Rambling a lament today regarding the Akron Beacon Journal…
- Last week we took the final step in a long, futile ordeal which seemingly had only one end: we cancelled our subscription to the Akron Beacon Journal.
- I realize this may reek of a grumpy old man sort of post. I’m willing to risk that.
- First, the complaints.
- It started at the end of last year or the beginning of this year.
- They simply refused to throw the paper on the porch.
- Yes, I like a paper in my hands. I’m old. I enjoyed reading it.
- We’d find it everywhere. Landscaping. Puddles. Snow bank. Driveway. Sidewalk. Yard. At least one day a week totally ruined. All of these.
- We’d call and call and they would say they would credit us. Never happened. The bill always stayed the same.
- That was back when we could communicate.
- Recently, our paper just stopped getting delivered. As in, no paper whatsoever.
- So, as any rational person would do, we called to ask why we got no papers. This went on for well over a week.
- Calling was the worst. I think they outsourced their customer service to a foreign country with really broken English.
- Julie and I each called. Neither of us really had any hope the other person actually understood us.
- Come to think of it, I wonder if our service was ACTUALLY cancelled. Lol. I guess I should laugh.
- I also tried to email. The replies to emails also came in broken English. How pathetic for a newspaper.
- No one representing the paper can reply in a version of English that makes any sense to the reader?
- We have subscribed to the Beacon for years and years. Personally I enjoyed a local paper subscription.
- The local paper helped me understand the way people thought. Local ballot issues, stories of interest, etc.
- The Beacon had some wacked out views. They also did some surprising things as well.
- They reported news. They told local stories which mattered to a lot of people.
- Most recently, we thought their coverage of education during the pandemic was fantastic.
- The paper featured award winning columnists.
- I’ve always thought they treated churches and Christians fairly (mostly). They used to employ a full time religion writer.
- Over the years they have fairly reported events in which we’ve had involvement.
- They printed a wide range of political views.
- You might be able to tell I value various perspectives.
- I’ve never received such poor customer service in my entire life. Seriously.
- And I’m sad because it’s something I valued.
- Something that used to make an impact – just a shell of its former self and so little ability to communicate or get answers. So frustrating.
- But, I guess, such is life. Sometimes things come and go. I feel for those working for the paper. I feel for those writing.
- The customer service side of it now reduced to rubbish, one wonders how long it will even circulate. They no longer print on Mondays and holidays.
- Maybe our delivery driver thought every day was a Monday or a holiday.
- Maybe the poor operation and poor communication are all a part of the plan.
- I wish it was different. It isn’t. I’m just sad.