Apr 13, 2012 02:50 PM
16609 Views
(Updated Apr 24, 2012 09:26 AM)
I was an avid reader of RD years back, during the late 1980s. We moved home and somehow the subscription was not renewed.
Recently I decided to subscribe afresh to RD, based on my earlier experience with RD. Sadly, I have found that it is not worthwhile and am writing this review to caution others. The reasons:
The quality of the articles in the magazine has come down drastically. I still remember the articles from the 1980s issues, many of which I have read repeatedly over the years. Yes I have saved some of the old issues and still have them. Those days, reading RD was a surefire way to improve one's command over the language, and one's vocabulary. Today's articles in the magazine are poorly written.
The marketing team of RD will use all possible manipulations to trick us into spending more money on them. When the subscription is due for renewal, they will send a "gift" by VPP one month in advance - even if you have requested them not to renew the subscription automatically. If you accept the VPP your subscription is renewed. In earlier times there used to be a straight-forward reminder before subscription expired, with a clear yes and no option to resubscribe.
They have a "sweepstakes" program regarding which you will receive mails at least twice every month - what a waste of paper. Even if you request not to send these mails they will not stop.
In fact, they responded to my request to stop sending the sweepstakes promos to me by requesting me to ignore the mails. Within weeks of subscribing you will receive mails saying that you have been such a valued customer and are among the selected few to receive the offer. Please ensure that you read each and every line - the fine print - in these offers, because "YES" would mean yes for both the book offered as well as Sweepstakes, but "NO" would mean "No I do not want your offer of the best-seller book for Rs 400 but YES you can enroll me for sweepstakes". This is cheap tricks being used by RD, really sad that they have stooped so low. There was an article in RD by the India editor a few months back, defending and promoting their sweepstakes program - imagine!.
It is not a question of about 500 rupees per year, it is about the almost belligerent attitude they display. Please also note that their website is not professional enough to handle online subscriptions, you will probably not receive any confirmation from RD after your payment.
