SCANNING USA, How They Really Feel!

[MacombMonitor]

I picked up the December 2005 issue of SCANNING USA magazine yesterday. On page 8, under a title of “The News From Ground Zero”, with a sub title of “Behind The Scenes, The Scanner Community Uncensored”, was an interesting story directed at their customers!



The first paragraph begins with the words, “Obsessive, hostile, combative, angry and paranoid”! They claim these words apply to “to those of the scanner community”! Later they qualify that by saying this applies to a small percentage, about 10%, but they said it just the same. The entire story talks about all the different kinds of abuse they receive from unsatisfied customers, attempting to inquire about the status of their subscription.



The article go’s on about how obsessed some scanner listeners are, and sites a few examples of occurrences that have been in the news. The story quickly changes to how professional SCANNING MAGAZINE staff is, and how serious they take the hobby.



According to SCANNING USA magazine, “We feel that to get a subscription is a privilege” If you rattle their cage they will “REFUSE your order”. It must be nice to be so successful, and have so much business, that you can take this attitude! It’s interesting to note, no one took credit for this article, as it was nameless!



I had attempted to subscribe to SCANNING USA myself, several months back. Some of you may recall, I inquired on “RR” as to how long this process took, as I had been waiting over three months. I wasn’t obsessive, hostile, combative, angry or paranoid. I just asked, because like everyone, you want to get what you paid for. Some of you suggested I call them. I didn’t because I didn’t think it should be necessary. I’m glad now I didn’t. God forbid I might upset someone!



My personal feelings are that it’s very apparent that no one ever told the staff at SCANNING USA that “the customer is always right”. Now we all know that isn’t a true statement, but in business, when you’re selling a product, it almost always applies, if you want to keep customers. I’ve worked many jobs where I’ve had to deal with obsessive, hostile, combative, angry and paranoid clients, in the computer industry for many years. I never had the luxury to tell them I will “REFUSE” them service. Nor have I ever read in any other magazine, the staff complaining about how some of their customers treat them! I’m paying $6.00 for a magazine about “SCANNING”, not “WHINING”!



On the positive side, I liked SCANNING USA magazine, as evidence by the fact that I just paid $6.00 for it off the news stand (because my attempt to subscribe failed). But it’s not something I can’t live without. In the 60 pages, only 25 pages were what I would call useful content. The balance was ads, and 29 pages of frequency updates, from around the nation, aka filler. I also like Monitoring Times, and Popular Communications magazines, both of which I subscribed to with no problems. Neither one of these magazines have ever complained about their customers! Maybe because they don’t have internal problems servicing their customers.

[dimab]

I sure hope they feel a bite into their huge profits from this article.
customer service should be #1 on everyone's mind that sells to the public.

[scanjunkie]

That's really interesting...I can't believe a company would take that approach to it's customers. I was actually thinking of re-subscribing to it, but now I'm not so sure. Thanks for the info!

[turbo77577]

I orded Scanning USA 5 weeks ago and rec. the first one 1st. of Nov. With no problem. called in the order. They were ok on the phone. They didn't seem to have a bad hair day when I talked to them.

[MacombMonitor]

Originally Posted by turbo77577

I orded Scanning USA 5 weeks ago and rec. the first one 1st. of Nov. With no problem. called in the order. They were ok on the phone. They didn't seem to have a bad hair day when I talked to them.

That's how it should be! Remember, they wrote, and printed the article, so it appears they do have issues! "Issues"...no pun intended!

[dimab]

Originally Posted by scanjunkie

That's really interesting...I can't believe a company would take that approach to it's customers. I was actually thinking of re-subscribing to it, but now I'm not so sure. Thanks for the info!

stick one to them! there is no excuse for the kind of customer service they printed.

[scanjunkie]

Originally Posted by dimab

stick one to them! there is no excuse for the kind of customer service they printed.

Consider them "stuck..." I'll just continue my MT subscription...I like that mag better anyway!

[kc4jgc]

Originally Posted by MacombMonitor

[font=Arial][size=3]According to SCANNING USA magazine, “We feel that to get a subscription is a privilege” If you rattle their cage they will “REFUSE your order”. It must be nice to be so successful, and have so much business, that you can take this attitude! It’s interesting to note, no one took credit for this article, as it was nameless!

In journalistic procedure, this is NOT an article; it's an EDITORIAL! There is no byline as it reflects the general opinion of the editors. It's rather disturbing that the staff there has such a bloated opinion of themselves... maybe they are covering for their inept circulation department. Whatever the case, I believe that in the near future their attitude will soon kick them in their pockets!

[JLHDU]

This will really make them worry....tell them you subscribe and activly participate in the following groups...

http://www.ignorancedenied.com/

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/

http://www.belowtopsecret.com/

http://politics.abovetopsecret.com/

and

http://www.atsnn.com/

[MacombMonitor]

I have no need to make them worry. I was just trying to help them get the word out, about how they feel about their customers. Mostly to benefit those who are not part of their elite group, and don't have the "privilege" of paying for their magazine!

[cellblock776]

I've been a subscriber to Scanning USA for several years now. Never any problems.
On the other hand, as a member of REACT I haven't gotten a copy of the REACTer, the bimonthly magazine for members, since May. Seems REACT International HQ is having problems getting it published and in the mail to members.

[K5MAR]

The editorials in Monitoring Times and Popular Communications are generally signed. I feel that an unsigned editorial of this nature displays a certain lack of backbone.

I went looking for this at my local Hastings Bookstore, where I usually buy it, but it's apparently no longer sold by this chain. If they are losing newsstand sites, they better start being nicer to their subscribers!

Mark S.

[rgchristy]

I usually pick up my copy at Ham Radio Outlet. I was going to subscribe, but every time I get ready to, another negative thread about them pops up. I went to HRO yesterday and they didn't have the Nov 2005 or the Dec 2005 issues. They said that they hadn't received them yet.

[rainscanman]

Hey Gang!

Noticing that post about Scanning USA made me want to go and find the magazine, which after like 3 book stores I finally found it.

At first I thought the editorial was picking on us hobbyists, but it really seems just to make mention of those folks that are out there that can be a pain; not everyone in general. While I dont really care for the editorial, I thought it was a good issue and I plan on subscribing, hopefully they wont yell at me lololol.

Nevertheless, it is really up to them what they want to say; I belong to the ACLU and i believe in freedom and what our forefathers gave us; freedom. Isnt that supposedly Iraq is about?? Freedom. and that applies to freedom of the press, Howard Stern, the Internet, etc. So while we we can whine about stuff, i think it is fair that they can whine also, we dont leave in Russia or Iran, thank god!

Who knows, maybe this was just a publicity stunt just so that someone would go off and tell everyone about Scanning USA,,, ever hear about the saying, "You can say negative or positive things about me, but just get my name right'? So maybe now they are getting what they want and more than likely it will help them.

Oh well, long live scanning and long live freedom in the old ole USA!!!!

Bob Huttman
Seattle WA

"Freedom Isn't Free OR Is It?"

[csuh13]

It is hard to get Scanning USA around here. They always get it at the local Borders and B&N, but they only get 2 copies per month, and they go fast.

(They also usually put it with the "computer" magazines since they figure they're talking about that "other" type of scanner...)

[RESCUE4NFD]

I stopped receiving 2 years ago because of the POOR customer service,and their "Its not our problem" I realy liked the Mag. but the slow delivery sometimes 2 months behind was too much.

[whooey]

No problems here, I like SUSA, and will continue to subscribe. I read it while I sit on the "throne".

BTW the editorial is written by James Blaha, editor in chief, every month, SUSA.

[USAPatriot]

My personal feelings are that it’s very apparent that no one ever told the staff at SCANNING USA that “the customer is always right”. Now we all know that isn’t a true statement, but in business, when you’re selling a product, it almost always applies, if you want to keep customers. I’ve worked many jobs where I’ve had to deal with obsessive, hostile, combative, angry and paranoid clients, in the computer industry for many years. I never had the luxury to tell them I will “REFUSE” them service. Nor have I ever read in any other magazine, the staff complaining about how some of their customers treat them! I’m paying $6.00 for a magazine about “SCANNING”, not “WHINING”!

Agreed. I gotta say though that my experience in the computer industry (I was first a TRS-80/Commiedore geek, then a mainframe operator for Burroughs/Unisys machines, then a PC consultant) most of my BOSSES were the "obsessive, hostile, combative, angry and paranoid" people. Not the clients. On the otherside of the coin, I did have the pleasure of telling a $60,000.00/month client to go piss up a rope one day. Some people are just intolerable.

But no business can really afford such nonsense, not if they make a practice of it. Certainly there are clients that really ARE intolerable and will eat resources and your employees for lunch. The best way to deal with them is to price them out, not send your customer service south. A good reputation is difficult to build. A bad one spreads as fast as a fire. -ROd-

[Chief71]

I just wanted to check with you guys before I call them and make them mad, but is it common to wait for over 1 1/2 months before you get your first issue? I subscribed on 10-27 and I'm still waiting.

[RESCUE4NFD]

Gee,your lucky!Maybe I'll check back with you in March to see if has arrived YET!!
Happy Holidays