The Economist: Difference between revisions
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===Difficult cancellation process=== | ===Difficult cancellation process=== | ||
Signing up for a subscription is really easy and can be done through the website,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Your clearest view yet. |url=https://subscribenow.economist.com/?state=state-39b6585399d77b85ffed11a0bfca93db |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |website=The Economist}}</ref> but canceling, on the other hand, is only possible by calling customer support or by using the customer service chat function on the website.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@hyperxenophiliac |title=Want to cancel a subscription to The Economist? Have to chat to a service rep, you are #15 in line |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/13i9fa6/want_to_cancel_a_subscription_to_the_economist/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515210844/https://old.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/13i9fa6/want_to_cancel_a_subscription_to_the_economist/ |archive-date=15 May 2023 |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |via=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> Subscription made through App Store and Google Play Store can be easily cancelled through Apple ID or the Play Store app, while website ones online offer a "manage your account" page without a cancel button.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How do I cancel my subscription? |url=https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/How-do-I-cancel-my-subscription |archive-url=https:// | Signing up for a subscription is really easy and can be done through the website,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Your clearest view yet. |url=https://subscribenow.economist.com/?state=state-39b6585399d77b85ffed11a0bfca93db |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |website=The Economist}}</ref> but canceling, on the other hand, is only possible by calling customer support or by using the customer service chat function on the website.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@hyperxenophiliac |title=Want to cancel a subscription to The Economist? Have to chat to a service rep, you are #15 in line |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/13i9fa6/want_to_cancel_a_subscription_to_the_economist/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515210844/https://old.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/13i9fa6/want_to_cancel_a_subscription_to_the_economist/ |archive-date=15 May 2023 |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |via=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> Subscription made through App Store and Google Play Store can be easily cancelled through Apple ID or the Play Store app, while website ones online offer a "manage your account" page without a cancel button.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How do I cancel my subscription? |url=https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/How-do-I-cancel-my-subscription |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251226002150/https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/How-do-I-cancel-my-subscription |archive-date=26 Dec 2025|access-date=16 Aug 2025 |website=The Economist}}</ref> | ||
[[File:Want-to-cancel-a-subscription-to-the-economist-have-to-chat-v0-zyii7v6q500b1.webp|thumb|The economist cancelation form. [https://www.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/13i9fa6/want_to_cancel_a_subscription_to_the_economist/ Uploaded on Reddit]]] | [[File:Want-to-cancel-a-subscription-to-the-economist-have-to-chat-v0-zyii7v6q500b1.webp|thumb|The economist cancelation form. [https://www.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/13i9fa6/want_to_cancel_a_subscription_to_the_economist/ Uploaded on Reddit]]] | ||
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Users with annual subscriptions frequently report large price increases, sometimes notified beforehand via email, sometimes without notification. | Users with annual subscriptions frequently report large price increases, sometimes notified beforehand via email, sometimes without notification. | ||
One Reddit thread details a 93% price increase over a 3 year period, from $180 in 2022 to $350 in 2025 that one user experienced for a print & digital subscription. [https://www.reddit.com/r/theeconomist/comments/1lu0bkf/incredibly_scummy_subscription_practices_cant/] This experience seems to trend among those with complaints about The Economist subscriptions. Some users express high amounts of frustration due to lack of consistent pricing. For many users, the first annual subscription price is relatively low, and consecutive years are much higher in price unless the user threatens cancellation or otherwise haggles the subscription price down. One past customer subscribed for one year at £153 but was offered a renewal at £329, a 120% year over year increase. This user ultimately cancelled their subscription and wrote: <blockquote>"sometimes high prices - especially when subject to staggering increase, with no concomitant increase in the offer, or in quality - simply feels exploitative"</blockquote>Another user on the same thread compared the features between The Economist and the New York Times subscriptions and wrote: <ref>{{Cite web |title=Economist Pricing |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/theeconomist/comments/1k1yrk9/economist_pricing/ |archive-url=https://archive. | One Reddit thread details a 93% price increase over a 3 year period, from $180 in 2022 to $350 in 2025 that one user experienced for a print & digital subscription. [https://www.reddit.com/r/theeconomist/comments/1lu0bkf/incredibly_scummy_subscription_practices_cant/] This experience seems to trend among those with complaints about The Economist subscriptions. Some users express high amounts of frustration due to lack of consistent pricing. For many users, the first annual subscription price is relatively low, and consecutive years are much higher in price unless the user threatens cancellation or otherwise haggles the subscription price down. One past customer subscribed for one year at £153 but was offered a renewal at £329, a 120% year over year increase. This user ultimately cancelled their subscription and wrote: <blockquote>"sometimes high prices - especially when subject to staggering increase, with no concomitant increase in the offer, or in quality - simply feels exploitative"</blockquote>Another user on the same thread compared the features between The Economist and the New York Times subscriptions and wrote: <ref>{{Cite web |title=Economist Pricing |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/theeconomist/comments/1k1yrk9/economist_pricing/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222230912/https://old.reddit.com/r/theeconomist/comments/1k1yrk9/economist_pricing/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=16 Aug 2025 |website=Reddit.com}}</ref><blockquote>"It (the cost increase) would be easier to stomach if they were offering more for our money" </blockquote>Many users who cancel also complain about not getting refunds that customer service employees verbally confirmed they would receive. One user was dissatisfied when customer service told them over the phone that the user's subscription would be cancelled and their money refunded, but later found out the customer service representative never followed through. [https://www.reddit.com/r/theeconomist/comments/1jwbroz/be_careful_when_cancelling_a_subscription/]On March 30, 2025, one reviewer wrote they cancelled their annual subscription after "the sum they (The Economist) took was more than twice my current subscription! ... To add insult to injury they did not refund all the money they took." Another TrustPilot review from March 8, 2025 states:<blockquote>"I was promised a refund of over £300 given that I was being charged for two subscriptions on the same account. Having finally realised [sic] this discrepancy, I contact customer services. After going back and forth with customer services, sharing bank statements and account details and screenshots of my account (which felt more than slightly uncomfortable), two weeks later and my promises refund has still not arrived! It is incredibly poor service. Just return the money you owe me please!" [https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.economist.com] </blockquote> | ||
===Data collection and sharing=== | ===Data collection and sharing=== | ||