The New York Times uses the dark patterns it derides
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The New York Times uses the dark patterns it derides
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Re: The New York Times uses the dark patterns it derides
#2> I was surprised, however, to find the New York Times uses the very same dark pattern it derides to prevent its own subscribers from canceling.
It was very simple for me to cancel my NYT subscription. I got a new credit card because the old one was getting mysterious charges on it. I forgot that NYT had that card on my subscription. I soon started getting dunning notices on it, and logged in to change the card number. The NYT kept rejecting the new card, and I gave up.
No more NYT for me!
Re: The New York Times uses the dark patterns it derides
#3> I told the representative I wanted to cancel. Then I was offered reasons not to. I responded with “no thanks” each time. Then, I waited for the representative to reply and come back with several rounds of offers to get me not to cancel. On and on, the process went until I was finally allowed to leave.
That's fairly easy to deal with. Answer every question, argument, and pitch from the representative with "please cancel my subscription".
Re: The New York Times uses the dark patterns it derides
#4> I told the representative I wanted to cancel. Then I was offered reasons not to. I responded with “no thanks” each time. Then, I waited for the representative to reply and come back with several rounds of offers to get me not to cancel. On and on, the process went until I was finally allowed to leave. That's fairly easy to deal with. Answer every question, argument, and pitch from the representative with "please ca…
True, but it’s still crappy of them to waste people’s time.
Re: The New York Times uses the dark patterns it derides
#5> I told the representative I wanted to cancel. Then I was offered reasons not to. I responded with “no thanks” each time. Then, I waited for the representative to reply and come back with several rounds of offers to get me not to cancel. On and on, the process went until I was finally allowed to leave. That's fairly easy to deal with. Answer every question, argument, and pitch from the representative with "please ca…
True, but it’s still crappy of them to waste people’s time.
Sure, but you can waste less time by going as far as interrupting their questions, arguments and pitches with a firm "please cancel my subscription."
That gets 'em through their script faster.
Re: The New York Times uses the dark patterns it derides
#6What else would you expect from the NYT? What used to be the "paper of record" has been a garbage tabloid for at least five years, maybe more.
Re: The New York Times uses the dark patterns it derides
#7That's happened to me too, and every time I consider re-subscribing, I remember my terrible experience canceling my subscription so I decide not to. Summary of my experience: https://twitter.com/esesci/status/1357280929316622336
Re: The New York Times uses the dark patterns it derides
#8I called to cancel. I was offered $14/month promotion, and then after I agreed to the deal and gave them credit card they said I will be charged $14 every 4 weeks. I said agreed to $14/month, that's not the same as $14 every 4 weeks, because $14/month is $168 per year, but $14 every 4 weeks is $182.49 per year. They said they will charge $14 every 4 weeks, and I decided to cancel because of their scammy offer.
Re: The New York Times uses the dark patterns it derides
#9A newspaper isn't a monolith and, by design, the members of the editorial board have very little connection to the business side of the newspaper.
You're absolutely right to call out bad behavior of the subscription department, but the "liar, liar" heading is unfair.
Re: The New York Times uses the dark patterns it derides
#10Best way to ensure easy subscription cancelling is via an in-app purchase. Then cancelling is a few clicks without talking to anyone.