Woodworker's Journal - A New Low

Woodworker's Journal - A New Low · 10-15-2009, 09:24 AM

I received in the mail yesterday an unsolicited DVD from Woodworker'S Journal. It is one of these deals where you have to send the DVD back or you owe them for it, plus if you don't send it back, you automatically sign up to receive an undiclosed amount of additional DVD's at an undisclosed amount of $. Granted, they did send a prepaid mailer to send the DVD back, but this marketing ploy is a new low for Woodworker's Journal. The DVD with a scolding letter is going back in the mail today. Back in the 80's, I enjoyed their magazine more than Fine Woodworking, but like some of the other magazines, their quality has slipped and it's become ridden with advertising. Did anyone else receive this DVD from them?

tom hintz · 10-15-2009, 09:44 AM

I worked for a long time on the staff of magazines and can appreciate their desperation to try to maintain falling subscription bases. Everybody I know who is still in the magazine business is looking for another way to make a living. Ad sales are tanking and without them, the magazine days are numbered, without the "continued on Pg so and so" stuff.
However, trying to bump up a subscriber list is no excuse for this kind of thing. As happened here, all you do with that kind of ploy is to turn a potential buyer/subscriber away for good.

Bas · 10-15-2009, 09:47 AM

I have not, but I'll keep an eye out, since I used to subscribe to WWJ. As for being signed up automatically and owing them money...in their dreams. They can nag you all they want, but you are NOT required to mail the DVD back. And if they insist on sending you more DVDs, well, at the very least you now have pretty shiny coasters!

I got a book from some other magazine, they used the same ploy. In the fine print, it said that if for some reason I was unable to mail the book back, I could keep it, and I should ignore the reminders. So I said to myself: "Self, is there a reason you can't mail it back?". And I said: "Yes, that takes away shop time!". So I kept the book. After a few weeks, the reminders stopped coming. I loathe this marketing ploy as well.

Bigdog72 · 10-15-2009, 10:14 AM

+1 on what Bas said.

Unsolicited media material is yours to keep. If you didn't order it, you have no obligation to send it back! And...to get even, just send back the pre-paid envelope...empty!

Waste some of their time for a change!!

SteveColes · 10-15-2009, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Bigdog72

+1 on what Bas said.

Unsolicited media material is yours to keep. If you didn't order it, you have no obligation to send it back! And...to get even, just send back the pre-paid envelope...empty! Waste some of their time for a change!!

+2

jimwill48 · 10-15-2009, 12:18 PM

Got one yesterday. It does state in the mailing that you "do not" have to return the DVD unless you want to and that you can keep the DVD as a "gift" since it was unsolicited. I will keep it as a "gift" and if lots of others do maybe they will stop this type of crappy action.

James

WoodWrangler · 10-15-2009, 12:41 PM

Unfortunately this isn't a "new" low ... they have done this before. I've been getting DVD's here and there for a while. I keep them all, and refuse any bill they send ... no problems so far and the DVD's stopped too (oh well). This is BAD marketing in a the MODERN world.

Sawdust Denny · 10-15-2009, 02:12 PM

Yes, I received an unsolicited DVD a few months ago. The letter sent with the DVD was very clear that you could keep the DVD as a gift if you disapproved of their approach. So I did. A couple of months later I received a follow-up letter reminding me that I had not payed for the DVD, I just ignored the reminder.

TominZebulon · 10-16-2009, 12:16 AM

While I have not received one, if I do I will wrap one of the hundreds of bricks I have in my backyard in some paper and tape the prepaid mailer with the DVD in it and send it back so they can pay the postage on the brick as well!

SSuther · 10-16-2009, 12:50 AM

I used to be a big subscriber of woodworking magazine and have 30+ years of a few them to the point that storage is a bit of a problem. Now, I'm much more selective about those that I choose to receive because so much of it is repetition of info that I've already got. I still go back to old issues for ideas, but there's so much info on the internet now, it's hard to justify buying new ones even if the subscription price is relatively low. I do wonder who's going to survive the combination of internet competiton and slow economy. I suspect we'll see more of the FWW online subscription approach in the future.

MrAudio815 · 10-16-2009, 02:13 AM

Originally Posted by Bas

I have not, but I'll keep an eye out, since I used to subscribe to WWJ. As for being signed up automatically and owing them money...in their dreams. They can nag you all they want, but you are NOT required to mail the DVD back. And if they insist on sending you more DVDs, well, at the very least you now have pretty shiny coasters!

I got a book from some other magazine, they used the same ploy. In the fine print, it said that if for some reason I was unable to mail the book back, I could keep it, and I should ignore the reminders. So I said to myself: "Self, is there a reason you can't mail it back?". And I said: "Yes, that takes away shop time!". So I kept the book. After a few weeks, the reminders stopped coming. I loathe this marketing ploy as well.

Same thing happened to me as well Bas, I think it was Family hanyman a blue hard bound book.

I kept it as well. I figured, I didn't order it and always like woodworking books, so it got added to my collection.

Now when theres a Mag or book that gets my attention I order it. But if it comes free, then I'm happy they thought of me.

wayne · 10-16-2009, 01:21 PM

Sending unsolicited mail does'nt bother me as much as telling me my subscription will renew if I don't take the time to opp out. I have canceled several subscriptions because of this marketing ploy.

Wayne

steelwheel1999 · 10-16-2009, 08:32 PM

They can nag you all they want, but you are NOT required to mail the DVD back. And if they insist on sending you more DVDs, well, at the very least you now have pretty shiny coasters!

Not quite true Bas business law class this week discussing this very thing. This is called an inventation to trade. and you must either return the stuff of pay the piper. I know its a shifty way to earn a dollar but legal none the less.

Thanks Mark