Chicago Tribune

OMG...this is my third time giving the Trib another try in the last five years. I simply gave up a few years ago. The latest offer on 12/13/24 was get two years (digital subscription) for $6. I purchased that. No receipt. My log-in worked but I had no access to articles. Had to call customer service. Somehow they made it "work." And now I have access.

But they told me I only have a one-year subscription. I explained the offer I used. They said that wasn't an offer. So, I had to EMAIL THEIR OFFER EMAIL BACK TO THEM. The WORST.

WHEN will the private equity folks behind the Trib realize these tactics are KILLING this great paper and the trust readers used to have in it. F-in read THESE reviews as part of your self-assessment / business plan for getting new subscribers. JESUS.

The person who delivers my brother's paper ( he is 77 years old and lives alone) is the worst. I have called to complain too many times to count. He throws the paper out of his car window barely slowing down. He has found it on the side walk, by the garbage cans on the side of the garage and between the curb and the street. It's almost never thrown close to the front door as requested. It has been picked up off of the sidewalk numerous times by people passing by. We can see all of this on the doorbell camera. I have not canceled this subscription yet because he loves to read the paper while drinking his coffee. I will be canceling when the snow starts falling, because I can't have him searching for a paper in bad weather.

I cancelled Sunday paper and digital subscriptions because of poor delivery of the paper. It was thrown on the public sidewalk where people could steal it. The delivery person merely had to set it one foot forward and refused. With weeks before the prepaid subscription ran out, I cancelled on the phone with customer service. A few days later, the Trib sent me an email asking for another chance with an offer of digital for 6 months for $2. I tried to accept it but the website rejected the attempt, stating that my account had an outstanding balance. After half an hour on the phone, a young male agreed the Trib had made an error and he would fix it. He did not. I just got off the phone with their tech support group and they elevated me to someone who stated that Trib policy was not to allow renewal within 30 days of closing accounts. I explained that they should fix the error. He stated again that there was nothing anyone could do, even though the Trib sent an invitation it could not fulfill. Not what I wanted. He suggested I try with a different email address. Thanks, Trib. Never again.

Was offered a discount to continue my subscription, which I excepted. The discount never took effect and was still charged full price for a couple of months. Canceled. On to next newspaper.

When I called to cancel my subscription after a year the rude woman on the phone upgraded me to a more expensive package instead of canceling it. Now they keep calling me to get me to sign up again, and when I tell them their company lied to me before, they promptly hang up on me. Worst customer service I have ever had to deal with. They've been calling me for two years now.

I am so disappointed with the Chicago Tribune! My father passed away on Friday, July 12th. My mother paid $635 dollars to have his obituary printed in their newspaper on Tuesday, July 16th. Due to their electricity going out and then their back up generator going out, the paper didn't print. Thus, my father's death notice wasn't published. We checked the papers on Wednesday, July 17th. His death notice wasn't printed. I contacted the newspaper and was told why the papers didn't get printed on Tuesday, July 16th and that my mother would receive a refund of $635 dollars in 7-10 business days.
It is now Friday, August 9th and my mother STILL hasn't received her refund. She has called and spoken to the manager of obituaries, James Morgan and a few Chicago Tribune employees. They all have apologized and said that my mother would receive a refund because the paper was not printed on Tuesday, July 16th.
Today, my Mom spoke to a Chicago Tribune employee named Sharla and was told that the paper had been printed and thus, my mom would not be receiving a refund. My mother told her she had spoken to James Morgan and a few other Chicago Tribune employees and they admitted to the paper not being printed that day (her neighbors and local stores can vouch for this as well since they didn't receive their copies) and that my Mom would receive a refund. Sharla said she'd have to speak to her manager and get back to my mom.

I am beyond livid. My mother is grieving the loss of my father and is being hassled around by these employees. For what? She paid for a service. They didn't provide it. Thus, she wants and deserves a refund, but they're dragging their feet. It makes the Chicago Tribune and its staff look money hungry and incredibly rude. This used to be a respected paper. It definitely can't be called that anymore. I will be contacting a lawyer for my mother and NBC news. It's so sad that this is what things have come to.

Very bad customers service!!!
Discouraging to use personal check for the payments.
Do not disclose an actual cost if you do not wish to us a"digital paper option!

Don't subscribe! I've been charged $34/month for god knows how long for a digital subscription that I didn't know I had. I called to cancel and they tell me I owe them $70. I told them I'm not paying and they threaten to send me to collections. I guess the greedy bastards haven't gotten enough money out of me for something I don't use. CHICAGO TRIBUNE SUCKS!

The Chicago Tribune has gone from a worthwhile publication to a joke that lacks content, customer service and any advertising that made the Sunday paper worth receiving. I had 7 day home delivery for over thirty five years and witnessed the news paper falling apart, little or no content, customer service by people who you cannot understand, off shore who do nothing for the customer. I stopped the paper months a year ago and only started getting the Northbrook Star for local news a few month ago. They give me the Sunday Tribune for free and that is what is worth. I have called twice in the last month receiving wet papers. They were supposed to deliver a dry paper the next day. Both times the idiot never came back. I do not want a digital paper and it took weeks to get them to stop sending it to me. Bottom line is the Chicago Tribune is dead and they do not seem to care and the will ride it to the grave.

Good paper with good local coverage. Delivery has been reliable, and their Android app is fine. Why only two stars?

Dealing with "customer service" is appalling unless you desire stealth charges and price increases, a long, unhelpful automated phone tree with no off-ramp to a human, and - ultimately - customer service people who barely speak or understand English. And you WILL TRY to deal with them often as they sneak in costs and price increases. How frustrating.