SAGA Magazine lifetime subscription - compulsory shift to digital format

Alderbank

Mariamia said:

I mentioned in an earlier post that l have my original letter from Saga that says "12 issues of Saga magazine every year, delivered direct to your home address ". And my membership is "LIFE". Saga cannot deliver a digital only magazine to my home address.

The letter will not list all the T&Cs. It might say at the bottom 'Terms and conditions apply.' What were those T&Cs?
I would be surprised if they said 'every issue delivered direct to your home address wherever in the world you choose to live.' Mailing subscription magazines to USA and other non-european countries has always been expensive.

I remember having digital magazines delivered to my home address in the 1980s. I still occasionally make reference to those CD-roms.

The lifetime of your current magazine now might well be approaching the last rites if it is losing money. However it's interesting to see that Saga now include additional material in the digital version not included in the print version so they are no longer the same.
Expect to see the imminent launch of 'New SAGA Magazine, bigger and better than ever'.

user1977

born_again said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

SAGA seem to be digging in on this, and unless it gains significant media attention, it's going to need someone to challenge it legally for them to change tack.  A non-legal option might be one of the newspaper financial people - the Telegraph has one, and let's face it, it's the target audience these days, eve though it's become a ridiculous shadow of a proper newspaper.

Otherwise, as powerful_Rogue says, small claims action is the way forward.  Supply the evidence you believe you have that this is illegal (or at least is a breach of contract) and let the court decide.  You'll have to assign a nominal value to the remaining years of your subscription (which would simply be the original cost times the fraction of years left over years purchased), pay the appropriate court fee and await SAGA's defence.

Sad to also see many people citing age as a reason while they can not go digital. Very ageist.

Indeed, my parents are well into Saga’s target audience and are perfectly happy reading newspapers etc on their tablets. I sometimes feel I should cut down on their screen time…

born_again

Mariamia said:

I mentioned in an earlier post that l have my original letter from Saga that says "12 issues of Saga magazine every year, delivered direct to your home address ". And my membership is "LIFE". Saga cannot deliver a digital only magazine to my home address. It is appalling that they are changing the format for lifetime subscriptions. 

Where di you post this?
So, do you have a computer etc at home? 
A digital magazine can be delivered anywhere you have a device capable of receiving it.


My Wife, due to eye issues, can not read a book or paper for more then a couple on minutes. But can happily read a kindle for hours. Due to black background & white print being a lot easier on the eyes.

Balovale

I have looked up my original letter when I joined the Saga Club, dated 6 April 1998.  I quote 'It is my pleasure to welcome you as a Life member of the Saga Club.  Your records have now been updated to ensure that you will receive 12 issues per year of the Saga magazine for Life." 

At the time, Saga did not produce a digital version so my expectation was that I would receive a printed version for 'Life' - my life!  As the company is still printing the magazine they are perfectly capable of continuing to supply this and as such I should not be expected to pay £29.95 a year extra to get what I thought that I had signed up for.
.  
Unlike some of the respondents, I do not read magazines in any form other than on paper and so, unless I pay, I will lose the service that I thought I had already paid for.

What next?

powerful_Rogue

Balovale said:

I have looked up my original letter when I joined the Saga Club, dated 6 April 1998.  I quote 'It is my pleasure to welcome you as a Life member of the Saga Club.  Your records have now been updated to ensure that you will receive 12 issues per year of the Saga magazine for Life." 

At the time, Saga did not produce a digital version so my expectation was that I would receive a printed version for 'Life' - my life!  As the company is still printing the magazine they are perfectly capable of continuing to supply this and as such I should not be expected to pay £29.95 a year extra to get what I thought that I had signed up for.
.  
Unlike some of the respondents, I do not read magazines in any form other than on paper and so, unless I pay, I will lose the service that I thought I had already paid for.

What next?

As already discussed, Letter before Action then Small Claims Court, however you will need evidence to back up your claim for breach of contract.

When you quote life, that will be the life of the magazine, not your life.

Also, they are still sending you the magazine - unless you have other T&C's which state it will be a printed version.

Aylesbury_Duck

Balovale said:

I have looked up my original letter when I joined the Saga Club, dated 6 April 1998.  I quote 'It is my pleasure to welcome you as a Life member of the Saga Club.  Your records have now been updated to ensure that you will receive 12 issues per year of the Saga magazine for Life." 

At the time, Saga did not produce a digital version so my expectation was that I would receive a printed version for 'Life' - my life!  As the company is still printing the magazine they are perfectly capable of continuing to supply this and as such I should not be expected to pay £29.95 a year extra to get what I thought that I had signed up for.
.  
Unlike some of the respondents, I do not read magazines in any form other than on paper and so, unless I pay, I will lose the service that I thought I had already paid for.

What next?

And that's the interesting part of this situation.  You had and have an expectation based on two assumptions:  that there would never be an alternative to the printed medium, and that 'life' referred to your life.  The first of those was perhaps misplaced, because things like CD-ROMs were an already commonplace replacement for encyclopaedias, dictionaries, catalogues and other things by 1998, so it was certainly foreseeable that magazines might move from paper.  The second is, in my view, a more reasonable assumption, but then if SAGA were to cease production of the magazine, it's the life of the magazine, not the recipient, that comes into play.  

People have two options.  Keep complaining in the hope that a volume of complaints changes SAGA's stance, or test them in court.  I'm reasonably confident that if successfully challenged, SAGA will simply produce a slimmed-down, advert-packed magazine for lifetime subscribers, with the full content available online or in fuller magazine form for those prepared to pay the annual rate.  They will meet their obligation and limit their costs.

user1977

I'm intrigued by those so appalled and disgusted by Saga, but also apparently desperate to continue to read their publication?

Alderbank

user1977 said:

I'm intrigued by those so appalled and disgusted by Saga, but also apparently desperate to continue to read their publication?

I'm also intrigued by those unable to read digital text or unable to receive it in their homes but who can both read and reply on MSE Forum.

Bristoljude

I just feel let down by Saga.  I do enjoy receiving and reading their magazine and have done so for over twenty years.  However, although I have purchased pet and house insurance from them and previously had savings accounts, I will not renew these policies when they are due.  Saga may have shot themselves in the foot and lost good faith with many people by letting us down like this.  An contractual agreement should be adhered to, whatever the circumstances.  That is the point, as far as I am concerned.!

Doc_N

Bristoljude said:

I just feel let down by Saga.  I do enjoy receiving and reading their magazine and have done so for over twenty years.  However, although I have purchased pet and house insurance from them and previously had savings accounts, I will not renew these policies when they are due.  Saga may have shot themselves in the foot and lost good faith with many people by letting us down like this.  An contractual agreement should be adhered to, whatever the circumstances.  That is the point, as far as I am concerned.!

Exactly that. If Saga can’t be trusted to keep to contractual agreements on this, it can’t be trusted to keep to contractual agreements on anything it sells. Why would you buy anything from a company that might choose not to complete its part of the agreement - after it’s trousered the cash.