TWiki . Edumacation . LakeShorePublishers	TWiki . { Main | Edumacation | TWiki | Test }
	Edumacation . { Home | Users | Changes | Search | Go }

We received a mailing from Lake Shore Publishers Service regarding a subscription to Rosie Magazine. Instead of including the usual cover letter and full-color brochure telling how great the magazine is and what a fantastic deal this is, it included only a payment envelope and a statement indicating the "total amount", the "installment" amount, and a "please return by" date. It also indicated that this was for a 36 issue 3 year subscription at a 49% savings off the cover price.

Their legal folks made sure that it doesn't say invoice, amount due or payment due by, as those would have resulted in a clear violation of postal regulations. Instead, they label the statement as a SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL / NEW ORDER OFFER.

On the back of the notice (on the portion which you are expected to return with your payment) is the following notice:

We are an independent magazine clearinghouse agent. We handle over 600 magazine titles and act as an independent subscription agent between the magazine publishers and clearinghouses in order to facilitate sales and service. As an agent we do not necessarily have a direct relationship with the publishers or publications that we offer. This is a magazine subscription offer not a bill or invoice. You are under no obligation to either buy a magazine or renew at this time. However, your business is greatly appreciated.

Renewals will start after your current subscription has expired. If ordering, you may cancel only if we receive written notification within 2 weeks after receipt of your payment. After that time frame, please call customer service to exchange your subscription order for another magazine. New subscribers please allow 6 to 12 weeks for delivery to commence. If you have any questions or would like to inquire about other magazine quotes please call the number listed on the front side of this offer. Again, thank you.

Cagey Consumer complaint log:

• complaint filed with Chicago BBB acknowledged 7/23/2001
• LakeShorePublishersResponse  received 8/7/2001

Links:

• BBB advertising challenge (Washington): http://spokane.bbb.org/alerts/alerts.html?newsid=249
• BBB (Chicago): http://www.chicago.bbb.org/common.html?location=/home/common/www/mis67/report.php&bureau=chic&compid=72001382
• BBB (St. Louis): http://www.stlouis.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=110168135 (United)
• BBB (San Diego): http://www.sandiego.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=23001843
• BBB (San Diego): http://www.sandiego.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=28008996 (Global)
• BBB (Reno): http://worf.usshurdman.com/~reno/commonreport.html?bureau=reno&compid=4000046
• BBB (Reno): http://worf.usshurdman.com/~reno/commonreport.html?bureau=reno&compid=5000097
• BBB: http://www.bbb.org/alerts/deceptive.asp [Wayback archive]

Media coverage:

• PC Gazette: http://www.pcgazette.com/news/2001/july01/magazine7-20.htm
• bend.com: http://www.bend.com/news/ar_view^3Far_id^3D7904^26fth_hilite^3D8977.htm
• Charlotte Observer: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/charlotte/news/columnists/mr_watchdog/6077630.htm
• Consumer Reports: http://www.consumerreports.org/main/detailv2.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=295595&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=22355
• Honolulu Star-Bulletin: http://starbulletin.com/2003/10/26/news/kokualine.html (10/26/2003)
• Kansas City Star: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/4903371.htm
• Philadelphia Inquirer: http://www.realcities.com/mld/philly/business/columnists/jeff_gelles/4505229.htm
• WRAL: http://www.wral.com/money/1645593/detail.html

Regulatory & Legal actions:

• Oregon consent judgment: http://www.doj.state.or.us./releases/rel062404.htm
• Aquarium Fish Magazine: http://gpas.org/pub/flash/nov02/bobk.htm
• Time Inc.: http://circman.com/ar/marketing_time_inc_suit/
• Coin World
  • http://circman.com/ar/marketing_publishers_services_exchange/index.htm
  • Agent Appeals Court Decision in Amos Press Case: http://circman.com/ar/marketing_agent_appeals_court/

Publisher alerts:

• Biblical Archaeology Society: http://www.bib-arch.org/subalert.html
• Christian Science Monitor: http://csmweb2.emcweb.com/durable/2001/06/13/p24s5.htm
• Coin World: http://www.coinworld.com/news/122302/Subalert.asp
• Fishing & Hunting News: http://www.fishingandhuntingnews.com/contact.asp
• New Republic: http://www.tnr.com/alert.mhtml
• Nuts & Volts Magazine: http://www.nutsvolts.com/Poptronics_Alert.htm
• Popular Woodworking: http://www.popularwoodworking.com/csfaqs.asp
• Running Times: http://www.runningtimes.com/special/subalert.htm
• Scientific American: http://www.sciam.com/page.cfm?section=subscriberalert
• Track & Field News: http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/general/subscriber_alert.html
• Videomaker Magazine: https://www1.videomaker.com/scripts/customer_service.cfm

Comments:

• Lake Shore Publishers Service Comment 1 
• Lake Shore Publishers Service Comment 2 
• Lake Shore Publishers Service Comment 3 
• http://www.forcefed4.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=930 [Wayback archive]
• http://bertha.yetta.net/blog/archives/2003_03.html [Wayback archive]

Topic LakeShorePublishers . { Edit | Ref-By | Attach | Diffs | r1.24 | > | r1.23 | > | r1.22 | > | r1.21 | >... }

You must register before editing pages or using other extended features on this TWiki system.

Revision r1.24 - 19 Jun 2011 - 06:49 by EliMantel  Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2000-2005 by the contributing authors. All material on this collaboration tool is the property of the contributing authors. Collect email addresses here. Ideas, requests, problems regarding TWiki? Send feedback.