Sports Illustrated

1978. The year 1978...I am in college and I take out my first subscription to Sports Illustrated. For over 37 years I write a check to keep the subscription active. My recent subscriptions expires next week. Over a four day period in November, I attempt to contact their customer service department to renew. This is where it gets interesting...and honestly...pathetic. After two days of continuous long holds, I finally contact somebody. I explained the long term loyal customer, etc etc, and I wanted to know their best rate. I was told 90 cents per issue. When I pointed out that their own website had it for 65 cent per issue, the SI associate (obviously reading from a script) informs me that 90 cents was the best that she could do. Next day I decide to give it one last try. A different SI associate provides me with a 70 cents per issue. When I inform her that their own website has it for 65 cents per issue, again I am told that 70 cents is the best that they can do. I ask to talk to a supervisor. A supervisor comes on and suggests that the site I am on is not SI.com. I calmly read off the http address and she still does not believe it. She then encourages me that I should go through the internet to re-subscribe. I explain that I don't want to purchase the subscription with a credit card...I am willing to send in a check if billed. SHE TELLS ME THAT I CAN'T DO THAT...that I would need to pay with a credit card. Again...this is a supervisor saying this. I asked the question...does it mean anything to her or SI that I have paid them for THIRTY SEVEN YEARS for their magazine...and they are about to lose me over 5 cents per issue...and the fact that SI does not accept checks. She CLEARLY could not care less. She tells me...there is nothing that she can do. In a final follow-up email to their customer service department I offered to talk to them about the experience. Beyond computer response that the email was received, it is crickets. No response. no follow-up. NOTHING. If you are a college student pursuing a business degree, feel free to use this as a case study of how a huge corporate loses touch with human beings. Despite being a customer since 1978! they couldn't care less about this person.