A local paper chase…

If you’ve ever dealt with a newspaper circulation department lately, then nine times out of 10 you’ve probably experienced a “paper chase”…”my paper didn’t come this morning, where is it?”
You call the circulation department and get the automated guru and thus began the number chase. You have to listen until the very end when you can talk to a live person; at least I think they’re live.
And that, as I found out, takes five minutes or maybe longer while that annoying voice says, “please stay on the line. All our representatives are busy with other customers…you call is important to us….”
Anyway this turns out to be just another example of newspapers keeping their distance from the public they rely on to buy their product.
(Bring back the paperboys and girls…somebody you had personal contact with…)
Anyway, when my Saturday papers—Akron Beacon Journal and Cleveland Plain Dealer didn’t arrive (both are carried by the BJ carrier), I called the Beacon and the Plain Dealer. Got the automated numbers game. Pushed the right ones (same for both papers) and reported failure to deliver.
Got my Beacon, but no Saturday Plain Dealer.
I didn’t’ pursue the matter.
Sunday, both papers arrived.
Monday.
Neither paper put in an appearance.
Now my mailbox is located a couple of feet from my paper box, so on my fourth or so trip outside, I looked in the mailbox.
Here are two papers.
Bother were SUNDAY papers…the Beacon and the PD.
Another bout with the phone numbers. This time I stayed around until told to push “0”. And I waited with that annoying busy message….
Finally got a live voice.
Explained the situation.
The Beacon person explained that I didn’t have to call the Plain Dealer since the Beacon carrier delivered both papers.
Later that day the two came.
(The lady didn’t seem to be interested in the double deliver of Sunday papers.)
Tuesday.
Paper box yielded Tuesday’s papers—plus a bonus…ANOTHER Sunday Beacon Journal!!.
What a way to run a railroad…off the tracks!!!!