I’m a subscriber of "Sananda" magazine for the last 3 years. Actually the subscription is in my name, but it is meant for my wife.
I’ll not discuss on the contents of the magazine, since my wife requests for a renewal every year I trust that the content is worth it. Though she does mention that it is now not of the quality with which it started off, and off course there are too many advertisements.
What I’m concerned about is the way they treat subscribers to the magazine. I can compare, because I also subscribe to certain other magazines like’Digit’, ’AV Max’, ’Electronics for You’, ’PC Quest’. All the magazines are from different publication houses and I have been faithfully receiving every issue on time every month. I receive the magazines by the 2nd of every month.
Whereas, In the last 3 years I’m yet to receive a single issue of’Sananda’ on time. I receive them usually 10~11 days after the published date. At times I have not received them at all. In those cases, I can’t go and buy from the stands, as I have waited 15 days already & they are sold out.
I have complained over & over again to the subscription department of’Sananda’, both in Kolkata & New Delhi and have been politely told that’We’ll look into it & this will not happen again’. Unfortunately, a lost subscription remains lost & the delayed delivery continues.
There’s nobody to hear complaints of subscribers or to’look into’ delays or missing issues.
Hence, read the magazine, but buy it from the stands.
This is an update posted on the 12th of July 2010.
Called up the ABP New delhi Office & talked to the official concerned for subscriptions & he told me that there has been a problem with the delivery boy, and assured me that’HE’LL LOOK INTO IT AND THAT THE DELIVERY WILL BE DONE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS’.
This is an update posted on the 16th of July 2010.
’Sananda’ is a bi-monthly magazine, which means that another fresh issue has been released yesterday the 15th of the month.
I have been following up with Mr. Subhas Biswas of ABP, the official in charge of subscriptions, New Delhi Office over phone for the last one week now.
Everytime, he acknowledges there has been a problem and he’ll’LOOK INTO IT’. I really don’t know how far & wide he has looked so far, but the end result is that I have not received the older subscription still, the new one will be in the stands today, latest tomorrow morning.
Update posted on the 26th of July 2010.
Last week, I finally received the 30th June issue which was couriered by Mr. Biswas from the Delhi office. A couple of days after that 2 courier guys came to my residence to deliver the same issue. I found the issue to be used & torn, but on their repeated request I accepted the issue & signed the acceptance slip. My mistake, I didn’t put down the date.
Today I called up Mr. Biswas to follow up for the delivery of the July 15th issue and he tells me that he has a receipt of the 30th June delivery dated the 8th of July. Smart! isn’t that?
Thankfully, I used a’Cross’ black-ink pen to sign the receipt, and I’m sure no courier boy carries a similar pen. So, upon cross questioning, Mr. Biswas admits that the signature & mobile no. is done with a different ink & the date is done with a blue ball pen! So much for the SUBSCRIPTION OFFICER.
Now, I’m currently following up for delivery of the 15th July issue.
Update posted on the 30th of July 2010.
Have written to the person who is in charge of subscriptions in their HO Kolkata, Ms. Rupa Chatterjee, on the 26th. Till date there is neither an acknowledgment of the mail or a reply.
Have followed up with Ms. Subhash twice in the last 4 days & one again today morning. All three times he has promised to look into the matter and that the magazine shall soon be delivered. A fresh new issue is going to be released today. I’m still waiting for the issue released on the 15th of this month! Today I’m writing to the editor.