Shot In The Dark: Note to the Star/Tribune Marketing Department

December 30, 2004

Note to the Star/Tribune Marketing Department

I recently downgraded my cable TV service; I felt no need to pay for programming I largely considered repellent. Upside: No more MTV.

Downside: No History, A&E, Discovery or Spike.

So when Comcast called the other day asking if I'd be interested in getting a very good deal on the first three months of premium cable and that yes, I could block MTV and Nick, I thought "Hmmmmm...". It was a nice price.

And then the guy on the phone said "You also get x weeks of the Minneapolis Star/Tribune thrown in on the deal". The Strib is apparently trying to gussy up their circulation numbers by giving the paper away.

MITCH: "Could I get the deal without the Strib?"

GUY: "Er, no, I can't not give you the Strib".

MITCH: "I want the deal, just not the Strib."

GUY: "You could take the deal and just throw the paper away..."

MITCH: "Nice thought, but it's wasteful, and I don't want to give them any more subscribers. I can't stand their editorial policies, or their editorial writers. You sure you can't just detach the Strib from the deal?"

GUY: "I'm sorry, no".

MITCH: "Dang. I'm going to have to decline the deal."

GUY: "Because of the Strib?"

MITCH: "I'm afraid so."

He seemed kind of confused.

Posted by Mitch at December 30, 2004 10:55 AM | TrackBack

Comments

Mitch,

I got the exact same call. Exact same pitch. I declined for the exact same reasons.

Posted by: Mark at December 30, 2004 11:36 AM

ROFLMBO!!! "I can't not give you the Strib."

Posted by: Jinx McHue at December 30, 2004 12:24 PM

LOL!
You are my hero......!

Posted by: chele at December 30, 2004 05:13 PM

I got a call from Comcast offering me 6 months of HBO free along with the Strib, which I declined for the same reasons. The lady sounded shocked that I think they are too liberal and was turning down this offer.

Posted by: Gwen at December 30, 2004 06:46 PM

My Strib subscription ran out. Because I had a new credit card, they couldn't automatically renew my scubscription by charging the number they had on file.

But... I continue to receive the paper seven days a week. I think they're trying to keep the circulation numbers up.

When I go on vacation I wonder if they'll let me temporarily suspend delivery even though I'm no longer a subscriber.

Posted by: Bob at December 31, 2004 06:54 AM

I got the same call, and the conversation went similarly. The Comcast lady was very polite and understanding, surprisingly; maybe she had already been softened up by talking to you and some of your commenters!

Posted by: Steve Gigl at December 31, 2004 11:03 AM

It seems to be a habit of the Trib to develop schemes to up their numbers. It happened last year when they included the free weekend paper as they were moving off a Mon=Friday sub rate to full week rate,

Monday mornings, office buildings throughout the metro had piles of weekend papers only to be tossed as old news.

Circulation rates were up though, just ask the paying advertisors.

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