Magazines are a thing of the past in some households. The internet sucked the life out of these old paper-bound relics, just like newspapers [free the bound periodicals!]. However, magazines do still exist and with them comes the need to keep circulation high and ad revenue higher. We got a ‘notice’ in the mail today that was a ‘late or missing’ payment notice in an attempt to get us to just send in a check and subscribe to a magazine my wife had canceled.

Tricky? Yes. Dishonest? Absolutely! This sort of tactic is slick, but wouldn’t work very well in other markets. Just imagine test driving a car at a dealership and waking up in the morning with a guy knocking at your front door asking for the first payment check. Or just try not to smile thinking about walking into Costco/Sam’s Club and having the sample ladies chasing you down asking you to pay for the sample you tasted - at full price and for the price of the entire box.

I think this sort of thing is far too common in some businesses, but be aware: just because it comes as a ‘notice’ doesn’t mean its a legitimate concern. Figure out the reality of the claim first. Don’t be swindled.