Another once-venerable institution ruined by greed: Consumer Reports

blog.pardner.com

11 pointspardner3 comments

Consumer Reports used to have very clear non-relationships with manufacturers and advertisers. They were very good.

Why did this change with their online site? Why the 3rd party tracking?

I subscribed some 10 years ago and the thing that upset me the most happened when I cancelled. I still had some two or three weeks on the period I had paid for. But the moment I cancelled my access was removed. No prorate. No refund.

How is that for consumer friendly?

Edit: I should also point out they did not respond to my emails about the issue.

Currently it's better, but only a little. They do NOT offer you an option to cancel auto-renew... ONLY to cancel.

BUT after you cancel (as I did), they now popup a 'do you want to keep access until the expiration?' which you must affirmatively select.

I infer - perhaps because I'm leery of CR now - that hiding the cancel-auto-renew option right up front is a way to manipulate people into thinking 'gee i better wait until it's closer to expiry to cancel' in the (probably safe) assumption many will forget.

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