Narrow Gauge & Shortline Gazette magazine

B

bendorsey

Bridge-n-trestle builder
Hi Folks:

I've subscribed to this magazine for 10 or more years. I got a renewal notice in the mail this morning and it looks a tad suspicious.

According to it NG&SLG has been bought from Benchmark Productions, LTD (in Canada I think) by White River Productions in Bucklin, MO. Nothing wrong with that by itself but what bothers me is they ask for your phone number and e-mail address and say its required. That raises all kinds of red flags in my mind. I see absolutely no reason why that information needs to be required.

I did a quickie search on line and there are things that seem to support the sale but:
1. Have any of you who also subscribe to NG&SLG gotten a renewal notice like this?
2. Anyone heard if this is a (potential) scam or not?
3. Anyone renewed via this letter and not included your phone number and e-mail address (in other words what happened)?

Thanks,

Ben
 
Haven't received a renewal notice yet (I renewed just before the sale), but the Jan/Feb issue had a brief article about the sale of the magazine.
 
I subscribed couple magazines that require email address. They keep my credit card on file and notify me a month or so before auto renewal so I must take action if I do not want it renewed. Most paper publications today are having financial issues - they save a lot by not mailing paper renewal notices. Many magazines are also offering digital version to be read on a Pad device. Few however are using the capabilities of the Pad to enhance their content, a very notable exception is National Geographic. As to phone number not sure why that would be required.
 
Hi Pencil:

Yes the sale looks legit to me - its the required info that frosts my fanny. To me its low key data mining and has the potential to be much worse if their site gets hacked.

Hi Sawstopuser:

So your saying they automatically renew your subscription unless you tell them not to? That would give me another frosty fannhy, lol.

Think I'll send it in with those lines blank, tell them its none of their business, and see what happens.

Thanks for the replies gents,

Ben
 
Set up another e-mail address and use it just for sites that require it. Never look at it except maybe once a month do a delete all.
 
A good idea but I subscribe to so few magazines its probably not worth the effort. None of the others require this info. its optional at best - not required.

As I said above I sent it in without the required info. Will wait and see what happens. This magazine is available without a subscription but finding a place to buy it over the counter is not easy. High end (large) RR stores is pretty much it. Sad in a way as its a very good magazine.

Ben
 
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