The Arizona Republic newspaper, Phoenix, AZ - new subscriber charge is $ 65 for 6 months subscription and ongoing customer would be charged $ 102.70 for 6 months

# 24 for April 16, 2003

Complaints.com received the following on April 15, 2003:

From: Bob [Email User]

RE: The Arizona Republic newspaper, Phoenix, AZ - new subscriber charge is $ 65 for 6 months subscription and ongoing customer would be charged $ 102.70 for 6 months

I live in Phoenix, Arizona, and subscribe to the Arizona Republic. I got my renewal form from them, and the amount I'd have to pay to renew the service for 7 day delivery for six months is 102.70. I checked the net, and if I were a new subscriber I would only have to pay 65.00 for the same period.

I called the subscription office to verify this because it seemed ridiculous that a good customer should be penalized just for already being a customer. (Shortly after moving here, we received a call from them offering 6 months for $102 , and paid by credit card for the entire 6 months.) The customer service(?) representative verified that the price would be 102.70. I said to her "so if I drop your paper for a month, then resubscribe, I would save 37 dollars?".

She answered that if that's what I wanted to do, it's my choice. Needless to say, I'll be dropping this paper and going to the East Valley Tribune, which charges less than the $65, and they charge it no matter whether you're a new or renewing subscriber, and in fact only charges $48 if you pay ahead by credit card. It's amazing to me that the larger the company, the less they care about their customers.

Their web site is http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/

Thank you

Bob Charron