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Across the Fence:  Country Home subscription problems--UPDATE  |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 09:17:08 AM
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I renewed my Country Home mag subscription in December, as well as purchased a gift subscription for my mother, and neither of us have seen an issue...and what's weird (or frustrating, really) is that the only way to contact them is via email. They don't have an 800 customer service number. I've sent 4 emails and never gotten so much a courtesy response.
Frustrating because I gave my mother a gift card detailing the mag and when she'd be receiving it, and I chose this magazine over Country Living because of the onslaught of ads. I feel gipped.
Anyone else have any problems getting their subscription to this magazine? I show that my card was charged 12/10. |
Edited by - FebruaryViolet on Feb 12 2009 08:04:03 AM |
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lovelady
True Blue Farmgirl
533 Posts
Toni
Indiana
USA
533 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 09:40:14 AM
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I read something the other day that their publishing company ( I believe the name was Meredith) was not going to be making the magazine anymore, but I think it said that the March issue was the last one...I think that the same company publishes Better Homes and Gardens, too, but that magazine is still around. I really liked Country Home, too.
I don't really know what you should do about it, but I agree that I would be very frustrated. Good luck getting it straightened out! |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 09:42:47 AM
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That was my suspicion, Toni...thanks for that info. The least they could do would be to have a "canned" email that states as much.
Shoot. I really loved the magazine--I used to love Country Living, but it just got too "ady" and lacked the substance it once had. |
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lovelady
True Blue Farmgirl
533 Posts
Toni
Indiana
USA
533 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 09:44:49 AM
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Here is a link to that company's page.
http://www.meredith.com/home.html
There should be contact information there that may be helpful. I tried to click on the link to subscribe to Country Home and it said that the product was no longer available. They may just try to send you a different magazine. |
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Corinnelouise
True Blue Farmgirl
957 Posts
Corinne
France
957 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 09:46:20 AM
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I have tried to contact them for a couple of month now and never got a proper answer but the "mechanic" one only.
It is a good magazine, so sad they would accept subscriptions when they know they won't be around any longer.
Corinne
Sister # 101 |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 10:10:05 AM
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Oh, that sucks! I really like Country Home. I've actually learned a lot about photography from them, dorky as it sounds. And I like how they reuse the same contributors in different ways. Like for instance, they featured the home of a textile designer. And then the same woman has contributed articles on textiles in other issues. It was almost like a network of design professionals. If they really are going out of business, I'll miss them.
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2009 : 08:18:34 AM
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Alrightee then...this has been a long road, for sure. I have sent many emails, the last being to the publisher (who, incidentally, never responded), and I finally called their home office in Iowa.
I was given a customer service number specifically for Country Home magazine and thought I'd share with all of you, just in case, and especially for Corinne. (800) 374-9431. The customer service representative was nice, and efficient, and very apologetic--she said she will pass along my experience with the internet department, because she was fairly upset by that.
For those of us who paid or have subscriptions, they are offering a refund, or a choice of 4 different mags: More, Better Homes & Gardens, Ladies Home Journal and I (think) Family Circle. I chose More, since my renewal was only $5.00. I did cancel my mom's gift subscription, and will go back to Country Living for her. |
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urban farm girl
True Blue Farmgirl
80 Posts
Melissa
Posen
IL
USA
80 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2009 : 09:01:11 AM
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| Ok this is first I heard of it. I subscribe to the mag. Feb. issue featured plants in glass containers and thats when I made up a few terrariums for the house using unusual containers. I had to cut dwon on my magazine subscriptions and chose them over Country living. Hmmm. what a shame. Thanks for the info girls. I guess if I need to know whats going on I need to check with the farm girls. I love it!!! You all are great!! |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2009 : 09:28:24 AM
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I got a postcard saying that Cottage Living (another of my faves) is no longer going to be published, and they offered to finish out my subscription with Southern Living, which I already get! I called to ask for a refund instead, but so far nothing in the mail.....
Farmgirl Sister # 31
www.blueskyjeannie.blogspot.com
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
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Corinnelouise
True Blue Farmgirl
957 Posts
Corinne
France
957 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2009 : 09:32:13 AM
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Thanks February Violet, that is nice of you to have been through such trouble to get an answer. I will miss the magazine though as many of you.
Corinne
Sister # 101 |
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homergirl1957
True Blue Farmgirl
111 Posts
cathy
tieton
washington
111 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2009 : 10:22:38 AM
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right around christmas time the country home people sent me a notice that they would no longer be , and that they would apply whatever i had left of my subscription to sunset magazine which i get. so thats what happened to me.
in the midst of difficulty lies opportunity.-a. einstein |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2009 : 10:36:13 AM
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Bummer. The customer service rep told me that there were letters sent, but neither I nor my mom received one...but, at least there is some resolve. I didn't really want MORE mag, but I also didn't want to have to worry about tracking a refund.
Double bummer about Cottage Living, too, Jeannie...that was another favorite. I had a subscription for a time, but gave it up for Country Home. What a wicked web we spin!!!!!
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2009 : 05:22:52 AM
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| After this post appeared, I checked around online to find out what happened to Country Home. I found that their circulation had held steady at over a million subscribers, but the downturn in the economy in 2008 caused them to lose a lot of advertisers. It was the loss of advertising dollars that made Meredith Publishing decide to shut down the magazine. Isn't that sad? The advertisers matter more than the editorial content or the readers. |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2009 : 05:55:06 AM
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It is sad...and I guess, should be somewhat obvious. What I actually loved about the magazine, was that it WASN'T chock full of ads on each page--the articles were lengthy, and the ads were largely put in one section, in the back of the publication. Organized and, I felt that I was actually getting a value for my subscription.
The very reason I stopped taking Country Living was because every other page or even the half of every page was sold for advertising. Sometimes, you'd read something, thinking it was an article and then realize they were touting a product.
Bummer, I say! |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2009 : 06:39:03 AM
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| I know advertisers are important, but you would think that the publisher might be willing to wait a little while until the economy rebounds. After all, a million odd subscribers is a pretty big base to lose...seems so hasty. But that's big business for you, I guess. |
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JenniferJuniper
True Blue Farmgirl
359 Posts
Jennifer
New Hampshire
USA
359 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2009 : 06:47:32 AM
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I subscribed to both Cottage Living and Country Home, but this is the first I've heard of the Country Home demise. I rarely watch TV so live for my mags in the mail for entertaiment, and have been giving gift subs for both of them too. I have had problems w/CH customer service for years, even a simple address change was a nightmare because of the email-only situation.
I also got a notice last week that Mary Engelbright's Home Companion mag has ceased publication too - now 3 of my subscriptions are moot. The replacements they offered (Simple Living, BHG) are poor substitutes.
Farmgirl Sister #204 |
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electricdunce
True Blue Farmgirl
2544 Posts
Karin
Belmont
ME
USA
2544 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2009 : 12:30:29 PM
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I wondered what the deal was, I have subscribed to Country Home for years. I'm really going to miss it. I agree Country Living seems like it has more ads than regular content...Years ago there was a wonderful magazine called Handmade. It died after a year or two. And it was really a gem...
karin
Farmgirl Sister #153
"Give me shelter from the storm" - Bob Dylan
http://moodranch.blogspot.com
http://domesticnonsense.etsy.com |
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Across the Fence: Country Home subscription problems--UPDATE |
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Country Home subscription problems--UPDATE
