'Fine Gardening' magazine

A few days ago, I received a copy of Fine Gardening magazine. I figured I was on someone's mailing list and thought no more about it. Today, I received an invoice for my subscription order for said magazine. I certainly did NOT order a subscription because I've given up my Canadian Gardening subscription since the magazines were not getting read and Fine Gardening is NOT a Canadian publication.

Has anyone else received a similar magazine and following invoice? Is there any connection to DG?

Ann

A long time ago there was an offer here on DG for a free copy of Fine gardening. They're still being sent out, trying to catch up. We are not obligated to buy it, the invoices are computer generated, toss them out.

Here is the thread:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/905698/

Anne did you sign on for that free copy that was being offered through DG last year? It took them a long time to get them mailed out and only the first few Canadians were getting them, until they changed it to US subscribers only. I read that you were just supposed to ignore the invoice when you got it, if you didn't want a subscription.

Ah, Lee Anne you beat me to it. Your keys must be hot.

That's probably what happened. Now that you mention it, I have a very vague recollection of something being offered. Thanks.

Ann

I also recieved one in the mail today and did not order it. Thanks for advising

Phew! I am glad you are safe and it isn't anything like identity theft!

I got one last week sometime as well. Haven't received an invoice however.

I expect it will arrive next week.

I got mine Friday. Mom is reading it at the moment, she says she's reading every page so it must be awesome...usually she just scans.

I too wondered why on earth I was getting an issue of this, since I know I haven't subscribed to it...memory, that elusive thing.

Edited to add: Talking to a friend about this, she said she'd gone through quite a fight with these people some years back, when she got caught up in the same "free trial offer." Apparently, she had to threaten them with legal action, to get them to stop sending increasingly rude letters demanding payment for the "subscription."

Perhaps people just assume they must have subscribed, and so pay for it? If that is the case, it's pretty sleazy business practises - rook you in with a "free trial offer" and then try to insist you owe for a subscription.

This message was edited Feb 9, 2009 3:13 PM

Got my invoice today.

I also received an invoice and mailed it back with a note stating that I had not ordered it and would not be paying for the subcription...hope that works.

I wrote to complain, and received the following:

"I want you to know that I've had customer service remove your name from our system so you will not receive any more invoices or other communication from us (unless by chance an invoice mailed in the past day or so, in which case, just ignore it).
I'm sorry that you didn't like the magazine and were put off by the invoices. Unfortunately the invoice generation is an automatic process and we don't have much control over the timing.
I've been in touch with several DG'ers and made them aware that they were under no obligation to pay and could simply ignore the invoices if they were not interested.
Thanks for getting in touch with us and letting us know how you feel.
I hope you have no further issues but feel free to contact me should anything come up.
Best,
Jessica at Fine Gardening"

I like that bit about "Unfortunately the invoice generation is an automatic process and we don't have much control over the timing."

- it wasn't us, it was the computer....reminds me of years back when I called to find out why I had received a bill from the telephone company for an invoice I'd paid prior to installation, and was told: "It must have fallen into the wrong file."
I've always loved that, got a great mental picture of her opening the screen of the monitor like a door, and throwing the information inside...

"Unfortunately the invoice generation is an automatic process and we don't have much control over the timing."

All it takes is to tweak a setting here and there... They just want happy non-customers I guess lol

Yup, got my invoice too after receiving the free issue. I sure the hell hope they don't continue to send more invoices out. I might have to write them a letter like you did Cheryl.

I noticed too that I’m getting more spam phone calls after I sent my information in too, grrrr!

Do you know, that hadn't even crossed my mind, but we've had tons more of those, lately - all these "save money on your interest rates, this is your FINAL offer!" and "extend your new car warranty" calls. (what new car?)

I hate them with a passion, used to be if you had an answering machine, you didn't get those calls, now they leave messages for you. "Grrrrrr" is just how I feel about those!

Now they're not even real people, just recordings.

From their own website: (edited to add, the bold is my addition, not theirs)



With whom do you share my information?


We do not sell the list of The Taunton Press customer/member email addresses to any other companies. We may share this information with contest and sweepstakes sponsors, however.

We may need to access your information in order to fulfill your order or to notify you via email or through the mail of other Taunton products that you may be interested in. If you prefer not to receive these notifications, click here to go to the Privacy Options Form.

From time to time, we may make the list of The Taunton Press customer names and postal addresses available to outside companies whose products or services we feel might be of some interest to you. If you do not wish to be on this mailing list, please click here to go to the Privacy Options Form. Or if you prefer to speak to a customer service representative, you may call 800-477-8727 Monday – Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time.



This message was edited Feb 13, 2009 5:07 PM

Thanks for pointing that out Cheryl, I went to their website and put my name on the do not call or do not send me nothing list!!!

"extend your new car warranty" calls

I saw something on the news recently about the car warranty extension cars. I wish I could remember what it was. I'm pretty sure it was on both Calgary CBC and CTV news.

Yikes,
don't want to start a debate, BUT I would take a free Fine Gardening mag any day! I subscribe to this magazine and it's worth every penny compared to the Canadian Gardening mag I used to get. There are many sections of the magazine that apply to the zones we have here in Canada, and their contributors are often Canadian horticulturists and designers. I read it from cover to cover and my only regret is that isn't published more often. There are special issues which I order online that focus on one topic, such as small gardens or containers.

I agree with your concern about being invoiced for something you didn't order. Too bad they set it up that way. It's obviously turning off some potential subscribers.

One man's meat is another man's poison, and all that. If you like it, that's wonderful. I think for some of us, it isn't the magazine itself we dislike, so much as what we view as questionable marketing policies and procedures.

Fine Gardening is my favourite magazine and my only subscription mag anymore. For me, the info is more meat and less fluff and always seems to be relevant. It's too bad the marketing method is questionable, but a lot of the publications resort to that nowadays, don't they? Unfortunately, nothing is free.

Sandy

Well, I got another bill in the mail today. Amount due $29.95 USD. What did you guys do to stop this!

This message was edited Mar 11, 2009 5:43 PM

I just finished talking to some girl on the phone and told her to take me off the subscriber list and quit sending me these bills.
Man oh man, I will never fall for one of these traps again!

I got another bill too. So much for ignoring them. I think I'll spend for a stamp and send it back so they have it inn writing that I don't want the magazine.

I always send a written letter and insist that they stop immediately or I will take legal action. cc: your lawyers name and address - always works for me!
I had one magazine try this after sending their mag for over two years, (I did not order) I told them I have all their magazines and they could send for them.
The phone never works.

I got the bill with a new twist. I used to be a subscriber and let my subscription lapse. So now the bill comes after my free issue thanking me for my renewal. I don't think so. Into the shredder it went.