An Open Letter to The Chicago Tribune

[chris_gerrib]

To Whom It May Concern:

I like receiving my copy of the Chicago Tribune in paper format. It's convenient, and when I go out, I can take it with me and discard sections as I read them. But, every day now for the past two weeks, I've not been getting my paper. When the paper doesn't arrive, I duteously log into the web page and report the problem. Well, about half of the time - the other half of the time the web page won't take my login, and so I have to call the 800 number.

To your organization's credit, however I contact you the paper is redelivered or a credit is issued. I appreciate that. But what I really want is my newspaper delivered in the morning like it's supposed to be.

Please don't tell me to use the electronic edition of your newspaper. I've seen it - it sucks, having been designed to be only viewable on a large-screen PC, and it looks like a layout tool for the paper. If you must have an electronic edition, make it an epub format that works on a tablet.

While I am unburdening myself, I will violate the first rule of complaint letters and put multiple issues in one letter. I realize that the newspaper business is having financial trouble. The solution is not to cancel the free TV guide section and attempt to sell me $100 worth of new TV guides in addition to the paper. I don't check the TV guide section often enough to justify paying $100 for it, but every time I would have checked it but can't, I'll remember this decision unfavorably.

Sincerely,

Chris Gerrib

Comments

Off topic

[taras-wizard.livejournal.com]

But on the topic of newspapers deciding to delete their daily broadcast TV listings. In 2007, ten year anniversary of BtVS premier, I moderated the BtVS discussion (which I'd been bugging Stephen about since around 2005) at WindyCon, and during the discussion I raised the topic of what were the other TV shows on the night of the premier. Prior to the discussion I needed to research that topic, and with the Rolling Meadows's librarian aid we used the Tribune archive for the information. Between the two of us we could think of no other source for the information; if you're asking, Rolling Meadow Library did get TV Guide but only kept around a five year back issue.

Home delivery ... or not

[(Anonymous)]

Of the past 2 weeks I have only received the paper 3 times. Each day I call and each day they promise to deliver within an hour. Hah, that's a laugh. For 2 weeks I have been trying to tell them that they are delivering to the wrong address but they assure me that is not so. Evidently they know where I live, but I do not. Perhaps the most frustrating part is that you are not allowed to talk to an intelligent person. All they know how to say is that the paper will be there in an hour, laugh again, and they will take care of it. No wonder they are in financial trouble. There's nothing left to do but cancel it I guess ... and I would but I'm sure my refund might go to where they think I live instead of where I do live.