Hattiesburg American Circulation Department

[Kitty]

This is probably old news, but you don't get a "live" person if you call the HA regarding a missed newspaper.

Used to, but not anymore. I suspect this move is yet another example of functional consolidation on the part of Gannett.

The automated system they are using doesn't even give you an opportunity to find out if the carrier was late leaving, if there is a substitute carrier, etc.

The automated system asks you a series of closed ended questions, including "do you want a redelivery or a credit?"

Husband is ready to cancel our HA subscription, which we have had for 25 years.

By the way, has anyone else not gotten their Sunday paper yet?

[thrillseeker]

Not sure if we got one or not but we have been having LOTS of problems getting in during the week. Our delivery guy even went as far as to say he say an old man walking our neighborhood and he probably picked it up and took it. We have a box but they keep throwing it on the ground even though we have asked NUMBEROUS times to put in box.

[Conveyor Belt]

I can't believe you guys are paying for that rag... suckers.

All the good articles, they put online... why pay for what they're giving away for free?

The HA is dead.

[Kitty]

The Sunday paper just arrived.

10:00 a.m.

At least our carrier puts the paper in the chute we have as part of our mailbox, although we did have a problem several Sundays where the carrier apparently decided to just deliver us the basic paper without the inserts.

I guess otherwise it would have been too big to fit in our paper chute.

In that situation, I called the HA during the week and spoke with a circulation supervisor. I told her we'd prefer to have the entire paper, even if that meant throwing it in the driveway.

Oh, it took two days for the circulation supervisor to return my call.

Has anyone else noticed a decline in the quality of customer service at the HA?

[Kitty]

I can't believe you guys are paying for that rag... suckers.

All the good articles, they put online... why pay for what they're giving away for free?

The HA is dead.

I'm not so sure that we're "suckers," CB.

Just creatures of habit, and my husband is just now starting to use a computer.

[Conveyor Belt]

I'm not so sure that we're "suckers," CB.

Just creatures of habit, and my husband is just now starting to use a computer.

I was being a bit sarcastic... hard to relay over a message board.

I understand the habits of those over 40 who would keep subscribing, and frankly, I think that's the only thing keeping the paper alive.

[thrillseeker]

If it was up to me CB I wouldnt take the paper. And I guess technical I dont. My mom takes the paper and she isnt computer literate yet. I am trying to teach her but its very hard. We get in fights almost every time. So I let her have her old habits and I do my own thing.

[Kitty]

. . .I understand the habits of those over 40 who would keep subscribing, and frankly, I think that's the only thing keeping the paper alive.

Very true. When those of us over 40 kick the bucket, print versions of newspapers will die with us. :smt001

[Fish-Bait]

It's Bush's fault.

[JMC]

I used to subscribe. I like to have a physical paper to read. I won't even try to read a something like a book in electronic format. Give me the real thing.

I like to have the paper to take to work with me so I can read it throughout the morning. I wasn't getting here in time and I have to leave by at least 7:30.

I remember when papers used to come early.

[wilebill]

The C-L is worse. I finally canceled my subscription with them that I've had for over 20 years. They don't care if you subscribe or not, and don't even try to solve your problem, they just give you a credit and keep on going. Their account representatives are rude and patronizing. Even though they are not good at solving your problem, they're real efficient at canceling your account.

[Kitty]

Try giving open ended responses to the HA circulation department's closed ended questions on their automated customer service system.

[Bubba]

In Sunday's Laurel Leader-Call, they have the Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt basketball game story in there THREE times. Absolutely amazing.
They have the same OJ Simpson story with the same headline in there today that they had in there on Saturday.
Hardly any local news at all. A submitted photo from something that happened on Friday and the daily house fire shot from Saturday afternoon are the only two local news "stories" in there today.
Hope "The Review" starts going daily real soon here in Laurel.:clap: