deepsky
sage
Reged: 12/04/05
Posts: 210
Loc: oregon
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Today I received a package from Astronomy magazine containing a DVD "Life and Death of a Star".
The reply form gave me two options: pay 12.95 and sign up for more DVD's to preview every 2-3 months, or return the DVD in the enclosed envelope.
Did I mention they sent the DVD unsolicited?
I for one do not appreciate receiving unsolicited merchandise in the mail.
Oh they do say " because you didn't ask for it" you can keep as a gift, but only after examining all the literature sent with the DVD, and not on the reply form itself.
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jim jackson
Astroleague Observer Award junkie
Messier Club-Honorary
Lunar Club
Binocular Messier Club
Double Star Club
Herschel 400 Club
Urban Observing Club
Deep Sky Binocular Club
Caldwell Club Silver&Gold
Southern Sky Binocular Club
Southern Sky Telescopic Club
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bicparker
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/07/05
Posts: 1437
Loc: Plano, TX
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I think, by law, you get to keep it regardless of what they say, if it is sent to you unsolicited.
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Bic Parker
17.5" f/5 dob
10" f/10 SCT
5" f/8 refractor
80mm f/6 refractor
66mm f/6 refractor
Plus a few others out of the rotation
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bsim
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 683
Loc: New York City
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$12.95 for an episode from season 1 of the History Channel's "Universe" series is expensive since you can buy the complete series for $25 from Amazon.
What wasn't clear in the promotional material was whether all the future releases will be single episodes from the "Universe" series.
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Teeter's 10" F/6 Truss Dob / Sky Commander DSC / Round Table Platform
Celestron C80ED / MoonLite CF Tri-Knob
William Optics ZS66, Orion XT8i, Orion XT4.5
Canon 10x30 IS, Constellation View 2.3x40 Bino
Astro-Tech Voyager, Bogen 3011 & 3036, UA MicroStar Deluxe
Howie Glatter Laser & tuBlug
13 & 8 Ethos, 35 & 24 Panoptic, Nagler 3-6 Zoom, TV 8-24 Zoom
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Rick Woods
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 4288
Loc: Inner Solar System
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Another organization did the same thing to me. I didn't like it either. They've been pestering me for months to either send their DVD back or buy the package. Their envelope is long gone, but even if it weren't, I'd just ignore them. That's what they get for pulling such a blatantly manipulative stunt. (These guys didn't say anything about a gift).
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- Rick
14" LX200GPS
8" Meade 826C
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30012
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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What they said. Keep it, or stuff it in the envelope (if they're paying the postage) - whatever suits ya. Either way, it's not your problem.
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Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
"If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we're going." Professor Irwin Corey
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orion9
super member
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 121
Loc: North Carolina
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I received the same offer except the DVD was "Saturn, Lord of the Rings". The offer stated that I could keep the DVD as a "gift". I haven't watched it yet but their lit states that these episodes were specifically produced for this offer. Did anyone else get that? I never saw the "Universe" series so I wouldn't know if this is a rehash or not.
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bsim
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 683
Loc: New York City
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It's certainly a rehash. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, you can buy the complete season 1 of Universe for $25 from Amazon.
Here's the episode guide to season 1. You can find "Saturn, Lord of the Rings" mentioned. It's actually an interesting episode. You should watch it.
Universe Season 1 episode guide
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Teeter's 10" F/6 Truss Dob / Sky Commander DSC / Round Table Platform
Celestron C80ED / MoonLite CF Tri-Knob
William Optics ZS66, Orion XT8i, Orion XT4.5
Canon 10x30 IS, Constellation View 2.3x40 Bino
Astro-Tech Voyager, Bogen 3011 & 3036, UA MicroStar Deluxe
Howie Glatter Laser & tuBlug
13 & 8 Ethos, 35 & 24 Panoptic, Nagler 3-6 Zoom, TV 8-24 Zoom
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orion9
super member
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 121
Loc: North Carolina
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Thanks bsim, for the info. I did finally watch the Saturn DVD and enjoyed it. Armed with the knowledge of where this comes from I would be more interested in the complete set and not the more expensive piecemeal offer. Again, thanks.
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deepsky
sage
Reged: 12/04/05
Posts: 210
Loc: oregon
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Quote:
Today I received a package from Astronomy magazine containing a DVD "Life and Death of a Star".
The reply form gave me two options: pay 12.95 and sign up for more DVD's to preview every 2-3 months, or return the DVD in the enclosed envelope.
Did I mention they sent the DVD unsolicited?
I for one do not appreciate receiving unsolicited merchandise in the mail.
Oh they do say " because you didn't ask for it" you can keep as a gift, but only after examining all the literature sent with the DVD, and not on the reply form itself.
O.K. today I receive another letter from Astronomy magazine suggesting I either sign up for the Infinite Cosmos DVD series by sending a first payment of $12.95 or return the DVD I received earlier. Oh- and I should send back the reply form in any case so they won't send any further DVD's.
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jim jackson
Astroleague Observer Award junkie
Messier Club-Honorary
Lunar Club
Binocular Messier Club
Double Star Club
Herschel 400 Club
Urban Observing Club
Deep Sky Binocular Club
Caldwell Club Silver&Gold
Southern Sky Binocular Club
Southern Sky Telescopic Club
Edited by deepsky (07/29/08 03:00 PM)
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30012
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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I think from this point on I'd be marking everything that came from them about this DVD "Return to Sender," then dropping it back into the mailbox. Sheesh... 
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Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
"If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we're going." Professor Irwin Corey
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28564
Loc: montana
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I was about to renew an expired subscription to Astronomy, this gives me pause for thought; I don't like to be bothered this way.
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm B/TMB 3.2
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Rick Woods
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 4288
Loc: Inner Solar System
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I hope the guys from S&T are following this thread, just in case their marketing people suddenly decide that something like this would be a good idea.
(That's another thing I like about the folks at S&T - at least, the remaining ones: They get in here and mix it up and talk to us.)
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- Rick
14" LX200GPS
8" Meade 826C
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swalker
Imaging Editor - Sky & Telescope
Reged: 01/22/07
Posts: 366
Loc: 42.9225°N, 71.2242°W
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;-)
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12.5" f/5.1 Newt
10" f/4.5 Newt
4.25" f/4 Astrograph
80mm f/10 refractor
70mm Mak Cass
40mm PST
Millennium Mount EQ
TI ProDome #002
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bsim
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 683
Loc: New York City
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Quote:
I was about to renew an expired subscription to Astronomy, this gives me pause for thought; I don't like to be bothered this way.
Likewise. I find Astronomy's "in your face" marketing aggressive and distasteful. If they send another DVD unsolicited, I will return to sender and lodge a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
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Teeter's 10" F/6 Truss Dob / Sky Commander DSC / Round Table Platform
Celestron C80ED / MoonLite CF Tri-Knob
William Optics ZS66, Orion XT8i, Orion XT4.5
Canon 10x30 IS, Constellation View 2.3x40 Bino
Astro-Tech Voyager, Bogen 3011 & 3036, UA MicroStar Deluxe
Howie Glatter Laser & tuBlug
13 & 8 Ethos, 35 & 24 Panoptic, Nagler 3-6 Zoom, TV 8-24 Zoom
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Noesis
newbie
Reged: 10/28/08
Posts: 1
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How terrible of Astronomy magazine to send an excellent video out to its readers for free. Shame on them.
Edited by Noesis (10/28/08 02:00 PM)
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btb
super member
Reged: 07/07/06
Posts: 144
Loc: Indiana
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I also received the DVD and what a nice "GIFT" it was. I thought the price was a bit steep for their subscriptions, so I will not be signing up. I also understand money is money and now people and companies are looking for every dime they can get. Since I am retired $12.95 every 2 or 3 months is just not an option. Thank you Astronomy magazine for the nice "Veterans Day Gift."
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Les
US Navy Veteran
Celestron 114mm
Zhumell "10"
Edited by btb (10/29/08 11:50 AM)
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rmollise
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 1634
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Quote:
How terrible of Astronomy magazine to send an excellent video out to its readers for free. Shame on them.
Well, it was a nice enough video...but they didn't send it out of the goodness of their hearts...believe it or no, they was tryin' to...SELL SOMETHIN! 
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Uncle Rod
Watch for Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT--coming in December!
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jshinal
member
Reged: 08/01/07
Posts: 47
Loc: Raleigh, NC - Southeastern USA
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It's definitely NOT real clear that it's a gift. It really does seem like an "ambush" subscription/solicitation at first read-through.
Therefore, they either spent a sizable amount of money to market something in an unclear/incompetent manner, or they did it deliberately.
I've been a subscriber for years, but if they nag me like this again, I'm done.
Edited by jshinal (11/13/08 09:55 AM)
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o1d_dude
o1der than dirt
Reged: 10/03/07
Posts: 1419
Loc: The Big Tomato, California
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I sent mine back today with a request to cancel my subscription to Astronomy Magazine.
Not sure what sort of a business model this is but in my case, they lost a subscriber.
Oh, well.
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Kit
"There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys." - Red Green
* A bunch of old ATM stuff that cost me next to nothing
* A bunch of new commercial stuff that cost me an arm and a leg
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janehoustonjones
sage
Reged: 10/21/07
Posts: 240
Loc: 34 N 118 W, 637.0 feet
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Got it, set it aside the first night, as it was too much work to open, read all the way to the fine print, decide, sort, separate, remove DVD, insert, seal, recycle, shred, mail back.
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Jane Houston Jones
Cassini Program Outreach Office
JPL's What's Up Podcast is here!
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