"Free" Magazine Subscriptions?!?
Posted on February 21, 2008 by Him and tagged free, wtf
A few months ago both Her and I started receiving issues of Complex Magazine (whose tagline is "Buy.Collect.Obsess" - ugh); for some reason that has now dwindled to only me receiving them. I've actually read a bunch of articles, but I'm not the demographic it writes to.
Two months ago I started receiving Maxim Magazine. I had a subscription in college - it was good turn-your-brain-off kind of reading.
The problem: I don't ever remember signing up for these magazines. Especially Complex.
Maybe it's time to check my credit reports.
Anyone have any explanations of mystery subscriptions?
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We started getting Complex too. We just throw them in the trash...though we're both big Olivia Munn fans, so we enjoyed her feature in the last one.e
Optional | Feb 21, 2008
I think that some publisher bought a list and is sending to you to increase circulation for advertisers.
Your comments say name optional, but then wouldn't let me post without it.
Jim Bob | Feb 21, 2008
Yeah, I've been receiving the Complex for a few months now too. Just checked my credit report last week and there was nothing funny. I think it's just a promo from the publishers trying to increase circulation.
Master Your Card | Feb 21, 2008
Optional hit the nail on the head. I did a bit of affiliate marketing for one of the big magazine publishers, and for the mags that are really heavy on the advertising (Maxim, Cosmo etc.) it actually makes economic sense for them to give their product away for free under certain circumstances. The money they make from the cover price is neglible in comparison to their advertising revenues, which are based on their circulation numbers.
So when someone says that Maxim 'isn't worth the paper it's printed on', they don't know how right they really are :)
I kept getting a boat magazine and a flying magazine and was not sure why. Talking about it with my friend one day, I realized I'd signed up for a free subscription a few months prior at a boat show.
I'm so glad you left a comment on my blog because now I've found yours! Very cool site with a lot of interesting posts I'm looking forward to going through.
Adding you to my reader. Thanks!
P.S.--Yes, I get mags I never subscribed to! For several months I've been receiving Redbook and just recently started get US Weekly. WEIRD.
dogatemyfinances | Feb 22, 2008
I bought a gift subscription that showed up six months later. I had totally forgotten about it, until my friend commented about the strange magazine she had gotten.
Thus, magazines = bad gifts. Seriously, how hard is it to change the circulation? SIX MONTHS?
Bonnie | Feb 22, 2008
My friend (a conservative Republican) received a mystery subscription to Rolling Stone for over a year. :) She just started receiving Outdoor Life. She was never billed for either of these, but one day the Rolling Stones just stopped showing up. i joked with her that maybe there IS a vast conspiracy...and all conservatives receive magazines with a liberal slant toward politics and perhaps liberals are receiving subscriptions to National Review or something. :)
creepy...I started getting Redbook a few weeks ago, too. And I know I never would have signed up for it because it's not the kind of magazine I'd read.
MrTrend | Feb 23, 2008
You wouldn't believe the amount of free magazines my girlfriend has been receiving without ever signing up with any of them. It started with 'Time', then 'OK!', 'Good Housekeeping', 'Details', 'More', 'Men's Vogue', 'Conde Nast Portfolio', 'Gourmet'... and this has been going on for a few months now. Just plain unexplicable.
Anne | Feb 25, 2008
I started receiving Complex after I ordered something from Ecko. This might have something to do with it.
Amy K | Feb 25, 2008
Hmm, I had a free subscription to Jane a few years back, but they did send a note saying that it was free for a year to pique my interest. I also started getting a cooking magazine about a year ago, but again with a big "You're receiving our premier issue so you'll subscribe and we can sell ad space." I'm surprised you haven't seen a similar transparency, or gift subscription notifications.
The closest I've gotten to mystery free mags was when I used up the last of my e-Rewards $$ on misc subscriptions rather than losing it at year-end. But in that instance I just forgot that I had subscribed.
Free isn't a bad thing, but I can see where this would be a bit creepy if you haven't signed up.
It's proof again that our info is out there and anyone can have access to it.
I have a situation where magazines started showing up, but it was a little different. As a gag a college roommate subscribed me to Playboy Magazine - and it just started showing up. I wasn't very amused, and cancelled. However, every once in a while I still get these mailings from there - and my wife gives me these quizzical looks like I was the one subscribing. Ugh, what a pain.
I have some answers! The other day, I got a notice from Redbook (my stalker magazine), asking me to renew my subscription. There was a phone number--aha!
The supernice woman on the phone told me a third party had purchased the magazine, as a bonus for something I'd bought, somewhere.
Still ambiguous, but less so.
Also, she assured me up and down that there would not be any charges.
What a huge waste of paper. What I love about magazines are the ones that magically renew without your permission, and then you get bills and have to fight them...
I am so happy I read your post and these comments. I too have received some unsolicited and free subscriptions to magazines, and couldn't figure out what the heck was going on. After reading all the comments, it makes sense. But I have to agree with Mike -- while I don't mind receiving free mags I enjoy, what a waste of paper!!!
Laura | Feb 21, 2008
I'm so glad you asked this. I started receiving Entertainment Weekly a couple of weeks ago although I never ordered it. Hope someone out there has an answer! That reminds me, I have to call EW customer service to cancel it...
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