Free Newspaper Subscription

Gary North

Because newspapers are dying, their owners are now desperate. One of the signs of this desperation is the free subscription.

It is now difficult to get off a newspaper's delivery list. The managers are cheating advertisers by charging them rates based on PAID subscribers. But these lists are declining everywhere.

The advertisers know this, but it's hard to prove. In any case, to play the game, they must pay the going rate. So, they pretend they are willing to be fleeced.

In the make-believe game between advertisers and newspapers, we can benefit, assuming we like newspapers.

Over three months ago, a door-to-door salesman got my wife to take out a three-month trial subscription to the local daily. It is still coming every morning. We did not re-subscribe.

The paper is OK for local news. It's OK for the weekly TV insert. I can see who is coming to town.

So, if you want a free newspaper, maybe you can get one. Just accept a brief trial subscription the next time you get an offer.

If you don't want a lifetime subscription, don't sign up for a trial. Once on the list, it's hard to get off.