Do you approve of "How Stereophile Market itself"?


I was moderate subscriber to Stereophile over that last two years or so, but recently cancelled my subscribtion around Dec of 2001. Like most ex-subscribers I received many junk mail about renewing my subscription, but never thought much of it.

Yesterday, I received a letter from the National Credit Audit Company (NCAC), stating that they were collecting on behalf of Stereophile. This frustrated me because I had already cancelled my subscription and haven't received new copies for months. I initially thought it was a timing issue or some clerks at Stereophile forgot to cancel my subscription and now my credit history will be affected by all this. It wasn't until I called NCAC, dealt with the annoying automated operator, then realized that it was just another ploy to get me to sign up for another subscription. NCAC went further to state that they're a normal credit collector and will not report or make any contact to the credit report people. I can't believe Stereophile would steep so low with this type of marketing ployed. Any of you ever experienced this frustrating ordeal?
3chihuahuas
This has been a great post. I learned a lot from my fellow A-Gonners, and feel that everyone of you has hit the target in your own individual way. The problems that "3 Chi" has written about, however, are problems that exist in the magazine business, and will continue to escalate until a big wig with some juice finally goes through the same crap "3 Chi" has, and will do something about it. That aside, I'd like to put my two cents in about Stereophile.
I liked them for quite a while, and respected the way they handled themselves. Certainly, I didn't agree with everything they said, but I felt that they promoted this industry very well, and were good for its growth. Then I began to hear complaints about them only reviewing equipment from manufacturers who advertise with them. That's a hell of a big NO NO.(Remember Stereo Review?) I also really disliked the KR Enterprises Amp debacle, and felt that they never really recovered well from that. But the caper for me was the last show in New York. I attended the "Ask the Editor" meeting, and walked away with a very bad feeling. The subject matter eventually turned to "How do we bring new enthusiasts into our hobby"? and the "Format wars are driving away these possible fledglings" type of dialog when Sam Tellig wished a "Curse on both their houses" in response to the DVD Audio vs. SACD subject and also said in response to newbies that they should remain the "Great Unwashed", meaning....who needs them or wants them? They also made no bones about supporting SACD as opposed to DVD Audio, which at best is premature. Even at this point in the game, a vote of support for one over another is just wrong. How else do you explain the success of upsamplers? Anyway, when they began to pass the mic around, I asked about watermarking. That question was quickly dismissed with some BS that no one understood, and they went on to talk about the virtues of SACD.
Now, tell me these people don't have an agenda that benefits the manufacturers, and ask yourself if this cool.
They look like they're trying to fill the 'Stereo Review' niche. Thinner and thinner mags, and many more positive reviews. Hey, you can't stay anti-establishment forever. Many of the flower children of the 60's sold out, and are millionaires today. You can't resist the call of the money forever.
Drtmth58:

I'd just like to point out that if Stereophile had nothing to do with NCAC contacting Clueless and 3chihuahuas, the whole situation could have been avoided under your presumption of how the contact did occur if Stereophile did not sell its subscription list to NCAC (or anyone else).

I think those who have been harassed by NCAC should unite and find the appropriate federal agency (Interstate Commerce Commission?) and complain about this harassment. The perpretators of these sales tactics, whether Stereophile is directly or indirectly behind this, should be made to feel some pain as a result. I will be right with you filing my complaint as soon as I am harassed sometime after my subscription lapses in May/June. Please don't allow Stereophile to think that they are gaining a business advantage by directly or indirectly harassing former subscribers.

Thanks, Clueless.