Apparently someone at Readers Digest Association has determined the best way to do business is to screw their customer base out of their subscriptions.  I would think this wouldn’t bode well – long term.  Someone probably assumes many won’t notice or care enough to complain, so the math works out in their favor.  I’d like to think that doing bad things will cause them to suffer, so I’m making sure everyone is well aware.

If you subscribe to Rachael Ray’s magazine you’ve probably just received a letter letting you know that they think their latest issue is so terrific that they’ll be counting it as two magazines instead of one.  They also state that if you don’t like it, you can contact their customer service.

It seems that the publisher, Readers Digest Association, is pulling this same crap with all their magazines.  Here’s a list of what they publish:

• The Family Handyman
• Taste of Home
• Allrecipes.com
• Birds & Blooms
• Everyday with Rachael Ray
• Reader’s Digest

Be aware that if you subscribe to the Family Handyman Magazine that there is a letter included with the latest issue.  They claim to be providing such a good issue that it will count as 2 issues against your subscription, and will deduct your account accordingly.  They then state that you can email, call or write them if you are not Okay with that.

contact info if you aren’t Okay with that:

• customercare@thefamilyhandyman.com
• 1-800-947-3530
• The Family Handyman Customer Service
  PO Box 6230
  Harlan IA 51593-1730

Here’s a copy of the letter:

Family_Handyman_Double_Issue_Scam.pdf

A forum discussion

Perhaps I am overreacting, but I didn’t appreciate it. I thought I would respond by making this practice as public as possible.  After all, “it’s loyal customers like you who make our magazine so successful.”