Readers Digest Rant – You’re naughty, naughty, naughty!
or click here for the mp3 if you cannot see the above widget.
This is a reboot of one of my favourite blogs (and rants) from gasp 2009! Enjoy.
I spoke with a rep from Canada Post today…
and he said (from his post office in the Oak Bay village)…
“We get 10 to 15 citizens that come into this little post office every day of business that are returning materials to Reader’s Digest!”
10 to 15 folks. Every day. Most of them seniors. From one Post Office!
I have been on the phone to Reader’s Digest canada twice in the last week and I get the following scripted dialogue from their service partners…
“It is not the policy of Reader’s Digest Canada to send people unsolicited materials or products.”
Okay then. What the heck is happening when 10 to 15 citizens are appearing at each Canadian post office daily?
Here is my theory.
Canadians, by the droves, are returning “pieces of mail from Reader’s Digest Canada” that, according to Reader’s Digest, are no-obligation entry forms for their $500,000 sweepstakes.
What our Canadian seniors are failing to do is read the fine print.
Because with every “win $500,000 now” sweepstakes shills is, very likely, a piece of fine print that states – in exchange for your no obligation entry into the Reader’s Digest $500,000 contest, you agree to purchase X quantity of books at market value.
Market value huh? I am looking at a $700 invoice for my dear old aunt. She has a stack of books on her Reader’s Digest mail strewn coffee table – that she claims that she did not order. So what happened? I suspect that she did not read the fine print… over and over and over again.
Today I returned a 4-CD set of elevator music to Reader’s Digest Canada that one could, arguably, buy at Shoppers Drug Mart for $22.
Reader’s Digest cost: $79
Is Reader’s Digest breaking any Canadian laws? In short, no.
Are they doing anything unethical? That is out there for debate.
I think we are going to be hearing way more about this Reader’s Digest Canada issue.
Because the bottom line, for me, is:
Protect our seniors from scam artists… whomever they might be.
Have a listen!
Readers Digest Rant – You’re naughty, naughty, naughty!
or click here for the mp3 if you cannot see the above widget.
Colin Newell gets mad when our elderly are exploited in any way. And when he gets angry, he gets blogging!