Renewal vs New Magazine Subscriptions

[ctinct]

As a penny pincher, this bugs the heck out of me. I just received my automatic renewal for Good Housekeeping. It is for $19.97 for 12 months, yet a new subscriber can get 24 months for only $15.00. Pretty much all my magazines do the same. I understand that the magazines want to entice new subscribers with the good rates, but as a long time loyal subscriber to MANY magazines, it irritates me. I am going to email and see if they will lower my subscription cost.

 

[Bren's Mom]

You can do what I do...when it's time to renew I find the card with the best deal...or find the best deal online...and just write 'Renewal' on it when I send it in with my check. They've never charged me more or said the rate was for new subscriptions only. I have Good Housekeeping and I've had it for years, have never paid more than $10/year for it. I agree it's irritating...Good luck!

 

[gshumaker]

It is not different than any other service.

DirecTV, Cox, Verizon, local paper, etc offer deals for new customers much cheaper than you as a loyal customer are paying and have been paying for years!!

 

[DisneyDawnNH]

Call and cancel the subscription - you will be SHOCKED at the rate they offer you Better Homes & Gardens at. I have done it - think it was $5.00 bucks!

 

[ajk912]

I do the same as the others- when they send you the crazy bill you ignore it or write cancel on it (some are actual "bills" others are fake bills, I am sure you can figure out which.. And then I look for the cheapest deal card in the mag I can find. I notice the ones near the front of the mags are always horrible deals, but at the way BACK of the magazine is the best deal.

Cosmo is one that comes to mind. The first card in the mag is 12 issues for $25. No way! Go to the back of the mag and I found one for Elle (I think it was?) and Cosmo together for $18 for a year. MUCH better.

 

[ICF]

http://www.magazinepricesearch.com/detail/betterhomesgardens.html?terms=better home and gardens

This is a good site to search for different magazine prices. Most orders I've ever done can just be marked as renewal with you order on line without any issues

 

[Evans Family]

I never renew my mags....usually as you get closer to the expiration the price get cheaper.....many times I let it run out and then the offers get really good. I research for the best deal and then get a new subscription.

Also, many times I find freebies of mags I already receive. Go ahead and sign up again...many times they will automatically renew your current subscription but sometimes I start getting duplicates. When this happens call the mags cust service number and tell them you are getting two copies and they will merge the two subcripitions together, lengthen the subscription and add on a couple of months to cover the months you got duplicates.

I get so many mags...most of them free.

 

[willis37862]

http://www.magazinepricesearch.com/detail/betterhomesgardens.html?terms=better home and gardens

This is a good site to search for different magazine prices. Most orders I've ever done can just be marked as renewal with you order on line without any issues

Thanks for the link, looks like they have great prices

 

[HM]

We let our subscriptions lapse and wait for a good deal. This year TIME offered a year subscription of $1 (yes, one dollar). Couldn't pass that up.

 

[DisneyNeckCoolers]

I never pay full price for my newspapers, also. Every year, or every 6 months, when my subscription is up, I call and tell them that I want the price of a new subscriber. Sometimes I get someone who's been around the block and knows what to do; other times I get the line, "That price is only good for our new subscribers," at which point I tell them, "Then, I want to cancel my subscription." Always, the next thing I hear is, "Please hold for just a moment." Magically, they come back saying that they could give me the price I asked for.

Been doing this for more than 10 years. I've never paid full subscription price on my L.A. Times this way.