Consumer Reports
I’m soon to be in the market for a new car and was interested in signing up for Consumer Reports in order to do a little research. When I attempted to sign up online I was unimpressed by their ironically un-consumer-friendly online subscription models — they’re all auto-renew:
Mandatory auto renew is a crock and certainly does not aid me as a consumer, it just gives me a chance to forget that I’ve signed up for a product that I definitely only want for one time period. I just find it ironic that Consumer Reports would take such an anti-consumer friendly position considering their general pro-consumer stance. This is a slimy, pro-business anti-consumer move and they should be shamed for it.
I guess I’ll just get the car issue off the newsstand, ebay, or preferably from my local library.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Or you could get it at the library and deny them all of their money. Probably a good idea to let them know why you’re doing what you’re doing. CU is a big organization, but I imagine they might respond.
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February 28th, 2008 at 9:08 am
The marketing folks at Consumer Reports and Consumers Union have a different mindset than some of the folks there who have a more pro consumer attitude, particularly the lobbying office. In general, the business stance of CU as an organization is pro the market system, including aggressive/abusive marketing, so long as that marketing isn’t dishonest. I found this out when I tried to talk to them about annoying captive audience marketing over loudspeakers in some grocery stores. Your complaint is another example. If you do write them, don’t expect any sympathy, but it would be interesting to know how they respond.
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February 28th, 2008 at 9:52 am
I’ll write them a letter/email today.
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February 28th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Ok, I sent them this email. I’ll let you know if they answer.
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February 28th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Upon re-reading, it may be a little bit too belligerent. I should have left out ‘crock.’ Oh well.
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March 11th, 2008 at 1:42 am
I always do that: I write something vitriolic and funny that gets my point across in a forceful way, only to realize, after I sent it, that it was way too harsh and/or mean-spirited. My exposure of your identity was one such occurrence.
But in this case, I don’t actually think you went too far at all. Although you did kinda close the door to them making you some counter-offer, i.e. free subscription for a year.
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