The Walrus is Canada’s answer to the Atlantic or Harper’s. It’s literate, arty, political, well-written, etc., etc.
I was very excited when The Walrus appeared, and in a show of patriotic support, I subscribed for two years. I was happy to receive a new issue almost every month, with pithy articles on Canadian politics, flash fiction from such luminaries as Margaret Atwood, and a neatly organized calendar of national and global happenings.
Then I remembered why I cancelled my subscriptions to the Atlantic and Harper’s. I don’t have time to read magazines, for goodness’ sake! I barely have energy and time to read what’s required for the classes I’m teaching, not to mention the classes I’m taking. Reading for leisure? Ha.
So when I received the penultimate issue of my subscription, with a large, easy-to-read warning label informing me that I only had one more issue coming, I sighed and let it ride. I also ignored the two or three letters The Walrus sent me, reminding me that my subscription was about to lapse and I had to hurry if I didn’t want to miss an issue.
I also turned a blind eye to the label affixed to last month’s last issue – “this is your LAST ISSUE!”
Imagine my surprise, then, when the mail arrived yesterday with another issue.
I was prepared to recount the tale up to this point, with the crux of the story being the continuing non-subscription, but then I got a call last night from a Walrus representative.
Now, I have dealt with telemarketers before. No newbie, me. I have politely but firmly told phone companies that I am not interested in switching plans. I have not so politely but equally firmly told credit card companies that I am not, really not, interested in paying a “reasonably monthly charge” to insure my card. I have even told various charitable organizations that unfortunately I’ve given all my money to my cult leader and until I give birth to his blessed offspring I won’t be donating to their cause.
So I was prepared for this call. I had rationale. I had reasons. I had, if it came to it, every intention of hanging up on this pushy broad who just wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.
What I was not prepared for was nice.
Seriously. She asked me if I would consider renewing my subscription, and I said that although I thought The Walrus was a great magazine, I had about six issues waiting to be read, and I did not want to renew.
She said “I understand – give us a call when you retire and have time to read again! No point paying for something you don’t get to read.”
I have never been so impressed with a company’s telemarketers. So, kudos to The Walrus, for conducting business with as much class as they have on the page.
If you haven’t read The Walrus, and you do have time, go read it. In fact, I have some issues here, if anyone wants to borrow one 😉