Why Does Life Have To Be This Complicated?

Dear Mr. Wreggie:

Your subscription to The Wall Street Journal Online is coming up for renewal in about a month. I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you of just a few of the powerful benefits of your WSJ.com subscription, as well as to highlight some valuable recent additions to the site.

Bla, bla bla, bla …..

As a reminder, we will automatically renew your subscription for another year at the current regular rate of $2.87 per week, charged to your credit card annually at the rate of $149 unless you cancel before your renewal date.  This automatic renewal provision is contained in our Subscriber Agreement, which you can access by the link at the bottom of the WSJ.com website.

What!!! I paid $59 last year. No way…they can rot and eat their paper for $149.

So I wrote this note after I cancelled the auto renewal. 

I got this a few weeks ago from you:
"As a reminder, we will automatically renew your subscription for another
year at the current regular rate of $2.87 per week, charged to your credit
card annually at the rate of $149 unless you cancel before your renewal
date. "

I called and canceled.

You've got to be joking. I pay $59 now without Barron's that I used to get.
I can let the subscription lapse and sign up off the street for $109.

Can you quote me a real rate to renew?

To which a computer relied…..

Dear Jr. Wreggie,

Thank you for contacting the online Journal regarding the billing of your subscription. 

As of February 1, 2009 renewal rates for The Wall Street Journal Online have increased. 

A standard subscription is only $149 annually, or $ 12.95, per month for access to all three global online editions of The Wall StreetJournal
(US, Asia and Europe), the Health Industry Edition and the Media & Marketing edition.

The Online Journal is really a great value. For less than 33 cents a day - WAY less than the price of a cup of coffee. 

Bullshit I say…..then I noticed an offer appeared after I canceled my auto renew so I renewed. 

Look what I got!

Your subscription information has been updated as follows:

Product: The Wall Street Journal Online
Term and Rate: 1 year for $59 

6 comments:

terri said...

That's crazy. It pays to speak your mind!

mic said...

The sqeaky wheel is the first to get the grease.
I just sqeaked at the oil company that services my moms boiler, they came running and did a beautiful job of, doing their job.

none said...

They are counting on people being sheep and just paying the inflated price.

This happens in so many industries I once haggled down a $125 per month Gym membership to $25 I guess the fake prices are their profit margin.

Stacy said...

wow they thought you would never notice

Unknown said...

hammer is 100% right.

I used to call Comcast all the time and ask what certain extra costs were for and without any argument they'd just take the charges off. I can only imagine the number of people who don't call and just pay it.

TerryC said...

What is it with American companies?

Why do they like to punish their own customers?

It bugs the crap out of me when I see companies like Netflix telling me that they'll give a free month to a new person that I recommend.

Hellloooo!

What about me, don't I get something for being a long-time regular customer?

Ridiculous!