Should I be ticked off?

[erchess]

I won't name the organization but a professional org to which I belong sent me a card today to remind me of my renewal date on 4/30/09. I have no intention of paying them before 4/25 because then I won't have to pay my credit card company until 5/20. I think it is a bit of a hard sell on their part to approach me this early. Am I over reacting?

[S T]

Reminders

Reminders are nice so you can plan.

So no, I would say not to over react. If you don't have to renew to April 09, then wait and make the determination whether or not you are going to renew. You have plenty of time and then can also use the 30 day float on the credit card billing, if your timing is correct.

I waited on one of my renewals until 60 days past due, and finally received a "sorry we are going to miss you" renewal and finally decided I would renew.

You have to remember in these economic times, "everyone" is accelerating their billings and renewals! All about cash flow and projections.

Sandy

[thomtax]

Probably

Should read Probably Over reacting

Just take a look at how early everyone else is trying to get renewals, etc. I still have over a year to go on some subscriptions and am already getting renewal requests. All companies and organizations are losing revenues as people cut back on expenditures. So they try to make up for it by getting earlier and earlier renewals.

I've been bombarded with renewal requests from PCWorld and now learn that they are working to close down the printed publication and go strictly to online, which I would not give you 2cents for. But that still hasn't stopped them from trying for subscriptions to the paper publication.

LT

[BHoffman]

Put a frownie on your payment. Passive aggression.

[taxea]

Should I be ticked off?

I don't belong to the professional organizations simply because they require that I belong to both the national and state in order to join. I figure I can get all the info I need through the IRS and forums such as this.

Magazine subscriptions do the same. I just ignore them until they tell me I only have one month left, then I renew if I chose to. taxea

[jimmcg]

Most members and or subscribers do not check the expiration date when they pay their renewal. Companies take advantage of this ignorance and attempt to get people to renew well before expiration. It's called "maximizing cash flow." Cash is the "bottom line."

[JohnH]

I like to sit on renewals until the due date or even after, because many publishers will offer you special deals if you fail to renew (or if it looks as though you aren't going to renew). Sometimes it's an extra few weeks on the subscription or a free subscription for someone else. If the Business Journal is published locally in your area, sometimes they will offer a gift card to a local restaurant if it appears you aren't going to renew.

[Nashville]

Industry Practice

Erchess, I think this is standard industry practice for publications, memberships, etc. Whereas it may leave a bad taste in your mouth, it is no worse than misleading advertising, puffing your wares, and the general cloak-and-daggar.

My pet peeve is the bank commercial which says, "Third Harrison Bank is interested in making YOU happy!!"

Any thinking person knows the truth, but if we are going to allow our countenance to fray by dwelling on organizations pushing the envelope, we will be very embittered old men -- probably sooner than we think.

[David1980]

I like to sit on renewals until the due date or even after, because many publishers will offer you special deals if you fail to renew (or if it looks as though you aren't going to renew). Sometimes it's an extra few weeks on the subscription or a free subscription for someone else. If the Business Journal is published locally in your area, sometimes they will offer a gift card to a local restaurant if it appears you aren't going to renew.

Reminds me of an automated phone machine I once used to cancel a magazine subscription. Basically that magazine was setup with an auto-renewal so you had to call to cancel and it ended up being an automated machine.

I ended up canceling three times. The first time the machine told me how great the magazine and that I was only paying $XX for 1-year of deliveries and am I really sure I want to cancel? So I told it yes. Then it said it was sorry to hear that, and is willing to make a special deal for me and gave me a price less than 1/3 what it just offered. Asked if I still wanted to cancel, yes. Finally it asked me one final time with the 1/3 price & a free coffee cup. Told it yes to cancel once again.

[ChEAr$]

here's my 29 cents worth

I won't name the organization but a professional org to which I belong sent me a card today to remind me of my renewal date on 4/30/09. I have no intention of paying them before 4/25 because then I won't have to pay my credit card company until 5/20. I think it is a bit of a hard sell on their part to approach me this early. Am I over reacting?

if it's the organization of which I am a member, this is probably just an announcement of the change in by laws adopted back in August at annual meeting which sets anniversay time for renewals to same date as joining day. Previously one would join and pay for 12 months and then on renewal would be additionally pro rated for (in your case 2 months) additional months to bring all members in line with statutory expiration of June 30th.

It's a good change, and they're not soliciting you to renew so early I think.

or is it another organization I dont' know about? (grin

[erchess]

What I did

After venting here and considering the responses through that of BHoffman, I decided to write a polite email to the organization. I was told that a note has been placed in my file so that I will not receive any more renewal notices. I am happy now and I will continue to be happy so long as they fulfill their promise.

Harlan I read the notice again and there was no mention of any general change in policy. There is also no credential one has to have to join this organization.