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WashPost Delivery Issues?

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by Dawne, May 22, 2016.

  1. Dawne

    Dawne HOA Sec/Treas, Tech Comm

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    We're Sunday only subscribers and have had issues with delivery the last two weeks. Unfortunately, the only recourse seems to be their central number or online system.

    Is anyone else having problems lately? I'm wondering if there's a new carrier as we haven't had this many problems in 16 years.

    I'm considering canceling our subscription.
     
  2. Qwerty1

    Qwerty1 New Member

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    I am a daily subscriber and I never got last Saturday's paper (the 14th), and was also missing one of the weekdays that week. I had been wondering the same thing as you. We never had any problems at all in about 1o years til this past month.
     
  3. longtimer

    longtimer New Member

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    We are daily subscribers, and have had issues lately. Last Saturday was never delivered. We went online to request a replacement and it was never delivered. And then last Wednesday we got two food sections but no other parts of the paper. The disappointing thing is that we continue to report it online and have had no response or acknowledgement.
     
  4. Dawne

    Dawne HOA Sec/Treas, Tech Comm

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    We've requested replacement both online and on the phone. Last Saturday we were missing the Style, Travel and comics sections that come with the ads. These are usually delivered on Saturday. The replacements never arrived.

    This week, our Saturday bundle (Style Travel, Comics, Ads) were tossed in the gutter - about a third of the distance to our neighbors. We literally poured cups of water out of the bag before tossing into recycle. I called and logged onto requested these sections come with the Sunday paper. I was assured they would.

    Of course, they didn't. Another call and online request and I was assured it would all arrive in 1:13. Yeah, a weird time estimate. 2 hours later a paper was delivered. Ads, yes, Style, Travel and Comics still missing.

    Aggghhhh. It's frustrating. I'm digging to see if I have s direct number for our carrier. Something is clearly going wrong.
     
  5. jmbranch

    jmbranch New Member

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    We have missed 3 or 4 papers in the last 3 weeks , I don't remember the details exactly but it was Saturday at least 2 times. I did receive replacements twice and I tried to talk to the man who brought them but he didn't seem to understand .
     
  6. shim

    shim shim

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    Bezos switching to drone delivery by Spring 2017.
     
  7. Dawne

    Dawne HOA Sec/Treas, Tech Comm

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    As long as my paper arrives timely, I don't care if it comes by drone or Pony Express. At least with drone it might end up in my driveway.
     
  8. TomH

    TomH New Member

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    I wrote the following to WP Letter to the Editor via email. I got an email response within 4 hours asking for my address, responded, and had a phone call within an hour. The call was from our regional delivery manager who stated he would be monitoring delivery over the next several days, including weekend, and would make contact again afterwards. Even if it's just words, at least somebody listened and is at least pretending to solve the issue:

    Letter to Editor:
    I have been a loyal subscriber to the Washington Post for 16 years. I used to subscribe full week, then shifted to Sunday only due to time and economics. I still take some pleasure in reading, or at least skimming through, the Sunday paper. The ads and part of the paper arrive on Saturday, and the wife and I share the rest of sections on Sunday. At least that’s what we try to do. So why am I considering canceling my subscription entirely and why am I writing to the Washington Post Editor’s?

    Over the last year, getting our paper has become an issue from time to time. I don’t think it gets picked up by the neighbors, I think it just doesn’t get delivered reliably. Getting it in a readable condition has become an even more frequent problem. It seems my 20’ wide driveway isn’t a big enough target, so the paper gets dropped in the gutter and with even a little rain the plastic covering is of little use. Despite the reason, I’ve found there’s no apparent way to get a replacement delivered in timely manner. Rather, I get a response “time has run out” for delivery that day and I’m expected to go without until the following Sunday. Please note this is at 8 am; I’m not sure what time you have to call to actually get replacement.

    You’d think with the Washington Post fighting national and international TV news services, local TV news services that act like they’re national services, the plethora of radio and satellite media, and internet new services…well, you’d think the Washington Post would want to retain as many subscribers as possible. However, the reverse seems true. When I call to report a delivery issue, I end up talking with someone named “Peter," who obviously speaks English as a second language, has an accent from some country far away that makes it difficult to communicate, is abusively “sorry for the inconvenience,” but can only punch information in to a computer that I’m supposed to trust will get to a delivery agent. “Peter” gives me firm assurance the paper will be delivered within 1 hour and 13 minutes; I’m not sure why the 13 minutes is tagged on. In either case, the paper either never arrives or arrives so late as to be useless because tasks of the day take priority.

    When I use the WP Chat system on their web page to address the issue, I get the pleasure of typing in my concern, waiting ad nauseum for “Victoria” to type back to me. “Victoria” is equal to “Peter” in how sorry she is for the inconvenience, offer’s to give me a credit only when I ask for reimbursement, and then without asking applies the “credit” as an extension to my current subscription. When I object and mention canceling the subscription, “Victoria” upgrades my complaint to the Zone Manager (whatever that is).

    Then, when I logon to my HOA website, I find a lot of people in the HOA are complaining about these exact issues: non-delivery of paper, papers dropped in the street vice the driveway, papers soaked from rain because of “delivery” to the gutter, inability to get a replacement, no offer of reimbursement or credit unless asked for. Amazing, people do talk and find other people that feel the same, and are willing to say so publicly. Community action may take hold.

    So, the above answers the “why consider cancelling” question. Now, the “why write the editors” question. I figure editors depend on the paper for their jobs (I know, its really the advertisers, but no readership equals no advertisers). In addition, editors probably talk with writers who also depend on the paper for their jobs. And, if enough of us complain, editors may talk to the people that own the paper or control the people that deliver the paper…and that might result in some action. I know, I’m a jaded optimist, expecting people to actually do their jobs…like deliver the newspaper!

    But maybe, just maybe, this will land on the desk of an editor that sees the big picture and gives a damn about the reader. Subscriber’s can only hope!
     
  9. jwf

    jwf Well-Known Member

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    I got tired of the gutter drop and complained several times last year. Finally they stopped. But I didn't get my Saturday supplement the other week either so maybe they are slipping back into old habits.
     
  10. BDLNDLVR

    BDLNDLVR Active Member

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    My Sunday paper and Saturday supplement continue to be delivered reliably and on-time. Maybe I have been lucky...
     
  11. JJB

    JJB Active Member

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    I am a daily and Sunday subscriber and have had no issues except during the snow. Deliveries are pretty reliable.
     
  12. jmbranch

    jmbranch New Member

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    Anyone besides me missing their paper today?
     
  13. tyger31

    tyger31 Member

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    We did not get out paper either on June 14, but I called and reported it, also did online and we did get a paper delivered. Did you? Don't know what the problem is lately with the Post delivery...if it carrier's fault or the Post.
     
  14. Everett

    Everett Temporary Earthling

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    Cancelled my subscription after too many missed days & soaking wet gutter papers
     
  15. GoPackGo

    GoPackGo Member

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    Anyone else not receive their papers this weekend?
     
  16. Dawne

    Dawne HOA Sec/Treas, Tech Comm

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    We got ours. Guts on Saturday. Sunday paper in driveway this morning.
     
  17. jwf

    jwf Well-Known Member

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    Me too
     
  18. JJB

    JJB Active Member

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    Me three
     
  19. fidothedog

    fidothedog Member

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    I believe the Post has changed their "lost/damaged" paper policy. Instead of delivering new papers they will just credit you back the cost of the paper.

    I don't think The Wash Post understands that a "credit" isn't the same as getting the paper with the Sunday ads which is the only reason most people get the paper.

    As far as the quality of the Wash Post news since Bezos took over, I would say it is on par with comments and insights you get from watching "The View".
     
  20. Dawne

    Dawne HOA Sec/Treas, Tech Comm

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    Sigh - Resurrecting this ongoing issue with the WaPo delivery. Anyone else having recent issues with delivery?

    We have reported a missing paper through the online system FOUR times since June 11 and we're Sunday Only subscribers. (Though, one is the special edition from 7/13 for the All Star Game). Not sure if we have a new delivery person. WaPo gave me "Timothy Powe 703-777-9152" as the delivery supervisor in this area. I left a message and hoping I will get a call back. Asked again via phone for delivery of the 7/13 and 7/15 papers, but they "can't guarantee" I'll get a paper.

    [And no sign of stolen papers via the Ring doorbell videos]

    Honestly, after 19+ years at this address you'd think they'd have a good grasp of which house to deliver a paper. I'm beginning to think they WANT us to cancel our print subscription. I'm wondering if it's a money-losing service for them.
     

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