SAGA Magazine lifetime subscription - compulsory shift to digital format

EMRAY

I have recently e-mailed Saga regarding the life magazine issue. I thought it might be of interest. Their response was disappointing but predictable. i.e no movement.

Some years ago, I paid a sum of money a figure set by the Saga organisation in all good faith to have paper copies of the Saga magazine delivered for life. This deal/contract between us did not mention or include any other format than hard paper copies. I calculated at the time that I would need to live to 83 if I was to break even on the deal/contract. I am now 72. Had I only survived 2 or 3 years into the arrangement then I would have lost out and Saga would have gained financially. Such cases must have existed. However, this was the risk I was willing to take..

I do not own a smart phone or tablet and in any case using such devices for sudoku, crosswords, code breaker etc just doesn't work. As for Saga insurance, Saga cruises and the multitude of advertisements, then I would suggest that the inevitable loss of readers will only have a negative effect on them all.   

I appreciate costs have risen, but you have had my money for some time. I believe a total rethink is necessary on your part.

You could consider asking life time customers to contribute to postal costs for example.

Meanwhile I would respectfully ask that you honour your deal/contract/commitment and continue to supply me with paper copies by post.

Regards

mr_stripey

EMRAY said:

I have recently e-mailed Saga regarding the life magazine issue. I thought it might be of interest. Their response was disappointing but predictable. i.e no movement.

What was their response?

born_again

EMRAY said:

I have recently e-mailed Saga regarding the life magazine issue. I thought it might be of interest. Their response was disappointing but predictable. i.e no movement.

Some years ago, I paid a sum of money a figure set by the Saga organisation in all good faith to have paper copies of the Saga magazine delivered for life. This deal/contract between us did not mention or include any other format than hard paper copies. I calculated at the time that I would need to live to 83 if I was to break even on the deal/contract. I am now 72. Had I only survived 2 or 3 years into the arrangement then I would have lost out and Saga would have gained financially. Such cases must have existed. However, this was the risk I was willing to take..

I do not own a smart phone or tablet and in any case using such devices for sudoku, crosswords, code breaker etc just doesn't work. As for Saga insurance, Saga cruises and the multitude of advertisements, then I would suggest that the inevitable loss of readers will only have a negative effect on them all.   

I appreciate costs have risen, but you have had my money for some time. I believe a total rethink is necessary on your part.

You could consider asking life time customers to contribute to postal costs for example.

Meanwhile I would respectfully ask that you honour your deal/contract/commitment and continue to supply me with paper copies by post.

Regards

How was that worked out?

Do you hold any Saga products still, or was it just the one product you bought?

Alderbank

Saga will not view all customers the same.

They will like to retain the free spenders. The tight@rses who watch every penny and delight in getting something for nothing, perhaps less so.

eskbanker

Alderbank said:

Saga will not view all customers the same.

They will like to retain the free spenders. The tight@rses who watch every penny and delight in getting something for nothing, perhaps less so.

No reason to doubt that, but from a consumer rights perspective everyone is equally entitled to what they paid for!  Has there been any evidence that any have secured concessions?

Doc_N

Alderbank said:

Saga will not view all customers the same.

They will like to retain the free spenders. The tight@rses who watch every penny and delight in getting something for nothing, perhaps less so.

Not sure this thread’s about people getting something for nothing. Unless you mean Saga itself, of course, which has received money for something it’s now refusing to provide.

Sometimes though things can backfire. As regular cruisers, we were planning to switch to Saga on the basis that although their prices are high they do offer a reasonable quality product. But then, so does Cunard - so that’s a direct loss to Saga of several thousand pounds on the basis that they’ve lost our trust absolutely. The insurance policies will follow. I’d hazard a guess that those prepared to fork out for life memberships are not exactly on the breadline, and probably well able to spend freely - and switch away from a company that breaks its contracts so readily.

Alderbank

Doc_N, you should have gone to protest at SAGA's Annual General Meeting today, to make sure the shareholders know what you think!

...or are you posting from Folkestone?

logic33

Not sure if this is new (never looked before) but I see Saga is now offering 3 printed magazines for £3. Introductory offer.

Then, maybe, they will offer a lifetime subscription at great cost and renege on this or insist the NEW customers go digital as well as those signed up years ago.  Only joking (I think?).

All Subscription Offers - SAGA Magazine (saga-magazine.co.uk)

Doc_N

Alderbank said:

Doc_N, you should have gone to protest at SAGA's Annual General Meeting today, to make sure the shareholders know what you think!

...or are you posting from Folkestone?

I'd have had to buy Saga shares for that - and I'm not overkeen on buying into companies on a downward spiral with a huge debt problem.  It's a sure-fire way of losing even more money!

Murphybear

Successfullion said:

born_again said:

Successfullion said:

 Mum has decided not to subscribe and when our insurances etc are due for renewal we will be looking for alternative providers.

Given that is a MSE must. Should be doing it for all insurance every year 👍

We compare insurance but usually Saga was about a fiver more as we believed in loyalty a fiver is not very much but now since Saga can’t be trusted to honour their word. There is no reason not to go to a cheaper provider.

I’ve had my car insurance with Saga for a few years.  It’s quite simple, I do a price comparison when its due and I always go for the cheapest.  It just happens that it’s Saga.  I have been driving since 1988 and never made a claim, my insurance is very low anyway. 

I subscribe to Readly, it costs £7.99 a month and I get online access to thousands of magazines, some from overseas.  Saga magazine is included in that.  If I bought the magazines I read regularly it would cost over a £100 a month plus I’d need my spare room for the paper editions 

I live in sheltered housing.  There are 33 of us and about a third use the internet.  There is still a good market for printed magazines but that will obviously reduce over the next few years.