[Justus]

Has anyone had this experience with the local newspaper?

Certain sections are randomly missing.

Insertions of some Sunday ad fliers are multiple, while others are not there.

You find out that there has been a coupon insert that day and it is not included in your paper, yet others have received it in the same edition...in its place are a half-dozen Belk's catalogs and four or five Direct TV fliers.

When you call the Circulation Department to ascertain the reason for the sudden change in service (i.e., has the carrier taken ill or been replaced?) the person on the other end is rude, argumentative, and doesn't seem interested in rectifying the problem.

We are perplexed and disgruntled. After subscribing for a number of years, this is our first negative experience and we are wondering why.

[mixsonci]

yesterday my paper was not in order, some sections were separate from main section. But, my biggest complaint is it get wets every day. Why can't they double the plastic sleeves every day instead of once or twice a week. I'm sick of trying to read a wet paper. Yesterday they did double the plastic sleeves but the paper inside was already wet and it hadn't even rained yet, don't know how that happened.

[Chi-Town]

Originally Posted by Justus

Has anyone had this experience with the local newspaper?

Certain sections are randomly missing.

Insertions of some Sunday ad fliers are multiple, while others are not there.

You find out that there has been a coupon insert that day and it is not included in your paper, yet others have received it in the same edition...in its place are a half-dozen Belk's catalogs and four or five Direct TV fliers.

When you call the Circulation Department to ascertain the reason for the sudden change in service (i.e., has the carrier taken ill or been replaced?) the person on the other end is rude, argumentative, and doesn't seem interested in rectifying the problem.

We are perplexed and disgruntled. After subscribing for a number of years, this is our first negative experience and we are wondering why.

Sunday papers are printed and inserts are added separately. Usually discrepancies are a problem with the insert stuffers.

[outahere]

Having worked in the newspaper business for several years, perhaps I can shed a little light on how this happens.......

At most newspapers, the Travel section, comics, flyers and any other section that is not "current" news are usually printed and assembled mid week, and the flyers are inserted by a machine, not manually. So, it is entirely possible that, sometimes, some flyers get missed and some get multiple copies inserted. Where I worked they did random spot checks of the inserts, but that doesn't catch all the mistakes.

I know that doesn't explain rude behavior, but the flyer snafu does happen quite often.

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by Justus

Has anyone had this experience with the local newspaper?



We are perplexed and disgruntled. After subscribing for a number of years, this is our first negative experience and we are wondering why.

1st. negative experience after - what - maybe 1000 papers ( that's less than 3 years) Don't know how long you have been here. Not bad!
Your carrier is batting .999

In the time it takes to post here I would have called circulation. Did it once and had a new - dry paper in 30 minutes. I've been here 11 years and had 1 problem. Never been perplexed or disgruntled. My carrier is batting a thousand. I have never laid eyes on her, but I know her name is Charlene.
I write it on a check every Christmas. Thanks Charlene for a GREAT JOB!

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by Justus

Has anyone had this experience with the local newspaper?

Certain sections are randomly missing.

We are perplexed and disgruntled. After subscribing for a number of years, this is our first negative experience and we are wondering why.

Maybe.

[blueeagle65]

No problems with our carrier or the manner in which the paper is organized. Our carrier double bags on those days when there is even a hint of rain - no wet papers

[graciegirl]

No difficulties and only very nice dealings with the telephone folks when we used to stop and start by phone.

[northwoods8683]

Wow, I just hung up with customer service/circulation to make a change to our service. Girl was super nice and friendly. I have never had newspaper 2x bagged and have dug it out of snow banks (back in Connecticut) and it was always fine. Also, for the price I think it is a great deal.

[Justus]

Originally Posted by CWGUY

[/U]

1st. negative experience after - what - maybe 1000 papers ( that's less than 3 years) Don't know how long you have been here. Not bad!
Your carrier is batting .999

In the time it takes to post here I would have called circulation. Did it once and had a new - dry paper in 30 minutes. I've been here 11 years and had 1 problem. Never been perplexed or disgruntled. My carrier is batting a thousand. I have never laid eyes on her, but I know her name is Charlene.
I write it on a check every Christmas. Thanks Charlene for a GREAT JOB!

...Which is why we called the Circulation Department. For 9 years our delivery person has given impeccable service. We were trying to determine if he'd been incapacitated in some way, making the problem a short-term one if a substitute was covering for him. Also, we were concerned about him. And we do tip at Christmas, as well, because of his service.

Our frustration stems from not being able to identify the source of the change in service, which has been only recent. It would have been nice to have gotten a clear explanation like one of the posts herein, instead of a bad attitude.

[Justus]

Originally Posted by outahere

Having worked in the newspaper business for several years, perhaps I can shed a little light on how this happens.......

At most newspapers, the Travel section, comics, flyers and any other section that is not "current" news are usually printed and assembled mid week, and the flyers are inserted by a machine, not manually. So, it is entirely possible that, sometimes, some flyers get missed and some get multiple copies inserted. Where I worked they did random spot checks of the inserts, but that doesn't catch all the mistakes.

I know that doesn't explain rude behavior, but the flyer snafu does happen quite often.

Thanks! A helpful answer to our question!

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Justus

Has anyone had this experience with the local newspaper?

Certain sections are randomly missing.

Insertions of some Sunday ad fliers are multiple, while others are not there.

You find out that there has been a coupon insert that day and it is not included in your paper, yet others have received it in the same edition...in its place are a half-dozen Belk's catalogs and four or five Direct TV fliers.

When you call the Circulation Department to ascertain the reason for the sudden change in service (i.e., has the carrier taken ill or been replaced?) the person on the other end is rude, argumentative, and doesn't seem interested in rectifying the problem.

We are perplexed and disgruntled. After subscribing for a number of years, this is our first negative experience and we are wondering why.

Call the Editor.

[bagboy]

Originally Posted by outahere

Having worked in the newspaper business for several years, perhaps I can shed a little light on how this happens.......

At most newspapers, the Travel section, comics, flyers and any other section that is not "current" news are usually printed and assembled mid week, and the flyers are inserted by a machine, not manually. So, it is entirely possible that, sometimes, some flyers get missed and some get multiple copies inserted. Where I worked they did random spot checks of the inserts, but that doesn't catch all the mistakes.

I know that doesn't explain rude behavior, but the flyer snafu does happen quite often.

You are spot on. Years ago my mother purchased the printing for a major retail chain, then went to work for an advertisement printing firm. It's all automated but the automation is controlled by people, so there will be glitches from time to time. As for the Sun News, I think they bend over backwards to provide excellent, not good but excellent customer service. If the OP has made them aware of their discontent, I have no doubt the problem will solved.

[goodtimesintv]

Why is it that so often, veteran commentators on here imply the customer is always wrong and the business couldn't possibly have had a grouch server, bartender, customer service person or manager being rude to them when they stated the problem.

Every time somebody says here what happened to them that is bad business practice, they get jumped on as though they are liars or mental midgets because they didn't approach the problem the way "some" here would. THAT is what is "rude", on here.

I'm reading on here less and less because of how people get shot down. News flash: Everybody's different with different experiences! Yours is not the only opinion or statement that should stand!

[Justus]

Originally Posted by goodtimesintv

Why is it that so often, veteran commentators on here imply the customer is always wrong and the business couldn't possibly have had a grouch server, bartender, customer service person or manager being rude to them when they stated the problem.

Every time somebody says here what happened to them that is bad business practice, they get jumped on as though they are liars or mental midgets because they didn't approach the problem the way "some" here would. THAT is what is "rude", on here.

I'm reading on here less and less because of how people get shot down. News flash: Everybody's different with different experiences! Yours is not the only opinion or statement that should stand!

Thanks! Your comment is one I've been tempted to make on more than one occasion recently, and I truly appreciate it.