THE following are some of the reasons which prevent prompt entering of names on our subscription lists, and are, therefore, the principal causes of delay in sending the papers.
1. Lack of Address, or One That is Illegible, or Incomplete.
It is really surprising how many people forget to write their full name and address plainly when ordering periodicals. We often have only the post-mark on the envelope from which to guess the address, and sometimes the post-office at which the letter was mailed is not the one to which the paper should be sent; yet after doing our best at guessing, we are often blamed for our blunders.
Our Memory.— Some seem to think we ought to remember where they live and all about them because their names are on one of our periodical lists; but when it is understood that there are many thousands of names on our various lists, it will be readily conceived that our list clerks can not possibly remember the various addresses; though, were it not for their remarkable memories, there would be far more disappointments than there are.
The above is a facsimile of a stencil, and shows its exact size. It consists of a sheet of parchment, mounted on a cardboard frame; the name, address, date, etc., being written by a special perforating typewriter, in the center of the parchment. The stencil is then put into the addressing machine, which prints the name on the wrapper, by forcing the ink through the perforations in the stencil.
How the Lists are Kept.— Our lists are first arranged alphabetically by States, then by cities and towns; and where there are several subscribers in one city, the names of the individuals are arranged in alphabetical order. Each name and the full address is written by a special perforating typewriter on a wax stencil.
Whenever a renewal or change of address is sent, a new stencil must be made, and put into its proper place, and the old one taken out. It is, therefore, very important to give the old address each time when ordering a change of address.
Renewal Blanks.— About a month before each subscription expires, we send out renewal blanks, containing a proof of the stencil used in mailing the paper during the time of the subscription. It gives the name, address, and the date of expiration. This blank should be returned to us each time, because it is of material assistance in giving the name, address, and date exactly as they stand on the list, and prevents mistakes, delays, and much unnecessary confusion. Some keep this blank and write a letter instead, while others very carefully tear off and keep that portion of the blank which we need, and send only their name without any address.
2. Sufficient Time is Not Allowed.
Our mail is usually large. During the busy season we receive hundreds of orders for the REVIEW alone in a single mail. It, therefore, takes time to enter these names on the list and to begin the mailing of the paper. Frequently persons send a subscription from a near-by town, and write within two days to inquire why their paper does not come. We purpose to enter all subscriptions promptly; but it requires time to enter the cash receipts from all these letters, and get the names on the list.
Orders for More than One Periodical.— Where subscriptions for more than one periodical are on the same sheet of paper, which is often the case, the letter has to take its turn on each list; and it may be more than a week before all the names are entered and the stencil placed in the various lists. If orders for different periodicals were written on separate sheets of paper, it would facilitate prompt attention. In any case no one should expect to receive his paper within a week or ten days after subscription is sent.
3. Insufficient Cash Remittances; or Surplus of Cash Sent, for Which no Definite Instruction is Given.
Many send in their own subscription and include also another for a friend, an order for a book, or a donation to some enterprise, but forget to specify definitely what to do with all the cash sent. This necessitates our holding the order and writing for further instruction.
When several subscriptions are sent in at one time, care should be taken to specify how long the paper is to be sent to each individual. Failure to do this will prevent prompt entering of the names; and we shall be obliged to hold the order and write for more definite instruction. We appreciate most heartily the efforts of our subscribers to secure subscriptions from their friends and neighbors; yet, at the same time, we desire them to be careful that full instruction is sent with each order so that we may be sure to enter it correctly, and save delays and disappointments.
We are always willing to accommodate our people by sending to the General Conference, at Takoma Park, any donations to their various funds which are sent to us; but letters containing donations intended solely for the General Conference and having no business for the Review and Herald Publishing Association would receive more prompt attention if sent direct to the General Conference, Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C.
4. Wrong Addresses on the Letters Sent to Us.
Our address is still 222 North Capitol St., Washington, D. C. All orders for any of our periodicals, REVIEW AND HERALD, Youth’s Instructor, Life and Health, and Sabbath School Worker, and also for any of our books, should be sent to the above address or to our Branch in Battle Creek, Mich.
5. Failure to Give the Old Address to Which the Paper or Clubs of Papers Have Been Coming.
Persons who order clubs of any of our papers should be sure to tell us each time whether the order is a renewal or not, and if so, then to whom and to what address the club is then going. A newly elected Sabbath-school secretary often sends in for a club of papers, and forgets to state that it is to renew a club already going to the address of the former secretary.
ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS.
Individual Accounts.— We do not open accounts with individuals for periodicals, therefore remittance must accompany every order. If any want credit, arrangements for it should be made with the State Tract Society, and the order be sent through the tract society.
When You Do Not Have the Money.— While we do not carry individual accounts, we will not cut a subscriber off the list if he is not able to send the pay for his paper when it expires, providing he will write and ask that his paper be continued, and will name some date at which payment will be made. Remittance must be made within a short time, however, for no expired subscription will be carried on the list longer than three months. After proper notifications have been sent and no response is returned, the subscriber’s name, whoever he may be, is dropped from the list. This is usually done within two weeks after the time of the expiration of the subscription.
How to Tell When Your Subscription Expires.— Any one can tell when his subscription expires by examining the wrapper on his paper. The date is always given after the style of the sample stencil shown herewith—Aug. 1.-’05, or Aug. 15.-’05, or (as is the case with the monthly papers) simply Aug.-’05. These dates mean that the subscription is paid for the paper until that date. Every time you take off the wrapper, therefore, you may be reminded of the time when renewal should be sent, by glancing at the date thereon.
Do Not Write to the Editor.— The editors of our various periodicals do not attend to subscriptions, changes of address, or any matter of a like nature. Communications on business matters should not, therefore, be addressed to them, as this method delays rather than facilitates prompt attention. It is best not to address business communications to any individual. All letters addressed to Review and Herald Publishing Association or to any one of our periodicals will receive immediate attention.
It is, of course, proper to address all manuscript for publication to the editor of the particular paper for which it is intended.
Will our good friends please follow these suggestions, and thus enable us to give their orders the most prompt and intelligent attention?
REVIEW & HERALD PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION
222 North Capitol St., Washington, D. C.
Publishers of
Review and Herald, Youth’s Instructor, Life and Health, and Sabbath School Worker.
