Lee Enterprises is at it again

[ChrisLong]

-- A few years ago, about a 10-inch obit with photo was $2,000+. I even wrote the story for them. They did throw in a plaque with a reproduction of the print obit.

-- I don't think I would be on Facebook if it wasn't for a class reunion. I had resisted all social media, going back to when my daughter wanted to set me up on My Space. But in 2009, ahead of our 40-year high school reunion in 2010, the main reunion organizer sent out word that all reunion information would be on Facebook and would be the place to stay up to date. He sorta required us to join. Within 2 weeks, I got friend requests from some great friends I had lost contact with -- including two girls who now are among my closest friends. Except for FB, I retained my social media stance regarding Twitter and all of those, never joined. I suppose SJ is social media and I am addicted.

 

[swingline]

I have wondered, too, if SJ qualifies as social media, at least in the sense I think of that term. I guess it probably is — but, then again, it's my only online outlet (although I did post a one-liner tonight on LinkedIn for the first time — ever).

 

[dixiehack]

I’ve been a member of my high school “Class of XX” Facebook group for a while now. Never been to one of the reunions; never felt like I was missing much. The one person I’m interested in seeing was the class behind us anyway.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Seems like a good place to put this...I bought introductory subs to Lee papers The Buffalo News, Omaha World Herald and St. Louis Post-Dispatch this year while writing different things about teams in their markets. Was easier than trying to hit the lottery with free articles and/or trying to circumvent the pay wall from my phone. My canceling experience was bonkers in every case.

Buffalo News: Canceled ahead of the price increase, but I am not exaggerating when I tell you they've sent me two emails a day every day since begging me to resubscribe for six months and $1. I wasn't this needy trying to win back my first girlfriend. I almost want to resubscribe just so they stop pestering me, but that'd just be rewarding their behavior.

Omaha World Herald: Forgot to cancel ahead of the price increase and kept getting an error message when I tried canceling online. Finally called the number that appeared on the error screen and talked to someone in India or Bangladesh or Sri Lanka who tried to get me to come back for $9.99 a month and then $2.99 a month. Took forever and I had to give her the it's not you it's me spiel, but she finally canceled the sub.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Finally figured out that I should not only keep a Word doc of all my online subs but that I should get all my newspaper subs via a credit card instead of my bank account so that I could have an easier time tracking them and figuring out when I'd forgotten to cancel. I got the PD introductory offer in mid-to-late April--three months for $1. So imagine my surprise when I went to pay my credit card bill earlier this month and saw I'd already been charged $19.99 for the month beginning July 10, more than a week before the three-month mark. It was even a day before the 12-week mark. Immediately canceled the subscription and am deciding if it's worth my time to fight with someone in India or Bangladesh or Sri Lanka who will try to get me to come back for $9.99 a month and then $2.99 a month.

So in summary, **** Lee. If only they spent as much time supporting their employees and crappy product as they do trying to get people to resubscribe to their crappy product.

 

[Dog8Cats]

Seems like a good place to put this...I bought introductory subs to Lee papers The Buffalo News, Omaha World Herald and St. Louis Post-Dispatch this year while writing different things about teams in their markets. Was easier than trying to hit the lottery with free articles and/or trying to circumvent the pay wall from my phone. My canceling experience was bonkers in every case.

Buffalo News: Canceled ahead of the price increase, but I am not exaggerating when I tell you they've sent me two emails a day every day since begging me to resubscribe for six months and $1. I wasn't this needy trying to win back my first girlfriend. I almost want to resubscribe just so they stop pestering me, but that'd just be rewarding their behavior.

Omaha World Herald: Forgot to cancel ahead of the price increase and kept getting an error message when I tried canceling online. Finally called the number that appeared on the error screen and talked to someone in India or Bangladesh or Sri Lanka who tried to get me to come back for $9.99 a month and then $2.99 a month. Took forever and I had to give her the it's not you it's me spiel, but she finally canceled the sub.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Finally figured out that I should not only keep a Word doc of all my online subs but that I should get all my newspaper subs via a credit card instead of my bank account so that I could have an easier time tracking them and figuring out when I'd forgotten to cancel. I got the PD introductory offer in mid-to-late April--three months for $1. So imagine my surprise when I went to pay my credit card bill earlier this month and saw I'd already been charged $19.99 for the month beginning July 10, more than a week before the three-month mark. It was even a day before the 12-week mark. Immediately canceled the subscription and am deciding if it's worth my time to fight with someone in India or Bangladesh or Sri Lanka who will try to get me to come back for $9.99 a month and then $2.99 a month.

So in summary, **** Lee. If only they spent as much time supporting their employees and crappy product as they do trying to get people to resubscribe to their crappy product.

For StL PD, I'd dispute the charge with the credit card company. Answer all of the questions about "Have you tried to contact the business?" as if you have gone to the ends of the earth to get the charge reversed.

I've had exceptional results going that route.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Lee Enterprises stabilizes finances with $50M investment led by billionaire David Hoffmann

Somebody wants a piece of the corpse that is Lee Enterprises.

 

[FileNotFound]

Lee Enterprises stabilizes finances with $50M investment led by billionaire David Hoffmann

Somebody wants a piece of the corpse that is Lee Enterprises.

This guy has had his eye on Lee for at least two years. Why, I don’t know.

 

[I Should Coco]

I heard from a former Quad-Cities coworker that Lee abandoned the Quad-City Times building in Davenport. Its flagship newspaper is apparently printed in Indiana these days.

 

[BurnsWhenIPee]

Whoa, that building was the ****ing crown jewel. Everyone working remotely, or going to smaller space?

In any case, hope they took care of the Bill Wundrum statue ...

 

[I Should Coco]

Whoa, that building was the ****ing crown jewel. Everyone working remotely, or going to smaller space?

In any case, hope they took care of the Bill Wundrum statue ...

I am told the “newsroom” is now in a small office in East Moline.

Lee bought out the Dispatch/Argus years ago, so no more print newspaper on the Illinois side of the Q-Cs.

 

[FileNotFound]

Lee orders its properties to run puff piece on new owner in front of paywalls and as weekend Page One centerpiece in print editions.

Lee Enterprises tells its papers to run front-page profile of chairman and billionaire David Hoffmann this weekend - Poynter

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Lee orders its properties to run puff piece on new owner in front of paywalls and as weekend Page One centerpiece in print editions.

Lee Enterprises tells its papers to run front-page profile of chairman and billionaire David Hoffmann this weekend - Poynter

Poor McCumber. He deserves better.