Is there an ethical problem with this approach to magazine subscription renewals?

I do that occasionally. It’s no different than people who let their Sirius subscription lapse and see if they get an offer as a new subscriber or other membership programs where they offer a deal for newcomers.

I do that with a popular magazine that I subscribe to. It’s 59 dollars when you get the offer, but 150 approximately if you subscribe with no deals. I used to see this magazine on Amazon (the one I subscribe to) and it would be at a discount there, so I would call the magazine and tell them the truth, that the price on Amazon is this price, and I can get it there or I can get it directly from you if you can match it. They’d match it.

I think magazines are happy to have people subscribe, because if they have no subscribers, they’ll fold.

Is it gaming the system? Maybe but maybe they should offer the same low price for everyone, whether they’re new subscribers or existing subscribers, and then it wouldn’t be an issue.

Print is almost dead, I’d take what you can as long as you can with no qualms.

No problem with it. I was quoted a ridiculous price for renewing The Week, then as it got closer they came down some but still high. I called them up and they renewed it for the last price I paid.

Of course not. They almost tripled the price over the years, and are offering the inflation adjusted (I used an inflation calculator) original price as the “discount”.
They screwed you over already, no reason to do the same to them.

@ragingloli, did you mean to say “no reason not to do the same to them”?

@Jeruba Yes

No problem.

They offered this to you. You are not gaming anything.

The days when established companies behaved honourably, almost like elderly gentlemen or ladies, are almost over. Companies of all kinds now exist only to make a profit for their shareholders and they treat their customers with scorn. I would have had an ethical issue pressuring a company I respected to lower its price but that was last century. The concept of loyalty between companies and their customers has almost disappeared.

“The days when established companies behaved honourably, almost like elderly gentlemen or ladies, are almost over.”
Those days never were.

@ragingloli Oh c’mon, surely some company, somewhere…...

You’re just playing their game along with them…they reduced the price to get you to sign up for another year, you’re taking their offer. When next year rolls around, I imagine they’ll do something similar.

I’ve done that with cable TV over and over. They increase their price, I call to cancel, they say, “Oh, we see you’ve been with us for x number of years. Let me connect you to the Loyalty Department and see if they can help you out.” They help me out, and I stay with them because they don’t charge as much as they were going to. ¯\(ツ)/¯

I was going to say, “It’s a win-win!” but it really isn’t. They’re still getting more money from you. They’re just trying to look like a nice guy while doing it. Don’t feel guilty just because you get enjoyment from it and maybe think you owe them for that.

No ethical issue for you. I think there is a minor ethical issue for them doing it that way.

That is, I think it’s a problematic policy. They’re essentially not being straight about their prices. They charge people more if they don’t game their system. I find that irritating and unfair and unkind and so, unethical.

People who game such systems, are merely playing the company’s game that they made. Too many companies create such games, wasting people’s time and energy, and taking more money from people who don’t play the games.

And also, losing money by annoying people.

Be careful, they have all kind of gimmicks to get their money. When they charge you for this year’s reduced price, they might also include next year’s full price at the same time & charge your card as an agreed 2 year subscription for a total of $412.50. A lot of companies are not giving refunds anymore so you’re locked in.

You owe them nothing. Take the cheapest route.

Given the neoliberal trash it publishes, and how it’s wrong about pretty much everything related to economics—I wouldn’t worry about exploiting some discount.

Anything over $0 is paying too much anyway.

If there is then I will be burned at the stake.
I do that with every single provider of subscriptions. NY Times, XM Radio, Internet Service, Cell phone service, etc. I always check on pricing, no worried to cancel, always get a better deal.
Bottom line is they want to keep you as a subscriber no matter what.

Yeah my friend says her husband does that with their Sirius subscription.

I knew a Christian who was proud to share about volunteering in 3rd World countries, and about saying she’d cancel Comcast every year so she could always get the new customer price.

They Haff their ways!