"Alan S. Harrell" wrote:
> Exercise caution. This is an area that is fraught with fraudulence.
> The magazine subscription business genders a lot of consumer complaints
> these days. Make sure you operate in an honest manner at all times.
Robert, I'd like to expand on what Alan said. A few months ago, several
magazine agencies convinced me to by magazine subscriptions. Later, I
found out that these subscriptions would cost several hundred dollars. I
tried to cancel them, but I couldn't because I only had three days to
change my mind. Only three days--long before I actually received any
magazines. After much fighting with these agencies, I was able to work out
a compromise, but I still had lost money. Also, I didn't like the
selection of magazines that they thought I would like. They were willing
to list all of the hundreds of magazines they offered, but of course I
wasn't willing to sit there and listen to all of them to find some that I
liked.
While what these companies did were legal, I strongly feel that they were
unethical. That's why I think, in my opinion, that you probably shouldn't
sell magazine subscriptions. However, if you really want to, make sure
that you don't let salesmanship mask the truth from your customer. Tell
him the total cost of the subscription, and make sure that he knows (i.e.
make sure that he's not so bedazzled by the "incredible savings" that he
doesn't know that he's still paying hundreds of dollars). Make sure that
he realizes that he only has a few days to cancel the subscription, in
which time he doesn't receive any magazine. Don't assume what magazines
the customer will like, and understand that he probably doesn't want to
stand there listening to all 250 magazines you carry. In fact, you might
want to ask whether you can mail him a list of the magazines you offer, and
he won't be subscribed to any magazines until he replies by mail. Most
importantly, don't make the customer feel that he needs to buy anything.
If he says no, then you should back off rather than keep bugging him.
I'm not trying to be rash, but as a victim of magazine subscription
agencies, I'm expressing what I feel is the ethical way for a telemarketer
to do business.
Andrew
