From: gerry@cmu.edu (Gerry Roston)
Subject: Re: FREE MAGAZINE OFFER FROM A NY COMPANY.
Date: Tue, 07 Apr 92 13:24:29 GMT
Organization: Field Robotics Center, CMU
Reply-To: gerry@cmu.edu (Gerry Roston)

In article <1992Apr6.223633.24610@tellab5.tellabs.com> rgarg@tellab3.tellabs.com writes:

   I came across a company called "COLLEGETOWN MAGAZINE
   SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE" in New York.

   Right Now they are offering this special offer:

   You can call them and either give them the address
   label info from your old subscription or ask them a
   free trial offer subscription for one full year with
   a purchase of any magazine.

   They will send you any magazine (out of 1200 different
   titles) for one year free. After that they will request you
   to subscribe thru them at the lowest price. If you don't
   want anything just say no and they won't act as pests
   and keep on sending you their advertisement.

   Right now, they are taking new business from present customers
   only. So, it would help to mention my name, Roger, as
   present customer.

   TELEPHONE NUMBER 1(800) 433-1357.
   From area codes: 212, 516, 718, 914 CALL (718) 967-1234
   FAX NUMBER       1(718) 967-1144.

   %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
   No flames because if you don't want a free magazine, don't
   call them. If you want a free magazine, call them. In either
   case you don't loose anything.
   %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

*** WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING

Two comments:

1- Roger "forgot" to mention that if you call and give his name, HE
will also receive a free subscription.

2- Let me sumamrize my experience with CMSS.  In October 1990, I
placed an order for "Harvard Business Review" and to extend my
subscription to "PC Computing".  I was told that my PCC would continue
after its March expiration, and HBR would start by January.

March 1992 rolls around, and nothing.  In the mean time, I had raked
up free subscriptions to "Byte", "Popular Mechanics", "Popular
Science", "Gourmet" and "Redbook".  I called and explained the
situation, and they promised that I would be receiving all of these
magazines by May.

May 1992 rolls around, and still nothing.  This time I write a letter.
The response was that I should expect everything to start arriving
soon.  This was true in part.  Byte started arriving in June, as did
PM, PS and HBR.  

So things were going well?  NO!  Two months later, PS stopped coming,
and the following month PM stopped.  PCC still hadn't arrived, so I
wrote another letter and made a call demanding a refund.  Kevin
Lipsitz, the owner categorically refused to give me a refund, but
promised that PCC would arrive shortly.  When I told him that I
planned to write to the Better Business Bureau of NY, he actually
threatened to stop the subscriptions to my free magazines!!!

October 1992, PCC finally arrived, a full year, several calls annd
letters to CMSS and the BBB.  But the story is not over yet.  I
received exactly 4 issues of PCC, then it stopped.  I wrote yet again
anothre letter, and the response I received was worded in sucha
fashion as to make me believe that they never intended that I receive
a full years worth of PCC.  I wrote another letter to the BBB.

So, 18 months later, HBR was received in full, as were Byte, Redbook
and Gourmet.  I am still waiting for PCC.  PS and PM disappeared
almost as soon as they started arriving.

Overall, I will state publically, and with no disclaimer, that I think
that Kevin Lipsitz is a crook.  [Sue me if you want, you bastard.]
His attitude towards me has been extremely unprofessional, his service
lousy and his word worthless.

Finally, I ask that if any of you have had problems, please send me
email, and I will send you the case number that is currently active 
with the BBB of NYC.  

*** WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING *** WARNING

--
Gerry Roston (gerry@cmu.edu)    | The story of Jesus Christ appearing after
Field Robotics Center,          | he was dead is the story of an apparition,
Carnegie Mellon University      | such as timid imaginations can always
Pittsburgh, PA, 15213           | create in vision, and credulity believe.
(412) 268-3856                  | Stories of this kind had been told of the
                                | assassination of Julius Caesar...
The opinions expressed are mine | Thomas Paine
and do not reflect the official | 
position of CMU, FRC, RedZone,  | 
or any other organization.      |