From: oneil@cwis.unomaha.edu (Sharon O'Neil)
Subject: Re: ALL: SOD subsription solicitors
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 06:03:49 GMT

smithd@CS.ColoState.EDU (Deb Smith) writes:


>Hi all.  I got a phone call from Discount Circulation Service a few
>weeks ago offering me a discounted subscription to SOD.  Their pitch
>was that the magazine was going to raise their price soon due to in-
>creased printing and publishing costs, so they offered a 3 year deal
>for $129.90, to be added on the end of my current subscription which
>ends in August 1993.  Like most phone solicitors, she talked very fast
>and gave me very little chance to respond.  She also didn't say they
>they weren't affiliated with the magazine.

Whoa!  Though I hate to admit it, I am currently working as a 
outbound magazine renewals drudge.  I don't know if I like the way that
she treated you, though.  I always make sure that the people I'm talking
to understand precisely what I'm telling them.  And I always make it clear
that I'm calling for a marketing firm that has been contracted by the
magazine to handle renewals.

My advice: *never* agree to a magazine renewal by phone unless the 
person on the other line can answer every question to your satisfaction.
That includes "Who are you working for?" and "How can I contact them?"
and "What is your name?"  

I will admit that we *have* to push the three year subscription rates.
Although, there is some truth to the claim that three years is cheaper.
Usually, when I sell a three year subscription, it's at least fifty
percent off the newstand price and generally it is at the lowest rate that
is available.

Still, I'd NEVER tell anyone in real life to take out a three year sub.
All too often, magazines fold.

>The invoice/order form arrived a week later, restating what she told
>me minus the bit about SOD raising their prices.  It gave the payment
>options and said to make checks out to Magazine Billing Service, not
>the magazine.  It also stated "We are a discount subscription service.
>We do not publish magazines, but do sell and service over 150 magazines
>at the lowest prices available."  I don't know if this means anything,
>but the invoice didn't look very professional.

Always, always, *always* ask the person who they are working for.  If it
is a reputable firm, they will tell you who they are working for.  The firm
I work for, DialAmerica, will give you ANY information you ask for: the
represtantive's name who is calling you, the 1-800 number and address of the
main headquarters, the number and address of any branch office.  Anything
you want to know, we'll tell you.  We'll give you the customer service number
of the magazine we're calling for.  

>I wanted to reach SOD by phone, but couldn't find a phone number in
>the magazine.  I even dug up an old issue hoping to find the customer
>service number they used to advertise.  I did find it; it's been dis-
>connected.

You should try the 1-800 operator.  Just dial 1-800-555-1212.  If there
is an existing 1-800 number, they will give it to you.  I'd also suggest
calling the people who contacted you.  You might even want to contact the
Better Business Bureau in the town where the company is located.

>Has anyone else been contacted by these people?  I know there exist
>publishing houses that sell subscriptions (American Family Publishers
>for one), but I've never heard of these people before.  I've been a
>subscriber to SOD since 1983 and don't want to see other subscribers
>get duped or see the magazine lose out.

I'm not so sure I'd be all that crazy about American Family Publishers or
any of those other sweepstakes magazine services.  You're not getting the
lowest price from them either, to be quite honest.  

I guess what I'm trying to say is this: if you don't like the way that
a telemarketer is treating you over the phone with a renewal, don't do it.
She was using a hard sell technique on you -- buy now, because the price
is going up.  (We don't really use this technique where I work: we 
concentrate on the benefits of the magazine, although we will point out 
that a longer subscription will save you money in the long run.)  Always
ask questions.  Listen carefully.

(I don't plan on annoying people forever, but in Omaha, NE, the Telemarketing
Capital of the World, it's one of the best paying part time jobs you can get.
And there are a number of reputable companies here too.)

>Deb Smith

Hope this helped.

Sharon O'Neil
oneil@cwis.unomaha.edu