewal notice in the mail that says something like; "renew now and get xx number of months free". Then if you check the data on the mailing list you find out that your original sub doesn't end for another year or something like that. Wonder how many people fall for it thinking their sub is actually ending soon? Another rip off!

[Pappy]

Update

At least their response was fast, but that is the only good thing I have to say about August Home Publishing at this point.

The following was in my In Box when I got home tonight.

Hi Don,



Thank you for writing regarding My Home My Style magazine. Our records show that you have been a long time subscriber to Workbench magazine and several months ago our publisher decided to change the title of Workbench to My Home My Style. We have noted in past issues of Workbench starting with the Aug 2009 issue that this was the plan and we have been changing the style of Workbench in most of the issues published this year. This is something that you may and may not have noticed and of course we apologize if this comes as a complete surprise to you.



You have noted in your email that you do not wish to subscribe to our new title and to no longer receive renewal notices. I have stopped these for you. Your subscription has expired as of the April 2010 issue so there are no more issues left on your account to refund or send to your. Please disregard the notices that have been sent to you. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.



Best regards,

Kxxxx


This was not the thing for me to read after a 10 hr day delivering mail with the weather playing games. (Sunshine/shirt sleeves, cloudy/grab the jacket, varying drizzle to peppering ran, back to sunshine...) I was pi**ed off just reading the salutation, so I composed an immediate a reply to the young lady!

Kxxxx:

To begin with, my name is Mr. Gxxxxx (not Don) to strangers and business corespondents. Additionally, I am probably your senior by several years and would appreciate being addressed properly as a sign of respect that seems to be lost on most of the people in this country. Had you provided it, I would have addressed you by your surname.

I asume from your response that sending me a home decorating magazine in lieu of the remaining issues on my subscription to a woodworking magazine was entirely proper and acceptable. This is not acceptable to me and feel you owe me the cost of the remainder of my subscription from the time Workbench ceased publication. Further,an obscure notice in the editorial section of the magazine is not acceptable to my thinking. All affected subscribers to Workbench should have been notified in writing, either byU S Postal correspondence or by e mail.

I have already posted my original email to you on a 6,758 member forum that I subscribe to and will add both your response and this reply tonight, with the names obscured. I also intend to give the other members my permission to copy my correspondence for posting on any and all other woodworking forums they may frequent.

Sincerely:

Mr. Gxxxxx

How many other forums, woodworking or not, can this get published to? HAVE AT IT, ladies and gentlemen. You have my permission!

[gary]

I'd just let it go. Why raise your blood pressure over a few bucks.....

That's what I'd do.

[Uncle Cracker]

Unfortunately, Pappy, I don't think the woodworkers are the target demographic for this magazine any longer, so the publisher probably isn't concerned that you are gonna come here and rat them out. That's just the way of the world anymore...

[Pappy]

Problem Resolved

This, from the Manger of August Home Customer Service, was in my in box tonight.


Hello Mr. Gxxxxx,

Kxxxx has forwarded me your email regarding Workbench magazine to assist with a reply.

The last issue of Workbench magazine was Dec/2009 and the first issue of the new title My Home My Style was Feb/2010. Your subscription expired with April 2010. We can send you a refund per your request for these two issues. This will be about $3.67. If you prefer, we can send 2 issues of Woodsmith or ShopNotes in place of a refund. I will wait until I hear back before initiating the refund in case you choose one of the other magazines instead.

If you want more information as to how this all came about, why we made the changes, etc, I would be happy to explain in a telephone conversation with you at your convenience. I can be reached toll free at (Toll free number) Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm central time.


Best regards,
(Name), Manager
August Home Customer Service



I have sent the following reply to her.



Ms. Xxxx:

Thank you for the prompt and courteous reply to my complaint.

In lieu of a refund, please send me two issues of Shop Notes magazine. This can be either the next two upcoming issues or the two most recent issues, at your discretion.

In the past I subscribed to both Shop Notes and Woodsmith magazines and found both to be informative and interesting reading. My current economic situation has made it necessary to let most of my magazine subscriptions expire. I may well, in light of your handling of this matter, subscribe to one or both of these magazines again when my financial situation allows.

As I stated in my last correspondence to Kxxxx, I have posted all of this on a woodworking forum I visit on a daily basis. I will be sure to add our last e-mails to the thread tonight, also with names and contact information obscured.

Again, thank you for your prompt attention to, and resolution of, this matter.

(my name and address)


If anyone posted this to any other forum please, in fairness to August Home Publications, add this post.

[Pappy]

Gary, my blood pressure is fine (at least in this matter), this was a matter of principle.

Unc, maybe they don't care about a few woodworker's opinions, but 6,758 woodworkers should equal at least 5,000+ wives/girl friends/mothers/daughters, some of whom could be influenced by our opinions.

(My apologies for the male oriented reference above, but the point was about influence on partners that would have an interest in non-woodorking publications.)

At this point, I consider the matter resolved with a satisfactory solution.

[PhilofKayDu]

As a matter of principle

I to have subscribed to: Shopnotes, Woodsmith, Workbench, and recently to Wood. Because of my finances; I have droped Workbench and now Woodsmith. Pappy, GOOD FOR YOU. If we loose our principles; then what is next? I refuse to allow anyone to tell me that I can't work in my shop. ( Until the day comes that my personal safty is in question.) Then I will hang up MY OWN apron! Phil

[jhart]

I had an occassion to contact August Publications a year or so ago and they handled the problem quickly and fairly. I think they do a great job. I also got the new magazine, but had seen the announcements a couple of times in the previous magazine. I did not especially care for the new one, but my better half thought it was fairly good, so I will keep getting it until it expires.

[billwmeyer]

I had written a complaint e-mail to the editor. He apologized saying the management wanted a magazine that would appeal to women. He offered a refund of my subscription price. I had been a subscriber before, but was buying it off of the newstand, so I didn't ask for a refund. It was a very prompt and courteous reply.

Bill

[Pappy]

I had written a complaint e-mail to the editor. He apologized saying the management wanted a magazine that would appeal to women.Bill

Yet they thought it was ok to replace a subscription to male oriented magazine with it. I am sure it will have an audience that the new magazine will appeal to, but neither of the women in my house (ages 59 and 24) like it.

[9johnny5]

I salute you...

for handling this issue with the highest aplomb and courtesy. I truly believe that I would not have had the tenacity to follow through with Kxxxx's letter, even though I would have had the same reaction as you did. My hat is tipped to you for righting an oversight so frequently seen these days in the world of big business. I also am proud of your response to Ms. Xxxxx, I think it speaks volumes of your character.

Job well done, Marine. OOOH-RAHH!

John

[JSUPreston]

I missed the announcements as well and wasn't happy when I got the new mag. However, I decided not to pursue it since the issue I got was the last one on my subscription anyway. SWMBO kinda liked the new one, but not enough to subscribe again.

[Pappy]

The Feb and Apr issues of Shop Notes are supposed to go out in tomorrows mail.