I moved in April. The new address is in the same town with the same post office, but has a different zip code. I subscribe to two magazines and used to subscribe to a third. Despite me not resubscribing last year, they stll send it to me.
Mag 1: immediately changed my address using their online page. This magazine mails their magazine out 5 or 6 weeks early because it has time sensitive info which they need to get to international subscribers. I changed the address about the 20th of April, so I figured that with a month lead time, they should send the July issue to the new address.
Mag 2: I tried to change, but the on-line change of address page wanted some data that’s on the mailing label. Unfortunately, I donate my already-read magazines to the local library so I didn’t have a mailing label. Eventually, I found their phone number and changed it that way. Well I talked to a real person, but when she tried to enter my new zip code, their software didn’t like it. The local post office has several zip codes, so I had her put one of the others in.
Mag 3: I ignored. Did not even think of trying to change my address with them.
The results:
Mag 1: received the July issue later than usual since it had to be forwarded from the old address.
Mag 2: have only received a couple issues (it’s bi-weekly) forwarded from the old address. Once I got one, I changed the zip code on-line. It didn’t have a problem with it. Likely there’s still an issue or two being forwarded. There may be one more than that before they get the right address.
Mag 3: May issue sent to new address. None had to be forwarded.
OK, the first two don’t really surprise me. I’ve subscribed to both for a long time and they are always slow to update their mailing labels. They must print them off a couple months in advance or something like that.
Mag 3? I only subscribed for a couple years, so don’t know their history. But how in hell did they find my new address? I changed my address with various institutions (post office, of course, DMV, election office, bank, broker) but none of those guys should have passed it along to a random magazine. At least, I don’t think so. Can they get some kind of notice from the PO or DMV that one of their subscribers has changed their address? Perhaps paying for this service?