Achim Muellers

'Die Zeit' - Chronology of a Failure

Some of you may be surprised that I'm writing about 'Die Zeit' again, but apparently this newspaper is full of surprises, unfortunately negative ones!

So, here's what has happened so far:
  • 11.11.2011 - I subscribe to 'Die Zeit' and the subscription is confirmed on the same day via email
  • 21.11.2011 - 'Die Zeit' informs me via email that first issue would arrive on 24.11.2011, 'Die Zeit' comes out on Thursdays
  • 24.11.2011 - No newspaper
  • 25.11.2011 - 'Die Zeit', issue no. 48, is delivered one day late + I complain via email
  • 25.11.2011 - 'Die Zeit' acknowledges receipt of my email + informs me that they're working on it
  • 30.11.2011 - 'Die Zeit' says that they're sorry + that they've complained to the deliverer
  • 01.12.2011 - No newspaper
  • 02.12.2011 - 'Die Zeit', issue no. 49, is delivered one day late + I complain via email
  • 07.12.2011 - 'Die Zeit' says that they're sorry + that delivery was one day late because of a 'disturbance' (whatever that means)
  • 08.12.2011 - No newspaper
  • 08.12.2011 - I complain on Twitter and an acquaintance 'retweets' my complaint
  • 08.12.2011 - 'Die Zeit' tweets that they've forwarded my complaint
  • 08.12.2011 - Voicemail from employee of 'Die Zeit' informing me that issue no. 50 would be delivered one day later in some parts of Germany due to problem at the print shop. Employee also informs me that she would send email immediately. I never got this email + issue no. 50 was never delivered either.
  • 09.12.2011 - I cancel my subscription and demand an invoice for 2 issues (no. 48 + no. 49, both delivered late) via email. Until today, 'Die Zeit' has not confirmed that cancellation and they have not sent me an invoice either.
  • 16.12.2011 - I find 'Die Zeit' (issue no. 51 that came out on 15.12.2011) in the newspaper box, even though I had cancelled the subscription with immediate effect on 09.12.2011. 
  • 16.12.2011 - I complain on Twitter and resend my email dated 09.12.2011 requesting them to cancel my subscription and send me a final invoice!
Let's see what happens next!