Conference 7.286::digital

    It *used to be* free.
    
    I sent back their invoice marked "CANCEL" and noted that I get the same
    information from Digital Review for free.

    Just got the letter 10 minutes ago.
    
    Went right in file 13.
    
    karl

	  If it's a business return mail form, you might want to
	return it with the statement "CANCEL - DIGITAL REVIEWE IS
	FREE" on it.

	Roy

    I received the same letter yesterday.  Guess they don't want Digital
    folks on their mailing list.  Maybe 3rd party advertisers don't
    want to pay premium prices for high-circulation ads, when many of
    the readers are Digital employees (and, therefore, are less likely
    to buy non-DEC equipment).
    
    Regardless, I guess Digital News is off my reading list.  I wonder
    if Digital Review will follow suit?
    
    -- Russ

    What really bothered me were the 3 requests to fill out their
    subscription renewal form (to extend the 'free' subscription) then
    finding out they actually want to bill me for it.  I was led to believe
    the free subscription would continue.  Anyway I tossed the bill into
    the dead zone....
    
    

    The last time I got one of these "your subscription isn't free any
    more but you're welcome to become a paying customer" notices, the rag
    went under in about three months.

I also got one of these, and returned it with "Cancel".  But in a sense I
understand.  Digital employees are hardly the audience their advertisers
are trying to woo.  But I'm also surprised because ad revenues are tied
to circulation, and this is surely a circulation-cutting mechanism if I
ever saw one.

But then I wouldn't be surprised if Digital Review did the same thing.

			Steve

>I also got one of these, and returned it with "Cancel".  But in a sense I
>understand.  Digital employees are hardly the audience their advertisers
>are trying to woo.

You've hit the nail on the head.

>But I'm also surprised because ad revenues are tied to circulation, and this
>is surely a circulation-cutting mechanism if I ever saw one.

They're tied to "qualified" circulation.  The advertisers won't count the part
of the circulation which is DEC employees, so a loss of DEC employees won't
hurt ad revenues.

Some of the advertisers would like to reach us --- potential buyouts,
potential CSOs, and products that sales references to solve customer
problems where Digital does not have an acceptable solution.

Additionally, some of these products are purchased by DEC for
internal use.

"Qualification" is the key word --- how many advertisers want to
reach DEC and what share of the overall subscription list to they
want DEC versus non-DEC to be?

I suspect DN and DR also want to reach DEC since that assists them
in obtaining both interviews and rumours.

Perhaps they are just trying to prune the list a bit.  We'd have
to have all the demographics plus the advertisers desired distribution
of those demographics to know.

- greg

    oh, fyi, DR here is 250$/year and we are willing to pay for it..
    
    Bruno Cipolla swas Rome, Italy

    
    Before you throw out the subscription solicitations...
    
    Write on it that you're in software services, and you depend heavily
    on the ads and product reviews to help you determine what products
    your customer might need, that DEC doesn't itself market.  Then tell
    them that you'll miss the information available in their mag, and so
    will your customers.
    
    Seal the envelope and mail it back.  At worst, they'll have to pay
    the postage on it.  At best, they'll be inundated by a lot of such
    comments, and reconsider their move.  Maybe they'll make it available
    free again to DEC people.  If they do, as soon as it arrives in your
    mailbox, throw it away. (Heh-heh-heh).
                       

A lot of the 'trade rags' have two sets of subscribers, free and paid.
Most, if not all, have some accommodation for paying subscribers,
and they probably get a few libraries and foreign subscribers at pay rates.
I've had free subscriptions for a couple of years and been asked to switch
over, but I always toss 'em.  Computer Graphics World, Computer Graphics
Today, and Electronic News have all graced me with free subscriptions
for what are normally not free.  Electronic News is the only one
who wouldn't keep me for free.

Some magazines have self-imposed quotas on all distribution.
There used to be a limit and a waiting list for free subscriptions 
to Datamation.

Digital News solicited me at my home address, so that's where 
I have it delivered, still free.

- tom]

If Digital News is doing it, is DEC Professional far behind? I do believe
the people who own Digital News also owns DEC Professional.

Personally, I think DEC Professional is a much better magazine.

Steve

>> I do believe
>> the people who own Digital News also owns DEC Professional.
    
    Not true. Check the mastheads of each - they're entirely different.
    
    	-- Glinch (who once wrote a regular column in The DEC Professional)

    

    Digital News is an International Data Group publication (Infoworld,
    ComputerWorld, PCworld, etc).
    
    DEC Professional is a Professional Press publication.
    
    No relation.

    FWIW - If you're truly interested in protesting their action IDG
    may be a better target. Their chairman lives locally (Weston or
    Wellesley I believe). I can't remember his name for sure but I believe
    it's Pat Maguire. Their offices are located on rte 30 in Framingham.
    
    IDG Communications INC. 375 Cochituate Rd. Framingham, Ma.
    
    Maybe a few phone calls/letters to his office will get some response.
    

    Here are some suggestions:
    
    When they ask for your company name put down D&C.  It looks like
    DEC, but the computer doesn't think so.  I just received a FREE
    renewel notice.
    
    Another way:  Have your wife (or whoever) subscribe at home.
    
    Lastly:  Someone should put a message out into usenet about that
    they just received mail from DN that they now want money.  Ask
    how many other people are receiving it.  Mention that they
    know of other people who also are getting these mailings.
    
    I have a feeling there will be quite a wailing and things
    would change...
    
    	- mark
    
    

Re: .18

>    Lastly:  Someone should put a message out into usenet about that
>    they just received mail from DN that they now want money.  Ask
>    how many other people are receiving it.  Mention that they
>    know of other people who also are getting these mailings.

No, no, no!  Don't do this!  It would be a sure-fire way to get yourself
and Digital in mucho hot water.

Personally, I'll miss DN, but I'll live.  Datamation took me off their
free list some time ago, and I haven't lost sleep over it.

			Steve

    If you don't want to loose your copy, then just send in a subscription
    request for a mailing to your home - to you private consulting firm
    address ;^).  Who's the wiser to know?
    
    -Jp 

    re: .20---The losers in this scenario are the advertisers.  They pay to
    get their message to a certain number of "qualified" readers.  If you
    lie about your qualifications, they are being cheated.
    
    Yes, I'm sure it happens all the time.  The advertising industry isn't
    well known for its high standard of business ethics.  That doesn't make
    it right, however.
        John Sauter

    If your really hacked off about the cancel notice . . . tape the
    pre-payed postage envelope to a brick and . . .

    Has anybody tested the idea that it only applies to DEC employees?
    How about trying to get it for free without referencing DEC?