Death Of Print

Today is the day.  Today is the day that our fight with the News-Herald comes to an end.  And the printed word is the loser.  Over the past 3 years or so, we have struggled with late delivery.  Many emails and phone calls...the News-Herald saying it is the carriers fault and the carrier calling with tales of woe and blaming the News-Herald.  What they fail to understand is that I see the paper and the carrier as one big entity; one that has failed to deliver the morning paper in the morning.  I truly enjoy reading through the paper (crappy as it has become) while drinking my morning cup of coffee.  I enjoy it so much, that for the the past month and a half, we have read morning paper from the day before because the new one hasn't arrived before 7:00 am.
Today was the last straw. The following is the letter I'm sending to the News-Herald:

I think we have reached the end of our proverbial rope.  We have had home delivery of the News-Herald since the early 90’s.  For the first 15 years we had our paper before 6:00 am and were able to enjoy a cup of coffee and the morning news before work.  Unfortunately, over the past 3 to 4 years, this has changed.  I have repeatedly contacted the circulation department asking if it is unreasonable to expect delivery before 6:00 am.  I have been told to be patient.  Here is what patience has gotten me.  Over the past month and a half we have enjoyed reading the morning news FROM THE DAY BEFORE because our paper is not delivered until after 7:00 am (many times after 7:30).  But today was the last straw.  Today, our Sunday paper was delivered at 9:15.  And it was WRAPPED, inside the orange bag, in SATURDAY’s paper.  I do believe it is unacceptable to receive the Saturday morning paper…on Sunday.

I realize you do not need this whole story, and I realize that whoever is reading it really doesn’t care.  But I am saddened.  As a teacher I can’t believe I am going to get my morning news, not from the printed page, but from a digital source.  It feels like I’m killing the printed word.  I am extremely sorry that the News-Herald couldn’t, or wouldn’t, keep excellent customer service.  If you were able to actually have the morning paper delivered in the morning, I would be the last person on earth to cancel the daily paper.

PLEASE do not send me an email blaming the carrier.  I DO NOT CARE whose fault this is.  I am tired of you saying it’s the carrier’s fault and the carrier saying it is your fault.  In my eyes I am paying YOU for the paper and delivery, therefore it is YOUR fault.  You are responsible for the carrier and I’m tired of your blame-game.

Please cancel my subscription and refund me any money that is due.

Sincerely,

Becky Barton

I know they don't care, but I felt better writing it.  I would think that they would do whatever they could to keep subscribers.  Maybe I'm wrong, and they sell enough at the stands and make enough in advertising...but I've watched the quality of that paper decline the past few years and I think they need to up their game before they go under.  But that's just me, and I'm not even a customer any more.