BASS done did it again

I received a book "Advanced Bass Fishing Techniques" in the mail today
from BASS. There was also a cute little medal of some kind with it. The
letter with the book starts out "You are probalby wondering why we sent
you this book."

NO, I know exactly why you sent it - you hope I will send you the
requested $9.95. I will not, nor will I return the book. I have
received something like this from BASS for the past five or six years
and I refuse to pay for it or send it back. Looks like they would learn,
eventually.

Amen Ronnie,
I won't be coerced either. I have been giving mine away to kids. Thanks
BASS. ;-) Joe Z.

"Ronnie Garrison" wrote in message
. ..
I received a book "Advanced Bass Fishing Techniques" in the mail today
from BASS. There was also a cute little medal of some kind with it. The
letter with the book starts out "You are probalby wondering why we sent
you this book."

NO, I know exactly why you sent it - you hope I will send you the
requested $9.95. I will not, nor will I return the book. I have
received something like this from BASS for the past five or six years
and I refuse to pay for it or send it back. Looks like they would learn,
eventually.

I not only received the book in the past, I also kept getting follow-up
letters asking me to pay for it or send it back. I pointed out to them
that it was illegal to send those follow-up letters, and it was illegal
for them to send me the book in the first place. I asked them (by
email) why they would print articles promoting ethics in fishing, while
they wouldn't even obey the laws regarding the mail. I never got a
response, and I never renewed my subscription.

I even sent them the link spelling the rules out to them:
http://www.usps.com/websites/depart/inspect/merch.htm

I am a new member of BASS and joined January or February for the 3 year
plan. I was disappointed to see that BASS uses book club tactics. I never
agreed to them sending me this book and I never agreed to either pay for it
or ship it back. According to the post office link from Henry Hefner, the
book is mine to keep and it is illegal for them to bill me for it. I didn't
realize BASS was such a low life organization, resorting to such schemes.


"Ronnie Garrison" wrote in message
. ..
I received a book "Advanced Bass Fishing Techniques" in the mail today
from BASS. There was also a cute little medal of some kind with it. The
letter with the book starts out "You are probalby wondering why we sent
you this book."

NO, I know exactly why you sent it - you hope I will send you the
requested $9.95. I will not, nor will I return the book. I have
received something like this from BASS for the past five or six years
and I refuse to pay for it or send it back. Looks like they would learn,
eventually.

Henry Hefner wrote:
I not only received the book in the past, I also kept getting follow-up
letters asking me to pay for it or send it back. I pointed out to them
that it was illegal to send those follow-up letters, and it was illegal
for them to send me the book in the first place. I asked them (by
email) why they would print articles promoting ethics in fishing, while
they wouldn't even obey the laws regarding the mail. I never got a
response, and I never renewed my subscription.

I even sent them the link spelling the rules out to them:
http://www.usps.com/websites/depart/inspect/merch.htm

It's not illegal for them to send the book. But it's also not illegal
for you to consider any unordered merchandise addressed to you to be a gift.

I'm no lawyer, and maybe the USPS website is wrong, but here is a
direct quote:

"You, the consumer, may only legally be sent two types of merchandise
through the mail without your consent or agreement:

* Free samples which are clearly and conspicuously marked as such.

* Merchandise mailed by a charitable organization that is
soliciting contributions.

And in these two cases, you can consider the merchandise a gift if you
wish. In all other situations, it is illegal to send merchandise to
someone, unless that person has previously ordered or requested it."

"RogerN" wrote in message
ink.net...
I am a new member of BASS and joined January or February for the 3 year
plan. I was disappointed to see that BASS uses book club tactics. I
never
agreed to them sending me this book and I never agreed to either pay for
it
or ship it back. According to the post office link from Henry Hefner, the
book is mine to keep and it is illegal for them to bill me for it. I
didn't
realize BASS was such a low life organization, resorting to such schemes.

Part of the issue is that BASS isn't BASS anymore, it's ESPN, a most
definite "for-profit" business. I had let my membership remain lapsed for
almost a decade until 2002. Did they ever do this sort of thing prior to
ESPN buying it from the folks that bought it from Ray Scott? If not, then
blame ESPN, if so, then it is just the continuation of something that was
already in place.



"Ronnie Garrison" wrote in message
. ..
I received a book "Advanced Bass Fishing Techniques" in the mail today
from BASS. There was also a cute little medal of some kind with it. The
letter with the book starts out "You are probalby wondering why we sent
you this book."

NO, I know exactly why you sent it - you hope I will send you the
requested $9.95. I will not, nor will I return the book. I have
received something like this from BASS for the past five or six years
and I refuse to pay for it or send it back. Looks like they would learn,
eventually.

I got my first "free book" and medallion from them about 8 years ago so this
is nothing new.
"SimRacer" wrote in message
om...

"RogerN" wrote in message
ink.net...
I am a new member of BASS and joined January or February for the 3 year
plan. I was disappointed to see that BASS uses book club tactics. I
never
agreed to them sending me this book and I never agreed to either pay for
it
or ship it back. According to the post office link from Henry Hefner,
the
book is mine to keep and it is illegal for them to bill me for it. I
didn't
realize BASS was such a low life organization, resorting to such schemes.

Part of the issue is that BASS isn't BASS anymore, it's ESPN, a most
definite "for-profit" business. I had let my membership remain lapsed for
almost a decade until 2002. Did they ever do this sort of thing prior to
ESPN buying it from the folks that bought it from Ray Scott? If not, then
blame ESPN, if so, then it is just the continuation of something that was
already in place.



"Ronnie Garrison" wrote in message
. ..
I received a book "Advanced Bass Fishing Techniques" in the mail today
from BASS. There was also a cute little medal of some kind with it.
The
letter with the book starts out "You are probalby wondering why we sent
you this book."

NO, I know exactly why you sent it - you hope I will send you the
requested $9.95. I will not, nor will I return the book. I have
received something like this from BASS for the past five or six years
and I refuse to pay for it or send it back. Looks like they would
learn,
eventually.

Its been happening for six years or so - that is why I commented that
they never seem to learn.

Part of the issue is that BASS isn't BASS anymore, it's ESPN, a most
definite "for-profit" business. I had let my membership remain lapsed for
almost a decade until 2002. Did they ever do this sort of thing prior to
ESPN buying it from the folks that bought it from Ray Scott

Henry Hefner wrote:
I'm no lawyer, and maybe the USPS website is wrong, but here is a
direct quote:

"You, the consumer, may only legally be sent two types of merchandise
through the mail without your consent or agreement:

* Free samples which are clearly and conspicuously marked as such.

* Merchandise mailed by a charitable organization that is
soliciting contributions.

And in these two cases, you can consider the merchandise a gift if you
wish. In all other situations, it is illegal to send merchandise to
someone, unless that person has previously ordered or requested it."

Well, that's a change from the way it read the last time I checked --
which was admittedly a good number of years ago.