Credit card subscribers to the Times-Picayune are receiving a letter dated September 17, 2012 from V.P. and Circulation Director Philip H. Ehrhardt thanking them for their subscription and telling them that they will automatically be charged the new monthly rate of $16.95 when the paper goes to three issues a week on October 1. The letter points out that the new rate is “$2 less than the current 7-day monthly price.”
What the letter doesn’t tell you is that the per-issue cost of daily home delivery of the paper will increase by 87% when these changes take effect. The letter is shown below, and the explanation of the cost increase is here.
Interestingly, the web page referenced in the letter does not exist. Seems the people with an electronic version of the paper can’t even figure out the URL of the page they say is there.
TPWatcher said: Yet another glaring example of how ineptly they are handling the transition. Thanks for pointing it out, Rick.
George Schwarz said: I wonder when the pay wall will go up for the website.
TPWatcher said: I think implementing a pay wall would drive even more people away, George. That is the trap they have gotten themselves into.
TPWatcher said: The link in the “Dear Subscriber” letter (www.nola.com/customercare) is working again as of this morning.