[aukc]

Originally Posted by 19652plus2

This morning, I called the number on the Automatic Renewal Program postcard I received ( 800-568-6130) and the rep adamantly stated that the mag is continuing but undergoing changes (going digital, too). What's going on?

My only knowledge of the magazine publishing business is as a subscriber, so I welcome clarification from those that know more about that business, but my understanding is that when you subscribe to a magazine, in exchange for the money you give to the publisher, the publisher agrees to provide you with a magazine of the publisher’s choice. The customer may think there is an obligation to receive a specific magazine, but I believe the “fine print” only requires the publisher to provide a magazine of any type.

As a result, when a specific magazine title is dis-continued, as long as the publisher is able to substitute another magazine of some sort, then the publisher is fulfilling their agreed obligation to the customer, therefore since the customer continues to receive something, as far as the publisher is concerned there is no change to the agreement that is worthy of informing the customer about.

I’m not saying this is moral, or ethical, but I believe this is how magazine subscriptions work.

[John V.]

Originally Posted by aukc

...but I believe this is how magazine subscriptions work.

Hmmm, I don't think the publisher has any obligation to substitute anything. I think the specific mag business goes into bankruptcy. Like any conglomerate, the publisher might have several independent businesses, when one goes belly up, the others have no contractual obligation for the liabilities of the bankrupt business.

The reason the publisher might choose to substitute to another title is good business on his part, he's hoping that at least some fraction of those subscribers will re-up when the subscription runs out.

Mags give out free copies all the time trying to generate new subscribers.

That's my take.

YNOBIL, doesn't Blue Island 387 imply 5 digits?

I know I'm not the only old guy that remembers the use of exchange names??!!

[ho428]

Originally Posted by John V.

YNOBIL, doesn't Blue Island 387 imply 5 digits?

I know I'm not the only old guy that remembers the use of exchange names??!!

I grew up using the CEDAR exchange. Later when they went to 7 it became known as CE, meaning 23
"Old" people from the exchange would say their number is CE-97*** or whatever the last 5 were.
Remember radio call in when you had to dial the first 6 and wait for the DJ to say now to try and be caller number 10? No time to dial 7 numbers on a rotary.

[John V.]

For you old phone guys, did you get free phone service as a perk?

My grandfather did.

I remember being at their house. One of my aunts would call, then hang up.

How many times it rang would tell my grandparents who they needed to call back.

I'm pretty certain that continued even after he retired. Might have even continued after he died, not sure my grandmother ever had to pay a phone bill, I'd have to see if my mom remembers. I think the "rule" was not to abuse it.

We lived out of state, I think it covered long distance also, so my mom would have her ring code too.

I only knew party lines from TV shows.

Greg is right, all this stuff relates to the changing times. It has always been this way.

In college, I never dreamed my vinyl records would ever be obsoleted.

Just the other day, we were talking about phone books. Remember using them as booster seats? Haven't seen a new phone book in a few years.

Originally Posted by ho428

Remember radio call in when you had to dial the first 6 and wait for the DJ to say now to try and be caller number 10? No time to dial 7 numbers on a rotary.

My sister did that, sometimes for prizes, sometimes to make a song request. I seem to recall her saying that they told her what to request, she realized it was lame!

[YNOBIL]

Originally Posted by John V.

For you old phone guys, did you get free phone service?

I'm retired from AT&T. I get unlimited service in the continental 48 states for $10 a month. I also get special retiree rate on cellular, internet, and TV.

[John V.]

Bill, I've stuck with AT&T for long distance service. Every time their customer services ticks me off, I threaten to go elsewhere. But never have. Now I see I'm subsidizing their retirees! Gonna have to rethink this.

My humor can run to the sophomoric. When one of my sons studied at Franciscan University, I kept asking him if they cheered their sports teams with, "GO F.U.!" I was the only one who thought it was funny.

[YNOBIL]

Originally Posted by John V.

Bill, I've stuck with AT&T for long distance service. Every time their customer services ticks me off, I threaten to go elsewhere. But never have. Now I see I'm subsidizing their retirees! Gonna have to rethink this.

John thanks for sticking with AT&T, remember they were the original before the government broke up the company. Don't feel bad about subsidizing me, I seldom make any calls. It takes so long to dial a number on that rotary phone I usually forget who I'm calling before I can finish dialing.

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by John V.

Bill, I've stuck with AT&T for long distance service. Every time their customer services ticks me off, I threaten to go elsewhere. But never have. Now I see I'm subsidizing their retirees! Gonna have to rethink this.

My humor can run to the sophomoric. When one of my sons studied at Franciscan University, I kept asking him if they cheered their sports teams with, "GO F.U.!" I was the only one who thought it was funny.

Reminds me of the old joke for Norfolk U.
We don't drink, We don't smoke, Norfolk! Norfolk!
My wife never got it.

[ho428]

Originally Posted by John V.

My humor can run to the sophomoric. When one of my sons studied at Franciscan University, I kept asking him if they cheered their sports teams with, "GO F.U.!" I was the only one who thought it was funny.

We took an out of state friend to a local College football game, she really got into the cheerleaders yelling, "Let's Go, Big O! Come on, Big O! Whatdda we want, Big O!"
She said: "I can do that, I already know their cheers by heart"

or is that gone for good?

[YNOBIL]

Originally Posted by John V.

YNOBIL, doesn't Blue Island 387 imply 5 digits?

I know I'm not the only old guy that remembers the use of exchange names??!!

Blue Island never had an exchange called Blue Island, my belief is if you were calling local you would just dial the 3 digits and someone calling from another town would ask the operator for a connection to Blue Island. My phone number was Fulton 5-61** (385-61**). As a kid I would say my # was FU5-61**, was too young and innocent to realize I was actually saying "F*** You".

Keep in mind a lot of our parents grew up listening to Jack Benny on a console radio in the living room because TV were just coming out.

[GT182]

I still have my home phone but it's thru Vonage. I won't part with my landline. I don't worry about the power going out as our 17kw generator automatically kicks in. My house is the only one in our subdivision with a generator. We're all lit up while everyone else's home, and the whole neighborhood, is pitch black.

I just worry the natural gas night go off line. Then we be scrod.

[Alvin]

Stopped @ a local Barnes & Noble on way home to check status of September 2014 HPP delivery. Scheduled to arrive next week. I grabbed the August issue from their shelves to show customer service what I was looking for in the next issue.

According to the clerk, their store gets 3 copies every month...so 1 still on the shelf @ a high volume store from last month is telling. That was the same last issue of my subscription - August.

It's amazing to me of the sheer # of auto magazines and I'm of the impression that the market is over saturated and will continue to "adjust" downward. Print wise at least.

Collectible Automobile, Hemmings, etc. will probably continue to make it for the long run is my WAG...

As to the telephone thread diversion:
I recall a season 1 dialog on "The Soprano's" claim that it wasn't Alex Bell who invented the telephone, instead it was an Italian by the name of Antonio Meucci???