Subscription Renewal
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2018 12:41 pm
Got a magazine renewal offer in the mail yesterday. Seemed like a sweet deal. Two years of American Handgunner for just under $32. I have been a subscriber to that fine publication for a long time. Longer than I like to admit. I have been a subscriber since Bill Wilson was a one man shop and all the combat pistol shooters were competing in shorts, tennis shoes and T shirts. 
I think my first subscription check had 1970s in the year block.
Before I wrote a check however, I looked inside the front cover of my last issue, (With a huge magnifying glass since the info print is so small,) and found the number for "subscription information" and gave them a call. There have been a lot of scam subscription renewal things flying around these last few years... and I wasn't going to fall for them. Yup, the gal said, this one is valid. I renewed for two with the nice gal over the phone and now I am good into 2022 now. Most of the other shooting pubs I have let expire, other than the NRA mag... I don't have to renew that one. Life membership does have that benefit.
If you are the least bit suspicious of a magazine renewal... take a minute, look inside the MAGAZINE and call their subscription office. Don't call the number on the letter.
Several times over the last decade or so, I have called Handgunner and found that the letter WAS a scam. Then they have had me scan the letter I received and email it to them. They said they would take care of the police reports and investigation on their end, as in reality, they are the victims. 
These days, it doesn't pay to take chances. What do you think would have happened if I had fallen for the scam, filled in my credit/debit card info for the renewal and mailed that sucker in?
I think my first subscription check had 1970s in the year block.Before I wrote a check however, I looked inside the front cover of my last issue, (With a huge magnifying glass since the info print is so small,) and found the number for "subscription information" and gave them a call. There have been a lot of scam subscription renewal things flying around these last few years... and I wasn't going to fall for them. Yup, the gal said, this one is valid. I renewed for two with the nice gal over the phone and now I am good into 2022 now. Most of the other shooting pubs I have let expire, other than the NRA mag... I don't have to renew that one. Life membership does have that benefit.
If you are the least bit suspicious of a magazine renewal... take a minute, look inside the MAGAZINE and call their subscription office. Don't call the number on the letter.
Several times over the last decade or so, I have called Handgunner and found that the letter WAS a scam. Then they have had me scan the letter I received and email it to them. They said they would take care of the police reports and investigation on their end, as in reality, they are the victims. These days, it doesn't pay to take chances. What do you think would have happened if I had fallen for the scam, filled in my credit/debit card info for the renewal and mailed that sucker in?
