“Premium editions.” I get the dead tree edition of the Charlotte Observer over the weekend and recently got a letter stating:
Thank you for your Charlotte Observer home delivery subscription,
We’re excited to tell you about newspaper enhancements that we’re introducing to subscribers this year. Premium editions will be part of each subscriber’s package that will bring added content and value. At the present time, you will receive one new premium edition on the following date in 2012:
Tuesday, December 25: ‘Year-End Sales” will offer you high advertising value, packed with ads for the post-holiday clearance sales that can save you money.
As a Weekend or Sunday Only home delivery subscriber, your account will be charged an additional $1 for this added value premium addition. Your automatic subscription debit amount will not change. Subscription expiration dates are subject to change due to the charge for premium content days.
To opt of the above premium edition call… between 6:30am and 3:00pm Monday-Friday and between 7:30am and 12:00 Noon Saturday and Sunday or go to the following link…
We are excited about introducing premium editions and what they will mean to our valued subscribers, such as you. As always, we appreciate your support and patronage.
Sincerely,
Jim Lamm
VP/Circulation
The Charlotte Observer
OK, I just have to laugh. There are, I suppose, people that actually like the idea of looking through a ton of advertising supplements. I’m not one of them. And I doubt this is a profit enhancing move for the UPoR, once you figure in the cost of sending all their weekend/Sunday subscribers a letter explaining what they’re doing and how to opt out if they choose. (I’m guessing most won’t opt out, simply because of the low cost and the time and effort involved to opt out.) And 6:30am to 3:00pm phone subscription hours? Really making it easy for your customers to get in touch with there…
