One Small Step: Stop One Annoying Issue
May 8, 2008 by Jennifer
There are far more earth friendly and less annoying ways to get the “Please subscribe” message across than renew cards inserted in magazines.
As for magazines that insert six plus renew cards; well, that’s just silly. If you read four or more magazines, it’s easy to end up with enough extra paper in renew cards to start your own darn magazine.
Take one small step and quit buying one magazine that inserts renew cards in their magazines. If you subscribe to magazines vs. picking them up at the store don’t renew a magazine that does this. Make sure you contact the magazine and tell them that you’ll no longer be a reader, as much as you like their magazine, it makes no sense to be wasteful.
Which magazines do you read that do this? I like New York Magazine for the architect specials, but I quit reading them for this reason. They also send me massive renew letters – not ok.
Even Mother Earth News does it….
Jennifer, this annoys me so much too! I guess they really think 6 different people might pick up the same magazine in the store and decide to subscribe.
Why not just make a subscription ad with a coupon code on it printed on a prominent page?
Or better yet, just go digital. The renewal letters are part of the evil that is direct mail. I’ve stopped buying gift subscriptions for people because I still get renewal letters years later.
@Marye I know! What’s that about. I think Mothering stopped, or someone. I can’t remember maybe it was Brain, Child? I wish there was a list somewhere. What bugs me is that even if I’m subscribed (newly) I get all the darn cards in the mail .
@Peggy Yup 6 people in one store – funny. I agree with going digital – although sometimes you feel like getting off the darn computer.
I stopped subscribing to Organic Gardening because they filled their magazines with those little cards. I also started getting a ton of junk mail when I subscribed to them. They mis-spelled my name, so I know the junk mail came through them (directly or indirectly).
I enjoyed the magazine, but canceled my subscription. It was a couple years ago, I hope they’ve come to their senses.