Hacker News Reader

Comment by meritt | Hacker News Reader

I'd love to get a NYT sub but they operate like SiriusXM when it comes to cancellations. You have to talk to a human, during business hours, and you have to fight with them for 15 minutes to get cancelled (meanwhile they offer you continually cheaper rates to stay on, so if you pay rack rates you're clearly overpaying in the first place).

If they offered a way to self-manage a subscription that I could cancel at any time (e.g. Netflix) and a fixed rate so I knew I wasn't overpaying. I'd love to sub.

View on HN

If you are in California, then there is a new law effective July 1, 2018 that says they must let you cancel online:

https://www.cnet.com/news/companies-must-let-customers-cance...

In this article, it specifically mentions how difficult it is to cancel a NYT subscription.

This was how they lost my business forever a few years ago. I had to tighten spending for a bit so I called to cancel, thinking I'd be able to renew in a few months. The experience was horrible.

Is such a cancellation model common in the US? I didn't think anyone does that anymore, except maybe porn sites. Its a really cheap sales tactic and would probably dissuade me from subscribing in the first place.

My cable provider requires calling in to downgrade services, but adding them can be done with just a click online! I've also seen it occasionally for services like eMeals.

Same with my security provider, SimpleSafe. Gotta call during business hours to cancel for "security reasons", but you can resubscribe or add new features online. The only secure part of canceling via phone is you give a security code... And that code is shown if you log in online.

Exactly, the business feels dishonest.

How is that a good start for a newspaper?

I recently cancelled via online chat. Only took 5 minutes.

But why should it take longer than 2 messages? Why chat at all?

Why not talk a bit and make a new friend?

Can't you just quickly dispute the charges online with your CC provider until the company accepts your cancellation?

The problem is that they obscure prices, try to avoid cancellation..

Scammy tactics is dishonest, and that's not a good start for a news source. (I have problems finding a gym, because I prefer to do honest business - without obscure pricing)

You can do that too, but I still think you should tell others that it's difficult to cancel. That's the important part. :)

If you subscribe in the mobile app, you can self-manage the subscription through iTunes just like any other app.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com