Subscribers fight on in magazine saga – The Crusader
Their rebellion is growing and they aren’t ready to back down yet – devoted readers of Saga Magazine’s print version are super fed up about how their lifetime subscription deal has been changed and more are signing up to a petition opposing the move.
What began as a grumble of discontent has become more entrenched, a showdown exposing bigger clashes around the value of print versus digital experiences, heavy cost pressures on businesses, rough justice for older consumers and respect for customers’ trust.
“It’s a matter of principle,” many told Crusader when they contacted us to complain.
++ If you’ve been affected by this issue or feel you’ve been a victim of injustice, please contact consumer champion Maisha Frost on [email protected]
A hugely popular publication aimed at the mature 50-plus market, Saga Magazine is valued by many for its broad-ranging, informative features, guaranteeing an enjoyable, absorbing experience.
That’s why a few decades ago Kath Morris had no second thoughts about buying a lifetime subscription for a one-off £100.
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And that’s why too she was staggered a few months ago to be told that “if I wish to receive a hard copies (print) during the next year I will have to pay around £29, with future price seeming unknown,” she explained.
“However if I get the Saga app I will get a digital copy for free. But this is not the same. It’s less especially when you consider the product and how it is consumed and not what I agreed.
“If your eyesight is not so good, reading online is more difficult and not all of us have a tablet. Having to look at a magazine on a phone is definitely second best. I paid more but this has not been honoured. This is a blow against oldies.”
Kath’s points are echoed by many and she has contributed to a change.org petition which has busted various targets and has over 1,000 signatures.
The one taking the decision is Saga Media, a division of the Saga holidays, insurance and financial services group.
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When we asked it if it could reconsider its new terms, it responded:
“Saga Media will continue to provide all lifetime subscribers with a monthly copy of Saga Magazine in a digital format. Readers who want to continue to receive a print version are being offered a discount of 50 per cent.
“This move to digital reflects today’s media landscape, which is very different from when we offered our heavily subsidised one-off subscription offer around three decades ago.
“This is not a decision we took lightly and we are sorry if any subscribers are disappointed by the move to digital, but it is the best way to ensure we can provide the much-loved Saga Magazine to as many readers as possible in an economically viable way.”
Challenges based breaches of contract and the Equality Act 2010 are being considered. Kath has made a donation, should any legal action be possible. See the petition at: https://www.change.org/p/saga-
[Kath’s name has been changed]
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