Since we received an automated voice message about Baltimore Sun carriers now being in charge of delivering our Aegis, we've received exactly zero number of newspapers.
The message informed us that it would now be delivered later in the day -- so giving them an opportunity to get to us, we waited to call and ask where the paper was. We gave them a break on Wednesday because of the nasty weather, but today we really wanted a paper.
So we called the Aegis, and a speedy recording informed us that we needed to call the Sun offices, which were now handling the deliveries. So we listened to the speedy message three times and wrote down the number and then called.
We tried using the automated message system, were mysteriously put on hold, and then another recorded voice came on and said we'd have to call back tomorrow.
As a reporter at a medium-sized newspaper, TAA had a phone number that was one number away from the circulation department. TAA fielded many calls to the circulation department and transferred them on. Many times readers just wanted to know where their newspapers were. Many times circulation would transfer these poor callers back to TAA just to be annoying. At the point the callers were beyond irate and some threatened to cancel their subscriptions. But the circulation department consisted of many fine people, some on work release programs, so TAA tried not to incur their wrath.
That was quite a few years ago now, but newspapers still don't get the importance of ACTUALLY RECEIVING the newspaper. We thought about subscribing to the NYTimes again, but the memories of the constant calling, fighting for credits for missed papers, and figuring out the amended bills. It was too much to think about really.
Aegis readers are still upset about the paid obituaries and I'm sure this new "cost-cutting" arrangement will lose more subscribers. And then the costly delivery problem will be solved. There will be no readers left in need of delivery.
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6 comments:
I stopped getting the Aegis when it would show up soaking wet and they said you have to call before 3well that's hard to do when you work!
When it took longer to walk down the driveway and back to get the paper than it did to read the paper, I cancelled the subscription. In addition the writing quality, accuracy and grammar have been in a steady decline for at least 10 years.
Since I grew up in the area, I miss the days when there was 2-3 pages of high school info written by the students. Also miss the small town feel of the little 2 inch columns on farmer Jones calf and such.
Don't expect it to get any better. The Sun is not doing so well in these trying times, but The Aegis is ... so much so that The Sun is resorting to stealing all moneymaking activity from us so they look better. Why do you think you can't subscribe without getting The Sun? Because it makes their circulation look better. It's all going to continue going downhill.
Our delivery has stopped also.
We keep being told by the SUN that it will be delivered the next day - twice this has been promised. Still no papers!
the aegis hasn't even been delivered to the convince stores on APG. i guess the editors want to the kill the aegis. i also agree the quality has gone down hill, maybe switch publication days to tues and fri or just go back to once a week since it takes no time to read the paper now.
The Aegis could save a substantial bit of money by publishing only once a week.
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