Update on the TAPS Paramagaizine Problem

In December, I wrote this article about my dissatisfaction with TAPS Paramagazine and how poorly they conduct customer service. It's now March and my opinion of them has not really changed much. However, I do have more information regarding the magazine and the manner in which staff members do (and do not) handle themselves with subscribers.

Last week, somehow, the new editor of TAPS Paramagazine, Scotty Roberts, found my previous article that complained about the magazine. He left a long comment, which got cut off in the middle of a sentence, in which he gave the same tired, worn out excuses as to why subscribers have not been getting the issues for which they paid, as well as defensive remarks in regards to the magazine itself. He also slammed my grammar and spelling, which is laughable, considering always check my spelling and grammar before posting anything. Sometimes, I may let a couple of things slip if I am typing aggressively about a subject about which I am passionate. I wouldn't call out someone else's grammar and spelling mistakes if I carelessly let my own slide.

Anyway, at this point, I still hadn't gotten any e-mails in response to my inquiries about getting the subscriptions for which I paid or getting a refund. Therefore, it is fair to say that I was pissed off. I started a petition against the magazine, in order to show the staff how their poor choices were affecting their subscribers. I also wanted to raise awareness about the poor manner in which this magazine is designed and produced. I haven't gotten a lot of signatures yet, but I am pretty confident it will end up growing, because I am not hearing positive reviews about them elsewhere either. One of my friends directed me to this page with stressed common negative themes found in others' dealings with TAPS Paramagazine. I was happy to see that they linked my article.

Next, I decided to try calling the magazine's office, because there was a number listed for the subscription department and I thought I could get in a conversation to produce a positive result. I was disappointed, as the three times my husband and I called, we got the voicemail of Connie, who is supposed to be the person in charge of subscriptions. We left three detailed voicemail messages, but none of our calls has resulted in a response.

I waited a couple of days, and was pretty livid. Therefore, I took the advice of my friend who told me I should report the company to the Better Business Bureau. I did this a few days ago, giving a detailed account of how few magazines I have received out of the twelve issues for which I have paid $59.00. I also recounted how poor the customer service has been since my business with TAPS Paramagazine started. I proposed that TAPS Paramagazine owes me an apology and approximately $42.00 (for the nine issues that I hadn't received.)

The next day, I actually looked up the Better Business Bureau rating for the magazine. It, no doubt, has an F for their rating. I don't doubt it, because the information included the detail that thirteen complaints had been filed about the magazine, and only two of them got responses.

Then, today, I received my January/February issue (even though it is now March.) I'm too mad to even look at it. I actually even already threw away the three whole magazines I had gotten already. Like I said, the magazine is glorified bird cage liner.

I e-mailed Scotty Roberts personally, because he had once sent an e-mail saying that we could message him questions and complaints. I let him know that I did get my January/February issue, just like he said I would. However, I told him I no longer wish to receive future issues of the magazine. I reiterated that I have been trying to convey this to the subscription department for some time now, but had gotten no response. I also let him know that I had reported the magazine to the BBB, and that I know their track record with complaints, so I wouldn't be surprised if I never got a response. I also let him know that I am the same Michelle Miller that wrote the negative review of TAPS Paramagazine, and would continue to write more as I continue to get crapped on by their magazine. I told him there would be nothing slanderous, as they are self-fulfilling their demise.

I told him that all this would stop if they send me a refund for $39.36. Yes, I was even nice and dropped the other $4.62, even though my request to receive no more issues was ignored, and I got another piece of trash in the mail.

That, my readers, is where I stand with Scotty Roberts and TAPS Paramagazine. I will report more as it happens (or doesn't happen, as history tends to repeat itself.)