Misleading Marketing Trick

[JimMc]

Hope this is not posted in the wrong place, but felt it needed to be seen by as many as possible.

I just received a RENEWAL/new order form (Looks like a legimate renewal bill from a magazine) from the AMERICAN RIDER magazine.

I know that many of us subscribe to Rider Magazine. AMERICAN RIDER IS NOT THE SAME. Of course when you realize you have been tricked, you can cancel your subscription - however, the cancellation fee shown in the small print is $20. The 8 issue subscription is only $14.99. The "Renewal" form is not post paid like the renewal form from the real Rider Magazine.

I think this is very sneaky marketing. There is no material with the renewal/new order form to describe the magazine or give any hint about the quality or style of publication. (No, I didn't fall for this - too many clues it wasn't right!)

Don't get hooked thinking you are renewing your Rider Subscription

[Dick]

Hope this is not posted in the wrong place, but felt it needed to be seen by as many as possible.

I just received a RENEWAL/new order form (Looks like a legimate renewal bill from a magazine) from the AMERICAN RIDER magazine.

I know that many of us subscribe to Rider Magazine. AMERICAN RIDER IS NOT THE SAME. Of course when you realize you have been tricked, you can cancel your subscription - however, the cancellation fee shown in the small print is $20. The 8 issue subscription is only $14.99. The "Renewal" form is not post paid like the renewal form from the real Rider Magazine.

I think this is very sneaky marketing. There is no material with the renewal/new order form to describe the magazine or give any hint about the quality or style of publication. (No, I didn't fall for this - too many clues it wasn't right!)

Don't get hooked thinking you are renewing your Rider Subscription
Hi, Jim - prolly be good to move this post over in Chit Chat after a bit.

I got the same scam letter - which makes about the 5th or 6th one I've received from these jerks. I wrote the Attorneys General in Oregon and Ohio last year and included the letter along with the dupe info these scammers send. Oregon AG said "we'll keep you posted" - haven't heard from 'em yet. Ohio AG didn't respond.

I wrote the scammers, expressing my thoughts on them trying to dupe folks - no response from them either. I did manage to track down the parent outfit that does this - they were the same for the address in Oregon and for the one in Ohio. Still no contact.

I guess they buy their mailing lists somewhere and then shotgun the mailing and hope for some sort of return from folks who don't read the fine print. I recall that one of my subscriptions wuzn't even ready to re-new, yet they wanted to cut the term and triple the cost. Sleazy folks, they are.

[andy]

Hi, Jim - prolly be good to move this post over in Chit Chat after a bit.

done

[BLBantz]

I got one too. Just threw it away. On a similar subject, I received a legitimate renewal bill from Cycle World to renew my subscription before it expired. Of course, there is over a year and a half left before it expires and they only offered me a two year renewal. They sure made it sound like it was about to expire. I guess they think it would be better for them to sit with my money instead of me.

[meese]

I get those "about to expire" letters too. Pretty annoying. Fortunately, your expiration date is printed on the mailing label every month. Plus when you really are about to expire, you get a huge red cover over your last issue so you can then decide whether to renew or not.

You also gotta read the fine print. Sometimes the "renewal" rate is more than the "special offer" rate that you can get by just sending in one of those postcards they stuff into every issue.