Comments on: My ugly breakup with The Economist http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/ Musings of a computer scientist on predictions, odds, and markets Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:47:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Spread Betting King http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-220 Spread Betting King Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:14:03 +0000 http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-220 Man, what a patronising message! Companies normally bend over backwards to try and retain customers planning on leaving - think about mobile phone companies - but here the approach seemed to be "you stupid imbecile, you don't know what you're missing out on!" They should offer an incentive to not quit (a couple of free issues for example). Also while it's nice (ish) that they commented on this to apologise, I would have thought even at that stage they could have made a gesture to you of offering some freebie to win you back and by way of apology. Definite marketing/PR fail from The Economist I'd say. Man, what a patronising message! Companies normally bend over backwards to try and retain customers planning on leaving – think about mobile phone companies – but here the approach seemed to be “you stupid imbecile, you don’t know what you’re missing out on!” They should offer an incentive to not quit (a couple of free issues for example).

Also while it’s nice (ish) that they commented on this to apologise, I would have thought even at that stage they could have made a gesture to you of offering some freebie to win you back and by way of apology. Definite marketing/PR fail from The Economist I’d say.

]]> By: Alan Dunwiddie http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-219 Alan Dunwiddie Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:29:18 +0000 http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-219 Please, I just want my copies of the Economist. After charging me twice last December for a renewal and a gift subscription, your fine magazine cancelled my subscription. I've been a subscriber for 14 years, and want the magazine. You keep sending me nice letters asking me to renew, but I've had no magazine since May 9-15, 2008. If you would refund my money I'll subscribe anew under some other name. I can't believe you do this to me, Alan! Alan D. Please, I just want my copies of the Economist. After charging me twice last December for a renewal and a gift subscription, your fine magazine cancelled my subscription.
I’ve been a subscriber for 14 years, and want the magazine. You keep sending me nice letters asking me to renew, but I’ve had no magazine since May 9-15, 2008.
If you would refund my money I’ll subscribe anew under some other name.
I can’t believe you do this to me, Alan!
Alan D.

]]> By: Marc Varner http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-218 Marc Varner Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:45:40 +0000 http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-218 David, Insightful. I just sent my subscription 'invoice' back with a letter to Mr. Press, with similar disappointment. I was offered a free trial run of the magazine for 6 editions. It looked interesting with timely topics so I took them up on it. As promised, the publication arrived right away, however so did an invoice for my 24 month subscription......Huh?, what happened to free? At any rate, I asked to be removed from receiving it because I was less than impressed with the marketing tactic but I found your entry helpful in understanding it may nnot be an isolated thing. BTW - I assume you have gone bankrupt and are living back in your mom's basement since cancelling your subscription :) David,
Insightful. I just sent my subscription ‘invoice’ back with a letter to Mr. Press, with similar disappointment. I was offered a free trial run of the magazine for 6 editions. It looked interesting with timely topics so I took them up on it. As promised, the publication arrived right away, however so did an invoice for my 24 month subscription……Huh?, what happened to free?

At any rate, I asked to be removed from receiving it because I was less than impressed with the marketing tactic but I found your entry helpful in understanding it may nnot be an isolated thing. BTW – I assume you have gone bankrupt and are living back in your mom’s basement since cancelling your subscription :)

]]> By: Betfair Poker blogger http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-217 Betfair Poker blogger Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:56:54 +0000 http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-217 It's good to see the power of the blog! It’s good to see the power of the blog!

]]> By: David Pennock http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-216 David Pennock Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:42:12 +0000 http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-216 Thanks Alan! My apologies: your comment got stuck in my Akismet spam folder for a few days. Thank you for your prompt and effective response. I guess blogplaining/freedbacking can actually work! Thanks Alan! My apologies: your comment got stuck in my Akismet spam folder for a few days.

Thank you for your prompt and effective response.

I guess blogplaining/freedbacking can actually work!

]]> By: David Pennock http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-215 David Pennock Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:08:35 +0000 http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-215 :-) Yes, I hear it too, "bloody closed-minded American"... :-)

Yes, I hear it too, “bloody closed-minded American”…

]]> By: Jason Ruspini http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-214 Jason Ruspini Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:59:58 +0000 http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-214 Hmm, do I detect some "Oh you Ugly American, the plight of -insert impoverished nation- lies with you!" there? :) Hmm, do I detect some “Oh you Ugly American, the plight of -insert impoverished nation- lies with you!” there? :)

]]> By: Alan Press http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-213 Alan Press Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:29:40 +0000 http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-213 Dear Mr Pennock, We noticed your recent blog post about the renewal letter you received from The Economist. We agree, the language is bad. We are discontinuing the use of this letter going forward, and will replace it with a message that makes clear how much we value readers like you. I hope when your anger subsides you will reconsider reading The Economist. Best regards, Alan Press Vice President of Marketing & Circulation Dear Mr Pennock,

We noticed your recent blog post about the renewal letter you received from The Economist. We agree, the language is bad. We are discontinuing the use of this letter going forward, and will replace it with a message that makes clear how much we value readers like you.

I hope when your anger subsides you will reconsider reading The Economist.

Best regards,

Alan Press
Vice President of Marketing & Circulation

]]> By: David Pennock http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-212 David Pennock Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:40:55 +0000 http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-212 Thanks Dennis! Wow, so they've been at this since at least 2006! In the old days, perhaps I couldn't blame them for giving it the old college try, one last shot with nothing left to lose. However in this day and age where everything is public and everyone has a pulpit (ironically, the age the Economist alludes to: "just as the world is connecting"), such tactics can backfire severly. Just ask AOL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13447232 Thanks Dennis!

Wow, so they’ve been at this since at least 2006!

In the old days, perhaps I couldn’t blame them for giving it the old college try, one last shot with nothing left to lose.

However in this day and age where everything is public and everyone has a pulpit (ironically, the age the Economist alludes to: “just as the world is connecting”), such tactics can backfire severly. Just ask AOL:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13447232

]]> By: Dennis DeCoste http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-211 Dennis DeCoste Tue, 11 Sep 2007 01:10:10 +0000 http://blog.oddhead.com/2007/09/09/my-ugly-breakup-with-the-economist/#comment-211 Obviously this one is too old fashioned for you and you two have simply grown apart. Not internet savvy and too vain to boot. E.g. others have been blogplaining even earlier; see from August 16: http://ryankellett.com/blog/?p=568 Obviously this one is too old fashioned for you and you two have simply grown apart. Not internet savvy and too vain to boot. E.g. others have been blogplaining even earlier; see from August 16:

http://ryankellett.com/blog/?p=568

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