When I started this blog I had thought about writing a 'good neighbor' 'bad neighbor' column. I never started it, but decided to give it a try today.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press is today's bad neighbor. For many years we had the paper delivered to our door but we stopped about a year ago because there are only two of us living here now and half the time the papers would go unread. They take up a lot of room in the recycle bin.
We get much of our news through the internet and the nearest newspaper stand is half a block away so when we want a newspaper we get one.
The folks at the newspaper keep calling our home. We are on the do-no-call list, and we have repeatedly asked to be taken off of their list. Yet they continue to call us, three to four times a month, with special offers for subscribing to the paper. Our next step is to file a complaint because we can't stop the calls any other way, and the paper could be fined up to $10,000.
They also started delivering to our home a few weeks ago, and then they sent a bill for the papers they delivered. I called and told them I didn't order the paper and would not pay the bill. The reason I bring this up is because the same thing happened to my neighbors and to our son who lives at other address. In each case the home owner did not order the paper but it appeared and they they were billed for the paper. Since it happened to all of us at the same time we have concluded that it was a ploy to sell papers.
I know the local newspapers are struggling because readership and advertising are down. There have been layoffs and cut backs. That is how the business world is. I am also working in an industry that is contracting but that does not give me the right to break the rules. It doesn't work that way.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press is a bad neighbor and calling my home is not going to help their cause. If you are having similar problems with the Pioneer Press you are not alone.
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Teresa, our household identified the good/bad neighbor you mention several years ago. Even though they persisted in the face of our objections we suffered their advertising without surrenduring a dime.
My imaginative spouse has used the newsprint creatively instead of venting and letting her blood pressure measure her frustration.(That’s my department) In addition to cheap and easy to manage drop clothes for various painting projects, she uses the paper for filling in packages that are shipped, and most recently the wrapping of tomatoes that are slightly green…they ripen nicely as they age while covered by the local news rag.
Good to see you, even if only from a far, at the Prom center soaking up the “Good News” from Yun and Galespie. Thought you might have something to say about it here. Happy “pumpkin day” to you and yours. FAK
Fred – we have a fine paper that isn’t my point. The point is the phone calls. There will be two posts about last weeks forum. I thought it was great and took a lot of notes.
Teresa, the very same thing happened to my carpool partner this spring. She started getting the paper for no apparent reason (she hadn’t ordered it since she reads them online instead). Then after a couple of months she got a bill and was told it was overdue. Several harrassing calls later I think she finally resolved the issue, but it was the source of annoyance and many bags of recycled unread papers.
I have had the problem of endless phone calls from the Pioneer Press… I have asked them repeatedly not to call us anymore, but it persists. Infuriating!