Sadly, it didn't last. I GIVE UP!

Well, it didn't last.  Perhaps for a few weeks, but in the end, my delivery problems returned with a vengeance.  It became so bad that I put my delivery on semi-permanent vacation hold while I relied completely on the new Digital Replica edition,  for which I paid a modest additional monthly fee.

This was OK until recently, when my wife announced that she missed having a real Sunday paper, so I resumed our Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday delivery.  Literally every paper ends up in one of two places -- 10+ feet off the driveway in the muddy swale or in the westbound lane of the county highway which goes past my house.  When the paper is left in the road, inevitably, the it is run over and then scattered to the four winds.  Twice in the last month, my Sunday paper has been scattered on both sides of the road and in both my yard and my neighbor's.  Another week this month, it was drizzling and the paper was left in the swale.  I saw it as we left for church, but didn't want to retrieve it from the muddy ditch at that time.  By the time we got home, the rain had become quite heavy and the swale was filled with water.  I couldn't even see my newspaper.

In utter exasperation, I called the 1-800-TRIBUNE customer service number last Monday to cancel.  I was PROMISED that a manager would call me within 48 hours.  Nope.  This Sunday, my paper was again in the road.  All that was intact was the bag containing the advertisements.  On Monday, I cancelled for good.

I would be happy with a digital subscription, but The Chicago Tribune charges significantly more per month for that then for Sunday only delivery plus the digitial subscription.  I refuse to pay more than $13/mo for digital access, especially when they charge only $10/mo to Nook subscribers.  I am left with no options.  Home "delivery" is far more work and aggravation than it is worth and the digital subscription is far overpriced.

I really want to subscribe.  I want to support having a quality local newspaper, but the Tribune has left me no viable option for delivery.  So, Goodbye Tribune.  

Unbelievably Fantastic!

After about 3 weeks of having both of my newspapers well into my driveway on a regular basis, with a few minor exceptions, I called the Chicago Tribune Customer Service numbers (both Asia and Chicago), to let them know how pleased I was with the recent changes in the quality of my delivery service. I don't know if the calls had anything to do with today's delivery, but unless they put it beneath the back door of my house, I don't think I could have a better delivery.

Whoever is delivering these, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Has something changed? My delivery has been quite good this week.

For the last week, or even a bit longer, my newspapers have been largely on my driveway.  In one instance, the Tribune and Beacon News were bundled together in the snow about 10 feet off the driveway, but another pair of separately-bagged papers (same editions) were 25' from the road, in the center of my drive.  It was almost as though the first delivery was inaccurate, so the delivery person stopped and delivered another pair.  

Wow.  I don't know if this is a result of pressure from the Chicago Tribune or perhaps a new delivery person altogether, but I'm very appreciative of this recent change.  If this keeps up, I might need to retire this blog altogether.

In fairness, I'll need to resume taking photos for at least a short while.  If things have improved, I should show my readers.

Here we go again. Geez Louise!!

What does it take? Once again, after a single day of proper delivery, the Chicago Tribune and Aurora Beacon News are 20' off the drive, in the snow.

Unbelievable, Part II -- Success!

Posting the photo as promised earlier today.

Will miracles never cease?

WooHoo!!! Success!

I'm running a little late for work, so the photo will have to follow, but my newspaper is directly in the middle of my drive this morning.

Thank you, Eric, from the Tribune.

And thank you, too, Ms. B.  Seriously.  Thank you.

Unbelievable

Yesterday, I finally got through to the Tribune's Special Services department. I was again assured that the problem would be taken care of. This is the result. I wonder if they're trying to get rid of me. It's like they're trying to make me angry. I'm calling again for redelivery and will talk again with Special Services, too. Finally, I'm calling the Beacon News. Being more local and smaller, maybe they'll actually do something about this.  (note: I posted a picture earlier which indicated that an object under the fence was one of my papers.  That was incorrect, as the object was a plastic antifreeze jug.  The papers are actually together in a single bag, but still very far from the driveway and in the snow.)

And you want a Christmas TIP, Ms. Paper Delivery Lady? You've GOT to be kidding!

It's been more than two months since my last posting.  No, the service hasn't improved.  They've just beaten me down.  Nothing works.  I just got tired of taking the same pictures of the same papers in the ditch every day.  It hasn't helped.  But NOW I'm mad.....!!!

Last week, I got a holiday greeting card in my newspaper with a small piece of paper containing the name and address of my paper delivery person.  Apparently, she thinks I'll want to tip her for her outstanding delivery service.  I discarded the card, but kept the address slip, trying to decide what exactly I should do with this newfound information.  Should I send a nastygram to the address?  Save all my wet, muddy, gravel-filled newspapers and deposit them in the middle of her lawn in a foot of wet snow?  Ignore it?  Post her name and address on my blog?

On Wednesday, we already had snow on the ground.  Both papers were in the ditch.  I didn't bother retrieving them.  Thursday, same thing.  All four snuggled together in the ditch near the culvert, like a group of homeless newspapers huddling together for warmth.  Friday morning, both papers were again in the ditch, but 25 feet from the driveway.  Enough is ENOUGH!  I called Tribune Customer Service yet again to cancel.  I was ASSURED that this would be taken care of and that on Sunday, I could be certain that the paper would be on my driveway.  

HAH!!!  This morning, my Tribune was 40' from the driveway, under a 1/2" of snow and slush from the road.  

I have a new idea.  Every day that the paper is not on my driveway, I'm going to call to request redelivery, starting today.  Maybe they'll get the idea.  

In the meantime...

To Ms. newspaper deliverer, whom I can trust to deposit my newspaper almost anyplace except my driveway,   Thanks.  A lot.