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A comment on Companies use dark patterns to keep you subscribed.

Re:Companies use dark patterns to keep you subscribed by mikestew on Thursday May 04, 2023 @11:10AM (#35816615)
Not that corporations need me to carry their water, but I believe the popular subscription whipping boy, the New York Times, might be unfairly characterized now. After yet another one of these "subscriptions are evil" articles, I decided I wasn't going to support such shenanigans anymore, plus I don't read the NYT like I used to, so I'd sit on hold for as long as it takes.

But it looks like it's now a few button clicks, and a few "are you sure?"s, all online. And it's advertised that you can do it online. "Wanna cancel by certified letter? Perhaps a phone call? No? How about online?" (I'm obviously paraphrasing).

Now, I cannot confirm that the completion of the process works, as I decided to keep the subscription if I can cancel online. But I'll give the NYT the benefit of the doubt and assume the last button to click doesn't say "Call customer retention at 800-555-1212 to complete the process".

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Companies use dark patterns to keep you subscribed by miguelmato on Thursday May 04, 2023 @11:17AM (#35816752)
To California residents they have to provide the ability to cancel online. Some people change their billing address to be able to do it online without the infamous calling
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Companies use dark patterns to keep you subscribed by mikestew on Thursday May 04, 2023 @11:20AM (#35816807)
None of that is relevant if the NYT allows anyone regardless of location to cancel online, which was my point.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Companies use dark patterns to keep you subscribed by fckgw on Thursday May 04, 2023 @12:33PM (#35818109)
Do you happen to live in California? The state requires that residents are able to either cancel subscriptions online or at least via the same method they used to sign up.

Would be curious to see if they are changing their cancel methods depending on your billing address. I know SiriusXM does this.

[ Parent | on HN ]