My turn to rant on Dragon

[Dark Psion]

I got Dragon #301 today and was up to page 109 and saw something that made me mad. It is an add for subscribing to Dragon. If you subscribe or renew now, you get Bastion Press's Arms & Armor free.

What's wrong with that you ask. Well the last time my subscription came due I had a little extra money and well I'm good till 2004. If I had just renewed for a year at a time, I would have got Burning Shaollin last year and now Arms & Armor.

Why don't those of us who choose to support Dragon with multiple year subscriptions get these also?


(PS: I did call the 800 number and they said it is just for new subscribers and renewals.)

 

[Khan the Warlord]

That truly sucks.

Well, why not try and get some other subscribers that have paid multiple years in advance to write complaint letters to either WotC or Paizo Publishing?

I imagine if Jesse Decker or Anthony Valterra were made aware of the situation, as opposed to simple customer service representatives, they *may* try and rectify the situation.

Well, that is what I would do anyway.

 

[Aaron L]

Well, I think the idea of retroactive promotional offers gets a bit into the "iffy" category.

 

[ced1106]

a) It's standard policy for many periodicals. Take a look at the fine print for magazines and newspapers on those "special offer" business reply cards, and you'll see "New subscribers only".

b) It peeves me off, too.

c) Guess who doesn't subscribe to many magazines?


Cedric.
aka. Washu! ^O^

 

[Dragongirl]

While you are at it, why don't those of us that rent apartments get the move in specials that new renters get when we renew a lease?

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

Don't you save enough with a three-year subscription to be able to go buy your own copy of Arms & Armor?

 

[Crothian]

Exactly. They have your money, the special offer is to get other people's money. This has been going on for many, many years.

However, with Sports Illustrated I was able to call them and extend my subscription by one year to get the free stuff. That was a few years ago and I raised heck on the phone. That was an acception and it's the only time I've been able to do that. I've tried it other times to no avail.

 

[Crothian]

While you are at it, why don't those of us that rent apartments get the move in specials that new renters get when we renew a lease?

You don't? I've gotten some great rates from apartments because they wanted me to stay. It doesn't always work, but I always try.

 

[fba827]

Such is the way of Marketting -

they are attempting to increase revenue from new or continuing customers. Most businesses get their highest return on investment from brand new customers. And, aside from that, since they have extended it to renewals, if someone were to renew for multiple years now they probably would get it as well.

True, however, customer loyalty is an excellent and cherished commodity as well. So, yes, it would be nice if they did some promotion / something for people who are already multiple year subsrcibers but
1) that gets a little sticky 'cause of the potential for cancellations and what not after the give away
2) the magazine does not make as much money on mutilple year subscrbers because of the discounted cost they pay for their renewal so less money from them can go into these sorts of promotions
3) Pazio does not have your money from your previous renewal (that went to the publisher at the time you paid your renewal fees) so even if they wanted to, they would not have the revenue from your renewal to help them afford such promotions for those who already paid WotC (*)
4) They may well still be doing this promotion (or something similar) when you ARE up for renewal (remember, it is under different management now so their marketting tactics are going to continue to evolve for a good term)
5) they are a company with a new product - their primary goal right now is to a) attract new customers b) get the old customers to not give up on them because of the change in publisher

Having said all that, while I can not agree that it is a reason to be mad at Dragon (or publisher) I can COMPLETELY sympathize that the situation must be frustrating for you.

(yes, I know I am making very little sense here - I'm tired and have a cold )

(*Note above - yes, renewal of subsrciptions is unearned revenue, etc. etc. and whether or not Pazio (sp?) actually got any of that "then unearned revenue" fully depends on the nature and specifics of the exchange of business between WotC and Pazio.)

Edit: added a phrase to add some clarification to my cold-medicine induced ramblings

 

[Jesse Decker]

I'm likely to come off as unsympathetic here, which isn't really my intent, but I'm a bit stunned by this complaint.

These promotions are designed to get new business. However, no one is excluded from this offer. Even if you have a long-term subscription, if you subscribe or renew now, you can still take advantage of the promotional offer. If you think getting a free book with a subscription is a deal you'd like to take advantage of, just add an extra six months or a year to your current subscription. I really don't mean to sound dismissive, so please don't take it that way, but this kind of offer is a standard one in the magazine industry.