I received a ‘SERVICE INTERRUPTION PENDING’ notice from QNM yesterday. I received this notice despite the fact that I have sent back at least 2, if not 3 of their previous renewal notices letting them know I am not renewing.
I wonder what it takes for them to get the message?
Why am I not renewing? Many reasons.
Reason #1: My primary reason is that QNM is now part of a group that owns Love of Quilting, Keepsake quilting and other quiltmaking properties. This group has low standards for customer service.When I was looking for certain rotary cutting instructions that were not included in a pattern, but were mentioned on the Love of Quilting TV show, I kept getting fobbed off on someone else. Nobody would take responsibility for helping me, for finding the instructions. I am not a moron. I know how to check the web, I have the CD of patterns, which I also looked at. They just don’t care.
Reason #2: I don’t usually use patterns, so the projects in the magazine are a waste of space for me and I don’t want to pay for them. This issue says “..patterns are ideas or guidelines not absolutes.” This is not the ‘vibe’ I have gotten from the quilt industry lately. They want you to use patterns, buy the printed pattern and the Jelly Roll and make what they tell you to make. The quote is quite ironic, I think.
Reason #3: They keep changing editors. Every issue seems to have a new editor.
Reason #4: My fabric doesn’t match the patterns anyway. When I did try and use a pattern (Stepping Stones by the Lintott girls) I found it to be very difficult, because they didn’t use terms such as light, medium and dark, large-scale print, small scale print or solid when describing the fabrics. They used pre-cuts and that was all the pattern was written for. There was no option for the future, when that pre-cut isn’t available or other color choices, because a person doesn’t like that mushy look.
Reason #5: I didn’t ask to subscribe to this magazine. I unsubscribed some time ago and was re-subscribed when they shut down Quilter’s Home.
Reason #6: I have enough to read. I am finding that reading in my life is going by the wayside. I have so many obligations and so much to do that reading is one of the things that is dropping away. If I didn’t have audiobooks, I would never ‘read’ anything. It was such a pleasure to read more than 2 pages in a real book this week while I was sick.
Reason #7: I have enough ideas. I really don’t need anymore new ideas. What I need is to figure out how to live longer (I already don’t smoke), so I can get through them.
Reason #8: There is a mini clothing catalog in the center. Not sure if the owners noticed, but QNM is quilt magazine, not a clothing magazine, why not put a fabric catalog in the center? I think this is one of the problems with QNM being owned by a private equity fund rather than by someone who knows something about quiltmaking. They lump women into a group with the idea that “if they like quilts, they must like clothing.”
Reason #9: I am really liking the Quilt Life magazine. Yes, they have patterns, but the patterns are not the focus. I also like the writing.
Reason #10: I can always change my mind
There are a lot of reasons to like QNM: the great quilt photos, variety of articles, variety of voices writing, the quilt world news and the interviews with designers. I don’t like some of the changes, but I can’t condemn the whole magazine. For now, it just isn’t for me.
I agree with your beef about the patterns. Another beef I have is their subscription promotions – they are always telling you that this is a special renewal price, or a special web price, or some other special price. THEY ARE ALL THE SAME PRICE! Do they think their readers are dumb?
Also, while I’m at it, I just renewed my QNM. I’m from Canada and wanted to renew online for 2 years. You can’t do that – they only allow you to renew for one year if you’re in Canada. I emailed them and asked how I could do this – they said I had to phone their non-toll-free number. Well, if I did that, it would sure eat up any savings there may be in the 2 year renewal. I ended up mailing it in, but I was tempted to just forget it.
I know that magazines are having a hard time, but I agree that they are using old tactics that make me feel like they think I am a moron. Your example of not being able to renew for 2 years in Canada is a great example of poor customer service. Why couldn’t they just tell you on the phone? Why did you have to call. Very silly and shows that they do not think well of their customers.
I love magazines and subscribe to two right now. Neither are quilting ones. I tried a bunch of different ones and just could not get ‘into’ them. You describe the ‘whys’ of it all, quite well.
The magazines I get now though……I have several back issues that I have not even read. I am about ready to start picking up the child after school just so I am sitting in the car reading while waiting for him to come out! lol