I received a renewal notice with a three-year subscription price of $227.80. Three years ago it was $131.20. This increase is over four-and-a-half times the rate of inflation over the past three years (4.625 times, to be precise)!
The annual rate is $80.80 this time around, but on page 61 of the February 2025 MR it lists an annual subscription of $39.95. So the cost of being a loyal customer is to pay over twice what a new subscription is?
I’ve been a subscriber for decades, but this renewal rate has me thinking twice on continuing. It will take careful consideration.
Not at that level. That’s just usurious. 20 or 25% increase, sure. Even 30% would be somewhat understandable. But 74%? I’d sure like to see a justification for that one - as well as the justification for charging returning subscribers over twice what a new subscription costs.
Just renewed both MR and Trains for $44.95 each. No special offer involved - just renewed from through the main web site (after some password reset help from customer service).
I’d call customer service to figure out what is going on.
I just looked at the on-line renewal. It lists the following prices:
1 year $76.95
2 years $148.95
3 years $216.95
I tried to call customer service, but they’re closed now.
What is going on, Firecrown? Do you give different people different rates for the same product? WHY does the on-line renewal show slightly lower prices than the renewal form you mailed me??
I can understand that a multi-magazine subscription might give a discount to both, but York1 renewed for $49, and adkrr64 renewed for $44.95 for MR (plus the same for Trains)?
Yeah, I noticed that. But I’m only subscribed to the print magazine. Maybe it’s a (another?) glitch in their computer systems. When I talk to customer service tomorrow (assuming I can get to someone), I’ll ask.
When I look at the information they have online, it shows a current subscription for MR, an expired subscription for Trains.com unlimited, and an expired subscription for Trains.com video (don’t even know what that is). Maybe the bundle is Trains.com unlimited, which according to the website includes the print MR. But the total cost of that is yet a third price - $83.88.
Another note, based on the current info on the site, you cannot get just the print, it comes with the digital for $49.95. My similar subscription to Classic Trains was $29.95
Sheldon, that second link is fine, but when I click on renew, it asks me for my customer number from the mailing label on the magazine, then it gives me the on-line renewal page with the prices I showed above.
I’m glad you and others have gotten a reasonable rate. Hopefully there’s just an error in the subscription system that can be corrected so I can get that same rate.
