The Chronicle Has Issues With Delivery

By Margaret Downing Mon., Jul. 6 2009 at 10:03 AM

Categories: Spaced City

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Something went seriously astray with the printing of Saturday morning's Houston Chronicle. A whole bunch of papers arrived on doorsteps (or in flower beds) throughout the area without the Star (features) or (gasp) Sports section.

"We had issues with our presses and we had a lot of calls," a Chronicle circulation rep said Sunday. Sunday, because repeated calls to the paper Saturday morning were greeted with a busy signal. By the time I got a call through it was to be graced with the message that the circulation department had shut down for the day and to call back tomorrow.

So on Sunday, I called back, to be told I wasn't unique at all, although the rep didn't know how many other papers were affected, although she said she knew there were a lot of them. Just that something had gone very wrong with the presses and as a result whole sections were left out of the paper. Oh and they had a problem with a lot of late papers as well.

All of which is terrifically poor timing for the Chron since it has just announced a hike in its subscription rates and if you did get through at all it was to hear a lengthy recorded set of instructions that you don't need to call about readjusting your home delivery service -- you can just go online to handle it.

About the only break the Chronicle got was that this didn't happen during high school football season.

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FOR 18 YEARS MY PAPER DELIVERY HAS BEEN ON TIME (5:30 AM). STARTS MY DAY RIGHT. RECENTLY OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS IT BEEN DELIVERED 15,20,45 MINUTES LATE OR NOT AT ALL LIKE TODAY (SUNDAY 8:20 AM). THIS IS REALLY POOR PR AND ANYONE ELSE WHO RAN A DELIVERY BUSINESS WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
I have had to go into my neighbors yard the past 4 week to retrieve MY paper..... They don't even get the newspaper..... Service sucks! So when you see those guys at a store sell subscribtions. Walk the other way. I will not be renewing my service.
I didnot get my Sunday, October23rd, paper. You used to be able to call carrier or The Chronicle and they would deliver by 10 o'clock. Not anymore, this has happened several times lately. You cannot get through to subscriber services without waiting 15 or 20 minutes. I realize you are the only newspaper??? in town but this is ridiculous. You need to act like you care about subscribers who pay good money for a service, and are not getting it. Marcella Boomer , 281-351-8787, long-time subscriber.
Chronicle will be history sooner than necessary with their new attitude of "no customer service". Have missed 3 of last 4 Sunday papers. Reported issue each time with no results. They have button pusher operators and no one to physically handle the problem. The Press and the Post await you to join them in the newspaper grave yard!
Delivery problem doesn't seem to matter to anyone at Chronicle. Received half of the Sun. paper---tried to call but "technical problems" prevented me from voicing my complaint. Called the main office and waited at least 20 min for a rep--promised a paper wold be delivered...but none appeared. Of course office is closed now so we wait until another day---such poor service. Wish there were an alternative....
Chronicle is having serious problems & the sad part is they really DON'T CARE! I've made many phone in recent weeks because of non delivery or incomplete papers. Only thing I get from them is long wait times, busy signals, disconnects & no delivery of my papers! It continues to happen without any sign of resolution! Why is this happening to paying customers. Houston so needs someone or something to take over this pathetic operation and current decision makers need to be in the unemployment lines!! Watch this business fail.....
ii have issues with the chfronicle all the month of sept. then started in october, did not get my tve magazine which i pay for a yr was told would delivery sun no show , told get it monda;y no show. put on ;hold for 25 minutes at a time. distr mgr did not call me back . they dont care am off tomorrow if paper not ou;tside door will call about tv guide missing also. they have ca;ller id so when my number show up they hang up on me. wish could report to bbb, don't know what to do
I've had spotty delivery service for about 3 weeks now. What the heck is going on with them?
We never had a problem with delivery until the new carrier started. Now it's either late or not delivered. Three days last week and at times not until we call the chronicle. Of course never human, just automated service. Now the delivery rate is raised--FOR POORER SERVICE!!! We'd have cancelled long ago if there was another Houston paper.
I did not get a paper again today, Your service is very bad. I called at 8 and no paper5 at 2<15. No one seems to care how customers are treated. Taken paper for years and never had such poor service.
I havn;t received my TV Guide on Sundays for the past 4 weeks!!! Can't get it untill Tuesdays! I called this morning and cannot get through to either the TV Guide OR the paper! This is sooo wrong. At the Chronical you DON'T get what you pay for.